Belfast: A guide to living and working in this city

Northern Ireland has one of the youngest populations in Europe, with 55% of the population being under 40 years old.  

The people of Northern Ireland are also among the cheeriest in the United Kingdom, with County Fermanagh recently identified as the happiest place in the UK.  

Belfast is home to a diverse range of companies, such as aerospace specialists Bombardier and high-class technology firms like Kainos and First Derivatives. Along with global players including BT and Allstate.  

So if you’re thinking of relocating to the city, here’s everything you need to know about living and working in Belfast. 

Key sectors 

If you’re looking for a career in digital or technology, then you’ll feel right at home. Between 2010 and 2013 there was a 73% surge in new digital jobs.  

There are a range of jobs available in mobile and tablet development, gaming, artificial intelligence and payment infrastructure with an estimated 32,000 people working in Belfast’s digital industry. 

Other key growth sectors include green technology, tourism and retail. A £53 million investment in Belfast Harbour has helped the shipping and green technology industry grow by supplying turbines to West of Duddon Sands wind farm.  

Also, due the success of the highly acclaimed series Game of Thrones, tourism has shot through the roof throughout Northern Ireland. 

As with the rest of the UK, there are nine official bank holidays a year and the minimum holiday entitlement is 20 days. Belfast is a relatively small city in a small country, making it easy to explore, relax, work and call home.  

Employers to note 

Belfast could be viewed as a conservative country. However, it’s pushing towards wanting more innovation and flexible business opportunities.  

Local employers such as The AppBuilder, Ardmore Advertising, Corvus Recruitment and JMG Systems offer initiatives such as flexible working hours to yoga classes and healthy Fridays. 

Did you know? 

By far the most successful tourist attraction Belfast has to offer is the award-winning Titanic Belfast. This is the world’s largest Titanic exhibition, located in the same city where the vessel was constructed. 

Northern Ireland has also given the world a range of successful icons such as golfer Rory McIlroy, actors Jamie Dornan and Liam Neeson and musician Van Morrison. 

Living in Belfast 

Life in Belfast 

You can cross Northern Ireland by car in about two hours. In between there’s a rich variety of scenery, activities, and a range of cultural attractions. The cathedral quarter is the cultural hotspot for professionals in Belfast city centre. 

When you get the opportunity to get away from the office to explore the country, you will find dramatic coastlines, mountains and lakes. Alongside this, some of the best golf courses in the world, walking trails, scenic drives and historical landmarks.  

Northern Ireland also has many restaurants, cinemas, leisure centres, theatres, galleries, arts and entertainment centres and of course pubs and clubs. 

So, there is always plenty to see and do in your spare time! 

Transport in Belfast 

Across Belfast and the rest of Northern Ireland there is an extensive train and bus network ran by Translink. However, the best method of transport in the city centre is driving, as Belfast is small in comparison to other UK cities. In fact, the outermost suburbs are only a 25-minute drive from the city centre.  

The Dublin public bike initiative was replicated in Belfast in 2015. This saw the launch of Coca-Cola Zero Belfast Bikes, which provides 330 public bikes at 33 docking stations for just a £20 annual subscription. This is a move towards a less congested city and healthier living for locals living near docking stations.  

Housing prices in Belfast 

Of course, the cost of living in Belfast is lower than London. However, that means the salaries are also lower. It’s reported that people living in Belfast have experienced a better purchasing power. The median monthly take-home salary is £1,618, against an average monthly mortgage repayment of just £493. 

Belfast ranks 3rd on the most affordable UK cities, with its ratio of prices vs. wages at 3.67. Places within Belfast that prove popular include Ballyhackmore, Holywood, Belmont, Stranmillis and Malone. The average price for a detached house in Belfast city is around £238,000 and a flat is £113,000. 

Schooling in Belfast 

The level of education throughout Northern Ireland is of a very high standard. With 77% of young people going from secondary to further education. There are two main universities in Belfast, Queen’s University and Ulster University. Both educate across a range of disciplines. 

Queen’s University Belfast is one of the prestigious Russell Group UK universities. In fact, it ranks in the top 1% of global universities. 

Now you have a picture of what it’s like to live and work in this city! So take a look at the latest jobs in Belfast.

About the author: Based in Belfast, Corvus is a specialist recruitment consultancy with a difference. With over 70 years’ combined experience within the industry, each member of staff is a true specialist in their sector with inch wide, mile deep knowledge enabling to best understand your needs.