Why the Isle of Man is a fantastic place to Live and Work.

Anne Murray

Isle of Man – Why I have a lot to be thankful and grateful for.

Go back 33 years and I had been brought up and educated in the North East of England. How was life for me?

First thing to mention – I didn’t know any different.

My home town was very much industry driven in terms of chemical production, iron and steel production, lots of other heavy industries. We lived in a very smoggy air and polluted

Wages were low along with house prices compared to here however everything was relevant.

My school was the first multi-cultural school in the country and often parents could not afford to send their children to college or university and therefore their children would be expected to go and find employment in order to help with family bills. In 1985 unemployment reached 40% in parts of the town. The work that was available was often unskilled, poorly paid or cash in hand. The economy started to recover however very slowly.

What was is like to find a job?

Tough – for every job advertised, there was 100s of applicants. When you did find one, you had to make sure you were good at it otherwise there would be people behind you that would be quick to take it from you.

How long did it take to get to work?

It often used to take me an hour to get 4 – 5 miles into work using dual carriage ways too often with traffic jams and queues galore.

What were earnings like?

Wages were a lot lower so you had to be good at managing money and often went without things to get by or so you could save hard for anything you wanted. My first wage was £27.30 per week. From this I had to pay towards my keep, pay for clothes, lunches and nights out.

What was the environment like to live in?

As the area was very Industry heavy, the air was polluted and dirty.

Crime was high. I remember after buying my first home, I had to have an alarm fitted and all of the windows and doors had magnets fitted to them. I didn’t think that the area that had chosen was ‘rough’ however there were often burglaries, assaults and there was a murder around the corner so when I was home alone, I would sleep with a baseball bat under my bed and a landline phone by my bed just in case.

Everything was hard. Life was a slog but you made the best of it. I didn’t know any different.

Where am I going with this and why am I telling you this?

When I moved to the Island over 30 years ago, it was a very different world for me. It felt affluent – I was not used to this. However, a few things really stood out for me:

The air was clean.

There was little crime – I felt safe.

I remember seeing a car parked in a disc zone space with a bunch of keys in the door lock and remember standing by the car until the owner came back in case someone stole it.

The first headline I read in the Courier was ‘Bike stolen from front garden’. I could not believe it. Where I’m from you would not leave anything outside without it being padlocked to the hilt!

There were jobs and lots of them. Whilst I needed a Work Permit, I was still considered and successfully gained employment. With every role I have held here, all of the companies have developed me, supported me through further education, trusted me, allowed me to travel and represent them and I have been paid for the effort I put in. I have enjoyed every one of my roles.

Whilst everything here was a lot more expensive, I applied the same approach I had in the North East which helped set me up for life here. I paid less tax, I had more opportunities to do more and do things I would never have done back in the North.

Commute – we all joke about the commute on the Island however unless you have done a commute in the UK on a regular basis, what we have here is not a commute.

I have never taken the Island for granted and never will. I am extremely grateful for everything the Island has given me and feel grateful for the life I have been able to and continue to enjoy. I have given back to the Island and always will.

Would I move anywhere else? Not a chance – why would I swap what I have?

Author: Anne Murray

Recruiter and top manager, Anne is also the owner of the best stocked bar this side of Vegas. Loves her budgies and venturing out in her camper van.