This post comes from API Scotland Assistant Resident Director, Tara Matthews. You can learn more about Tara here, and more about interning abroad here.
Nicknamed the Festival City, Edinburgh has the largest economy in the UK outside of London. With a low unemployment rate and a highly-educated population and as the centre of politics and law in Scotland, it is an attractive destination for investors and for anyone looking to intern abroad with API.
Financial services dominate the Edinburgh economy. Several banks have their headquarters in the city, at sites such as the specifically designed Exchange business district and at Edinburgh Park, the UK’s largest business park. Banking has been around in Edinburgh since 1695, when the Royal Bank of Scotland was founded, and since then several financial firms including Standard Life and Scottish Widows have started up here.
Outside of finance, it is no wonder that tourism is such an important part of the city’s economy. Much of the city centre has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors flock to see sites in the Old Town such as Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace and to marvel at the beautiful Georgian architecture of the New Town. In August alone, when the Edinburgh Festivals take over, the city has 4.4 million visitors, generating over £100million for the local economy.
And, in large part, thanks to the highly skilled graduates of the city’s universities, Edinburgh’s science and technology industries continues to grow. Most notably travel search engine, Skyscanner was founded in the city in the early 2000s.
Pair these booming industries with a stunning city centre and you have yourself an ideal destination for an internship. Whether you are looking for culture, history, the great outdoors or anything else, Edinburgh has it all crammed into a compact, very-walkable town centre. You will find vast green spaces both in and around the city, such as the 5km squared Holyrood Park where you can scramble to the top of an extinct volcano. Friendly locals will be more than happy to help you enjoy everything in the city from its medieval cobble-stoned streets to its modern art, music and theatre festivals.
We look forward to greeting you in Edinburgh for your API internship!
Deadlines for our “Summer 2” internships in Scotland are approaching- March 1st. Apply today! You can apply online here:
https://www.apistudyabroad.com/intern/
