An introduction to the Isle of Man

Situated 50 miles equidistant between Ireland and the UK, the Isle of Man is a self-governing ‘crown dependency’ within the British Isles.

Transport

The Island has excellent air and ferry services. Direct flights regularly serve London (Gatwick), London (City),London (Luton), London (Stanstead), Dublin, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bristol, Leeds/Bradford and Newcastle (all offer further international connections if needed). Ferries leave regularly for Belfast, Dublin, Liverpool, and Heysham (near Morecombe, in Lancashire, England). Each is served by fast, as well as conventional ferries, which put the Island within two hours reach of UK and two and a three quarters hours of Ireland.

Quality of life

When MORI conducted a survey of the quality of life on the Isle of Man they discovered that with a satisfaction rate of 93%, the Island is as desirable a place to live as the most popular UK county (Devon).

Interestingly, the approval rating was higher than the research agency found in Guernsey (82%) and Jersey (82%).

Similarly 70% of Isle of Man residents are satisfied with the Government, compared to 33% in the UK, and 46% and 44% in Jersey and Guernsey.

Furthermore, more than 90% of residents feel safe on the Island and two in three are satisfied with how the Island is policed. More than 60% of residents also believe the Island’s economic prospects have improved in the last five years. Top of respondents’ feedback on the Island was its ‘beautiful countryside’ ‘suitability for family life’ and ‘safe environment’.

“The low rate of taxation and telecoms infrastructure might attract you to the Island but the quality of life keeps you here,” enthuses Bruce Elliott, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales at online payment provider, NETeller, which recently relocated to the Island from Canada.

“It’s just such a great place to live. Every sport you could wish for is here, the education and health systems are first rate, the climate’s moderate and being between North America and Asia we can start the day talking to the Middle and Far East and end it talking to our North American people.”