“The world is getting smaller,” noted Simon Birchall, MD of Bucknall Austin, following his firm’s merger with Rider Hunt and Levett & Bailey. One QS wasted no time in making the most of this. Matthew Parsons talked to Dutch-born Eddie Visscher (right) about the pros and cons of moving from Rider Hunt in Australia to Bucknall Austin in Birmingham

QS News: What led you to work in Australia?

Eddie Visscher: After spending six months backpacking in Australia I met my future wife, which is always a good reason to live in a country. I then stayed for six years, working in Rider Hunt’s Darwin and Victoria offices.

QSN: What attracted you to the UK?

EF: The standard of living in the UK is high and the people are similar to the Australians. However, there is more variety here. In Australia the climate is absolutely perfect, but you can feel isolated.

QSN: Why did you choose Birmingham?

EF: My first thought was to go to London, so I looked into that, but a lot of people at Bucknall Austin suggested that I should try Birmingham. I didn’t have high expectations. But, the city is an attractive place and I’m enjoying it more than I had anticipated. It has the sort of lifestyle that I wanted. It is more easygoing than London and I like the people. But, you can’t get a proper coffee here, whereas they make decent coffee in Australia.

QSN: Did the merger help with the move?

EF: I had been planning to move before I had even heard about the merger, but this alliance definitely helped to speed things along.

QSN: Will the alliance prompt others to move?

EF: Maybe, as there are lots of guys in Australia who want to work overseas. There are two types: the money chasers who go for the Middle East, and the ones who move for a change of work or lifestyle to the UK.

QSN: What do you think of alliances?

EF: They are good for both parties, especially when I see how many jobs are coming up. There are a lot of things in the pipeline.

QSN: What type of work did you do before?

EF: In Australia I was working in residential and retail sectors. I spent a year on secondment with Bechtel, working on a harbour project in Newcastle, so it was good to be on site.

QSN: Any plans to return to Holland?

EF: I’m not returning to the Netherlands, which is unfortunate for my family. I’m going to stay here. I feel at home in Walsall.

QSN: Does working abroad help your career?

EF: It’s not a necessity for your career to travel around, as often your manager will be a local person. However, it’s good for your own development. I have no regrets at all. The first month is always hard but it’s definitely worth doing.

QSN: Is going to Australia a good idea?

EF: Absolutely. The professional standard of work is similar to the UK.

Source

QS News

Postscript

To enter Protégé 2007 and win a job with Bucknall Austin, visit www.protege2007.co.uk