Brits Abroad

Brits Abroad on-line survey - win £150 worth of British goods

Our Brits Abroad survey seeks to map the scale and nature of British emigration. We are using various methodologies in order to achieve this, from desk-based research to field work in popular destination countries. We also have an on-line survey which we we would invite Brits who have lived abroad, currently live abroad or who are thinking of moving abroad, to complete. There are around ten multiple choice questions that take around a minute to complete before a free space where you can write as much as you like about your experience of living abroad (or why you would like to). In return, Expat Shopping Co-op are kindly offering a £150 voucher to spend on British goods to the person who provides us with the most illuminating story of living abroad, or why they would like to, and a £50 voucher to two runners up.

This survey is extremely important to our project. It will give us a much better understanding of the demographic and professional characteristics of those living overseas, the countries they choose and the reasons behind their choice. If you know anyone else living abroad, please let them know about the survey.

Brits in Lebanon

As the first British nationals are evacuated from Beirut, the crisis in the Middle East is a reminder of the important role that British embassies and high commissions play both in the security of British nationals and at a more emotional level. In an interview on the BBC Radio Four's Today programme, the British Ambassador in Lebanon describes the difficulties in planning any evacuation as the data on British people living in the country is not accurate and subject to change as people move. As violent conflict unfortunately shows little sign of abating in many of the world’s regions, it raises the question of the extent to which governments should be able to track down their citizens in a more systematic manner in order to provide quick aid when security issues arise.

Brits Abroad project blog

While there has been a lot of recent attention to immigration to the UK, there has been relatively little attention to emigration from the UK, particularly from a global perspective. This project aims to fill the gap by mapping where Brits Abroad live across the globe and understanding who they are: their reasons for leaving the UK, their experiences of moving and settling in another country, the contacts that they maintain with the UK and any desires to return. More details can be found in the project outline.

We are currently around a third of the way through the research and we would now like to open up the debate on policies concerning Brits Abroad to interested parties. Over the next four months, we would welcome your thoughts on the changing nature of emigration from the UK and reactions to policy ideas that might aim to support and/or harness the potential of the British diaspora.

Emigration of Britishness

Many commentators have written about the ways in which some Brits abroad create a little Britain in their new country of residence. A Times Online article argues that Brits should not give up their own traditions in France in the same way as there is a thriving French culture in London.

Yet the article also suggests that some Brits find it offensive that British traditions, such as playing cricket or love for baked beans, are rigidly upheld in foreign countries.  It is interesting that these 'overt' signs of 'Britishness' are criticized while many Brits still log on to English language news sites and listen to English radio.

Technological advances have perhaps made it easier to continue to feel British abroad in a less intrusive way, but has this had any impact on British integration into other societies?

One and a half million Brits will emigrate for work each year by 2020

According to the Centre for Future Studies, six times as many Brits will leave the UK to work abroad each year by 2020 than they do today. The report, which can be accessed here, also suggests that the profile of Brits moving abroad for work will become more heterogeneous. Younger employees will be encouraged to seek career-boosting international experiences and if the UK's ageing population is required to work longer, this could manifest itself in part-time forms of work overseas that bridges employment and retirement.

Other governments' actions to attract skilled migrant labour and the need for international companies to have both local and global knowledge will undoubtedly support the rising trend of Britons working overseas. There is a need then, to consider migration flows that might accompany this pattern. It is important to explore the implications for the movement of workers' dependents, particularly if, as the report suggests, employment abroad will become more temporary in nature and towards unfamiliar territories such as China.