Bruno's journey: Cape Town to London

Bruno Basilio

 

Job title: Senior Account Manager - Huawei Africa

Gattaca start date: July 2014

Date of transfer: March 2016

 

Why did you transfer to London in particular?
London is one of the most diverse and multicultural global capitals, and that offers a wide range of opportunities to enjoy one’s life. In the long term, Britain is surely a place where I can live with my family and create strong roots.

On the professional side, London is so well connected and I feel this can be an advantage to better overview our business and to set up new strategies for the business area I cover. We have also moved office recently and it feels like we are on top of the world while working, overseeing the Thames and Tower Bridge.

How was the transfer process for you?
The process was very smooth and quick. I had close support by our South African and UK teams, as they took care of a big part of the process for me like my contract and my flights.

What do you like best about London?
I like the opportunity to be connected with a world of different cultures and ways of living, which enriches us on the social side. I particularly like to walk by the Thames, taking a route between Piccadilly, Trafalgar, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Westminster. I like all the historical buildings and many parks to run or cycle in. I love the funky markets at Brick Lane or Camden Town and the night-life at places like Soho or Shoreditch, with small food markets and an infinite range of exotic flavours. There is always the opportunity to discover new places in London; all hidden away inside this big metropolis.

Do you have any advice for others who may be interested in relocating offices?
These are a few tips I found helpful:

  • Make sure you properly check the location you want to relocate to. Speak with colleagues who work there and do some research online.
  • Ensure you feel confident that it will be a good move for your personal life, not just professionally.
  • If possible, travel to that location for a few weeks and work from there, so you can start to visualise yourself living there.
  • Try making a 3 – 5 year life plan, so that you fully understand if this location and country feels right for you long-term.

Find out more about our London Bridge office.