As well long-term job security and opportunities for career advancement, a job with Island Roads also means living in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.
With property prices on the Island generally lower than those elsewhere in the south, a mild climate and stunning scenery in every direction the Isle of Wight is a great place to live. More than half of the Island is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and there are countless beaches to choose from when exploring the Island’s 57 miles of coastline.
Although it may feel a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the Island is only a stones throw from the mainland with frequent ferry links with the hovercraft taking as little as ten minutes.
The Island is perfect for people seeking an outdoor lifestyle with plenty of opportunities for coast & country pursuits and plenty of sporting activities on offer. It’s not all about the stunning scenery though, the Island also boasts a lively arts scene with world renown music festivals, rich history, attractions and delicious local produce with plenty of eateries from crab and chips on the beach to fine dining experiences.
There is always plenty to do on the Island – as a holiday destination attracting around 2.4 million visitors each year tourism is key to the economy and as such the Island has many attractions and places of interest for residents to enjoy time and time again.
If you are considering relocating here with a young family, the Island has 49 local authority-maintained schools including primary, secondary and special schools. You can find out more about the Island’s education system on the Isle of Wight Council website. There are also two independent schools and post-16 education or training options.
Much of the Isle of Wight’s healthcare system is on our doorstep here on theIsland, with only specialist services requiring travel to the mainland. If you do need hospital treatment, St Mary’s Hospital is an integrated hospital in Newport with its own maternity and A and E units, as well as more than 200 beds.
House prices on the Isle of Wight are lower than the national average and considerably lower than the south east regional average. A number of locally owned and national chains of estate agents operate, with offices in all the larger towns.
Transport to and from the Island is primarily via a number of ferry routes taking between ten minutes and an hour.
Wightlink car ferries operate from Lymington in the New Forest to Yarmouth on the West of the Island (40 mins); and from Portsmouth to Fishbourne, near Ryde(45 mins). Red Funnel car ferries travel between Southampton and East Cowes(1hr).
If you are travelling as a foot passenger, Red Funnel’s Red Jet travels between Southampton and West Cowes (30 mins) while over at Ryde you can choose between Wightlink’s FastCat from Portsmouth to Ryde (22 mins) or the Hovertravel hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde (10 mins).
The Isle of Wight does have its own rail line between Ryde Pier and Shanklin, with stations in Ryde town, Brading, Sandown and Lake in between. After significant recent investment in new trains and track upgrades, there is an hourly service for much of the day connecting with the Wightlink FastCat. There are also good onward train links from Portsmouth, Southampton and Lymington.
Southern Vectis, the Island’s bus operator, runs a comprehensive range of services around the Island with regular journeys between the main towns.
These are becoming more common, with the Isle of Wight Council investing in points around the Island.
Not least because of the high standards of the road network, the Isle of Wight has a reputation as a top cycling destination. Against the backdrop of some stunning scenery, the Island has around 200 miles of cycle tracks, byways and bridleways. Whether you’re a beginner or a regular cyclist, there are plenty of routes for you to try – including the full 65-mile Round the Island cycle route. And Island Roads works closely with the Isle of Wight Council to develop and maintain the Island’s cycling network.