Centre of national and local government
Edinburgh is a powerful centre of national and
local government with a sophisticated public sector infrastructure
serving both Scotland and the UK. The city’s public sector forms a
key component of Edinburgh's workforce and accounts for more than
85,000 jobs.
The devolved Scottish Parliament has the power
to legislate over domestic Scottish affairs such as health and
education, but many powers including defence, economic and foreign
policy have been retained by Westminster, meaning much of
Scotland's governance is still directed from Whitehall.
This strong administrative 'cluster' makes
Edinburgh a particularly attractive location for public sector
organisations.
Edinburgh is also home to one of the UK's most
qualified workforces and offers considerable cost savings on
property, labour, travel and other costs compared to London and
other parts of the South East.
Its outstanding working environment and high
quality of life make Edinburgh and the wider city region a
compelling location for staff.
