Creativesheffield - Quality of Life
Housing
Sheffield offers a range of new city centre apartments, offering high quality homes close to the vibrant shopping and leisure facilities, or attractive suburbs, many of which are close to or even within the Peak District National Park, but still with easy access into the city centre.
Creative Sheffield, and our relocation support partner, Relocate2Sheffield, can advise on the most attractive areas of the city in which to live, to suit all budgets.
"I was sceptical about moving to Sheffield but am delighted with the choice I made. I have a 15 Minute drive to work or I can cycle. I end up working long hours so quality of life is very important to me and my family - the work:life balance in Sheffield is far better than it was in London. I`m less stressed and my wife sees more of me!"
Neil Armstrong, Product Development Director, PlusNet plc
Education
Schools
Sheffield offers a wide choice of state and private schools at both primary and secondary stages.
Further Education
Sheffield College is one of Europe`s largest further education colleges, catering for all age groups, needs and abilities.
More than 40 subjects are offered at A level, as well as a range of Access to Higher Education and Foundation Degree programmes for mature students. More than 25,000 students study on vocational courses in a wide range of subjects.
Higher Education
The University of Sheffield is an outstanding research and teaching institution, with an international reputation for academic excellence. It is a member of the Russell Group of elite research-led universities. It has over 24,000 students.
Sheffield Hallam University is one of the UK`s most progressive and innovative universities, combining academic research and business development through industrial collaboration and technology transfer. It is home to over 28,000 students.
Culture
Within easy walking distance, you can enjoy a cluster of award-winning theatres, museums and galleries.
In addition to the Lyceum and Studio Theatres, Sheffield`s theatre complex incorporates The Crucible Theatre; the city`s main producing theatre. Equally famous for hosting the World Snooker Championships every year since 1977, it is currently undergoing the final phase of a major £15M redevelopment and refurbishment.
The Millennium Galleries is an outstanding venue for the visual arts, craft and design, right in the heart of Sheffield. The Galleries has hosted outstanding collections through its unique partnership with the V & A Museum in London.
Adjoining the Millennium Galleries is the Winter Garden, the largest urban glasshouse anywhere in Europe, home to more than 2000 plants from around the world and opened in 2003. Along with the city`s Peace Gardens, the Winter Garden won the Academy of Urbanism`s Great Place Award in 2008.
Recreational Activities
We`re one of the UK`s leading cities for the hosting of major events - since 1990, Sheffield has staged over 600 major sports events. To support such an impressive events programme we are home to a superb portfolio of world-class sports facilities. These include Ice Sheffield, Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Don Valley Athletics Stadium, Sheffield Arena and the English Institute of Sport Sheffield complex. See www.sivltd.com.
Sheffield has a rich heritage in musical creativity, and the new O2 Academy is attracting some of the most exciting acts on the music scene. Sheffield`s Don Valley Stadium hosted the only U2 concert in England outside of London as part of their tour, attracting over 50,000 fans. The Sheffield Arena is one of the largest indoor venues in the country, with a capacity of 12,500, and the magnificent and recently refurbished Sheffield City Hall hosts around 400 events each year.
Alternative Energy / Environmental Issues
Sheffield can rightly stake a claim as England`s greenest city, boasting 150 woodlands and 50 public parks, and being the only English city with a national park within its boundary. The Peak District, established in 1951, is visited by people from all over the world. They come to find peace, tranquility and adventure, experiencing some of England`s finest climbing, caving, walking and cycling.
Although not the closest city to the coast, people in Sheffield can still enjoy extensive water sports at Rother Valley Country Park, a 300 hectare lakeside environment which offers sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing and jet skiing.
"What I love about Sheffield is that when I get home from my office in the city centre, I can jump on my mountain bike and cycle straight out into the countryside within a matter of minutes. What a stress buster!"
Andy McDonald, IT Project Manager, HSBC
