Out of South Africa!!

It is amazing how a whirlwind business trip of 6 days can still
feel like a great break!
On the 8th October, three of the Think Global
Recruitment team, Alistair, Calum and myself, boarded an overnight flight to
Johannesburg, just a little excited about the people we were about to meet and
a wee treat my PA Lara had organised for us on the last day.  We were so
right to have been.
After a 1 hour flight Edinburgh to London and 11 hour flight
London to Johannesburg, with Virgin Atlantic, we arrived!  On arriving in
Johannesburg airport we were met by a driver who whisked us off the
Radisson Blu hotel in Sandton, the business district of Johannesburg. The hotel we stayed at was great for business, clean, modern with WiFi
throughout.  They also had suites, which with a partition, can double up as
a bedroom and meeting room. Of course, we also liked the pool
by reception that you could sneak to for a coffee or bite to eat between
appointments.
We met with a few accountants on the day of arrival
(Thursday), including two that we had assisted who had just received job offers
to move to the UK.  It was great to be able to meet them in person after
phone and Skype conversations leading up to then.
Early evening and we headed across to Nelson Mandela Square
to The Butcher Shop restaurant.   Wow! Wow! Wow!
All three of us had 2 courses, bread and a sausage dip, the best steak we
had ever eaten, an amazing bottle of wine and some beers and it came to less
than £50.   The atmosphere and service were also great.

The next morning, Alistair headed back to the airport and took a
British Airways flight to Cape Town, I took one to Durban, leaving Calum in Johannesburg to meet with accountants seeking an international move over the next three days. Again, I was met at the airport again by a driver and this time driven to the The Beverly Hills Hotel.   Now this
hotel is fantastic!   The people that work there would bend over
backwards to look after you.  From check in to check out.
I was allocated a suite that had two balconies looking out to sea, a
large lounge, lovely bathroom and walk in wardrobe.  I could see, although
having a pretty busy schedule, I was at least going to be doing it in fabulous
surroundings.

After one meeting on the Friday afternoon, I was lucky
enough to have two good friends join me for dinner.   Lesley and
Mark, whom I know from Sydney and now live in Vietnam, were visiting Lesley’s
parents in Durban and then getting married in Cape Town.  What great
timing!  We visited the very famous Light House Bar at the Oyster Box next
to the Beverly Hills to catch up.   Lovely to see them.
The next two morning’s, I had a walk on the beach, brief
workout in the gym and then lovely early breakfast on the veranda overlooking
the pool and out to sea.  I then headed back to my room for a full day of
meeting South African trained Chartered Accountants seeking an international
move.    The meetings were great.  Everyone showed up, most
early and all were keen and eager to venture out there.  Everyone had a
variety of different destinations on their minds, but the one thing they had in
common was a genuine desire to gain international experience, both to Improve
their Lives and their Careers.   After 18 years of assisting
accountants to secure a new position overseas, I still enjoy every meeting of
this nature.
On Monday morning, after meeting with around 60 Chartered
Accountants, the three of us reconvened back in Johannesburg – for our treat
prior to boarding our international flight!   A visit to the LionPark!   Wow again!  We had a fantastic time seeing Lions and
Leopards and so many wildcats up close.  Stroking a Giraffe and a pack of
Lion Cubs… Yes I said ‘Stroking a pack of lion cubs’!   The best way
to end our trip and spend an afternoon before a long haul flight.
South Africa – we will be back!
Abigail Stevens
International Recruitment Expert
Managing Director of Think Global Recruitment