What are the common pitfalls that individuals and companies make? What factors might they not consider or not realise they have to think about in advance?

At Turner & Townsend we’ve been supporting our people with internal transfers within the global business for 40 years – last year alone we helped more than 120 move internationally.  

When relocating, employees tend to worry first about finding somewhere to live, being in the right catchment area for good schools, opening a local bank account, obtaining a driving permit and accessing healthcare. In the longer term it’s also important to understand what options there are for staying in the country – particularly where a work permit is needed – and how to look after their financial future by maintaining long-term savings or pension arrangements.

As an employer, it can be easy to focus on the immediate logistics of a move and overlook the long-term support that employees and their families often need. You also need to consider how an employee will integrate into their new team, making sure they have the same opportunities to develop their career, access to learning and development and appropriate support in their role. 

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