Expat Stories: Lorna Ferrie

Welcome back to Expat Stories, where we welcome members of the Mauve Group team to discuss their experiences of relocating and life as an expat. In this month’s instalment, we welcome longstanding team member Lorna, who began her career at Mauve in 2007 after emigrating to Cyprus.

Tell us about yourself and your role at Mauve.

I'm Lorna, Global Compliance and HR Manager at Mauve Group and I relocated to Cyprus 17 years ago. When I moved to Cyprus in 2007, I had planned to take the first three months off to adjust, because I had never had a gap year, so it felt like the perfect opportunity to chill out. Within four weeks, I didn’t know what to do with myself and felt ready to pursue the next step in my career.

I stumbled across a job at Mauve Group that fit well with my background in investment finance, specialising in corporate tax. I began working as a Payroll Coordinator, but my role soon evolved, and I have worn quite a few different hats since! For a period, I assumed the role of Payroll Manager and I also took on responsibility for the Compliance and HR function, ultimately transitioning into my current position as Global Compliance and HR Manager.

What made you decide to move to Cyprus in the first place?

I visited Cyprus for a holiday and on the second day, I met and fell in love with a Cypriot man, my now-husband. To begin with, we lived in my home country of Scotland, but moved back to Cyprus within six months of getting married.

Was moving to Cyprus your first experience of migration?

Yes. I had never intended to move abroad or leave Scotland.

How did you prepare for relocation?

Quite badly, to be honest with you. I did not know what to expect, because I was relocating as a spouse of a Cypriot national, so I was not entirely sure what rules applied to me in the first instance, because it is quite different to when you relocate under other circumstances.

I did feel a sense of security because my husband was Cypriot and already had a job here, it allowed me to take my time to research and find out the types of jobs that were available, although at the time I didn’t know companies like Mauve Group existed in Cyprus.

Were there any factors which made relocation easier?

Being married to a Cypriot helped because he spoke the language and could translate things for me. Government offices in Cyprus can be quite difficult — they are difficult for everybody, but it makes a significant difference when you speak Greek, which I didn't.

What were the most challenging aspects of relocation?

I found the language challenging to a certain extent, but more specifically liaising with professional bodies. Naturally, there are cultural differences, and it is important to understand and embrace that things are done differently.

How important do you think it is to have experts such as Mauve Group to assist and guide you through the relocation process?

It is essential to seek out expert advice when relocating. While I moved for different reasons than many others, if an individual is relocating for work reasons, they will need a lot of information upfront to understand what to expect.

Gaining support while navigating visa and immigration procedures is crucial. Since Brexit, you may have a limited time to stay in the country and it does not necessarily mean you will secure an appointment with the relevant bodies within that time frame, so you must factor that in. Working with professionals is absolutely crucial, so that you have the right advice.

In your role as Global Compliance and HR Manager, what are some typical compliance challenges you observe clients encountering when relocating employees or hiring internationally?

A challenge that clients can typically come up against when hiring internationally, is navigating different employment legislation across multiple countries. The rules can be different from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, so it can’t be assumed that two countries on the same continent will have the same employment legislation.

For instance, the rules in the United States do not apply elsewhere in the world. It can be very different from country to country.

What is your top tip for staying compliant when hiring internationally?

Seek advice from experts. Always.

What's your favourite part of living abroad?

I enjoy the relaxed pace of life. I like living in a seaside town as well — you don't have that hustle and bustle that you get in big cities. While it is nice to experience it from time to time when I go home to Scotland, not living in the rat race is a real benefit.

What would your top tip be for moving to a new country?

Research everything that you possibly can about where you're going, including what to expect when you get there such as the local customs. Seek expert advice, particularly if you are relocating for work because you can guarantee there will be something you’re not aware of that is vital for you to be compliant in-country.

Was there anything that surprised you about relocating that you didn't expect?

Driving in Cyprus is completely different to driving in Scotland. Indicators aren’t favoured and you generally have to guess where people are going. One of the funniest things that still tickles me now is people will stop their cars in the street, to have a conversation with a friend, they could be blocking traffic while they have a chat and continue to talk to them!

Thank you, Lorna, for sharing your experiences of relocation with us! Follow Mauve Group on our social platforms, LinkedIn, and YouTube to stay up to date.

If your organisation is looking to expand overseas and requires visa and immigration support or advice on how to remain compliant when hiring abroad, find out how our global HR solutions could help your organisation, please get in contact today.