A Successful Expat helping other Expats in Spain

Steve Hall, a self-identified global entrepreneur, arrived in Spain 17 years ago and never quite left. He has developed numerous successful ventures, including projects involving insurance, telephony, language courses and exhibition services. His most recent venture is as Master Distributor of Talk Fusion - which allows you to send video emails quickly and easily.

Since he's arrived in Spain, he has not only been successful in his own right - he's helped hundreds of other expats looking to do the same. One of the ways he had done this is developing a website chock full of resources for the aspiring expat - www.thisispain.info. Steve has also used his extensive contacts in the expatriate communities across Spain to help hundreds of others. His clever, quick wit and caring nature are a real gift to those interested in making Spain their new home.

Steve reports that there are many people who arrive in in Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca (where he is based) thinking that they will be able to make a living by teaching English.  When they discover that there are loads of teachers out there trying to do the same thing, and that salaries can be as low as 7 euro an hour, their hopes of living on beautiful coast of Spain are often shattered. Steve's advice - "Don't leave your brains at Gatwick".  He suggests learning the market needs of where you want to live before you decide to pack up make the move.  Steve said there are always needs for plumbers, tilers, roofers and electricians - jobs people people don't often think about when first looking for work in Spain.

According to the site, there are more expats - foreign 'empresarios' - than Spaniards trying to start businesses in Spain. The cultural, linguistic and bureaucratic difficulties they come up against don't seem to be holding these expats back from building businesses across the country. These nature of these businesses span the continuum - from foreign-language magazines and computer companies to numerous activities related in tourism and services for the elderly. With the strength of the Spanish economy improving, there are more opportunities for new businesses than in years past.

Your Expat Success Tip: Are you an aspiring expat interested in living in Spain?  I invite you to check out www.thisispain.info and come back and share what you found most interesting or useful.