Nina(27)

I worked as a designer at a fashion company in Rotterdam, but felt I was hitting a ceiling. The Dutch fashion industry is small. London on the other hand — that's where trends are set. Via Instagram I was approached by an emerging streetwear brand in Hackney. They were looking for a creative director and offered sponsorship.

The Skilled Worker visa was arranged through the brand. They already had a sponsor licence because they had previously sponsored a Japanese designer. My Certificate of Sponsorship was ready within two weeks. The visa application via the VAC in Amsterdam went smoothly — biometrics, document upload, and three weeks later I had my visa. BRP collected at the post office in Hackney.

Hackney is the creative heart of London. Broadway Market on Saturdays, vintage shops in Dalston, galleries in Bethnal Green — the inspiration is endless. My studio is in a former factory on the Regent's Canal. I pay £1,600 for a one-bedroom flat in London Fields — expensive, but the salary compensates. Creative directors earn £60,000-80,000 here, compared to €35,000-45,000 in the Netherlands.

The fashion industry in the UK has changed since Brexit. Importing materials from the EU has become more expensive due to customs formalities. Many small brands have supply chain issues. But the creative energy is undiminished — London remains Europe's fashion capital. London Fashion Week, the creative agencies, the network — it's incomparable to any other European city.

I registered with the NHS via a GP in Hackney. Registration was simple but waiting times are long — for a non-urgent appointment you sometimes wait three weeks. Many Londoners use private GPs for faster access. I use Babylon Health (now part of eMed) for digital consultations. HMRC and PAYE are handled by my employer, but I created an online account with HMRC for oversight.

London is intense, expensive and sometimes overwhelming. But for someone in the creative industry there's no better place in the world. The diversity of people, ideas and styles is unrivalled. My tip: if you're in the creative sector, apply broadly in London. Many companies are willing to sponsor for the right talent. And choose Hackney if you love creative energy — it's the Amsterdam of London, but bigger.