Jean Louis Cols, Wolfson Microelectronics
French-born engineer Jean Louis Cols has travelled the world for his career, but he has now settled in Scotland as Vice President of Development at Wolfson Microelectronics plc.
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He spoke to TalentScotland about how the country compares with the many other nations he has lived and worked in.
What is your role at Wolfson?
I’m Vice President of Development, in charge of all of our semiconductor development engineers. We have teams in Edinburgh, Swindon and Stuttgart.
What is your background?
I’m an engineer, having always worked in hi-tech sectors, such as aerospace, semiconductors and telecommunications. My career is international because I’ve worked in France (where I’m from), Canada, Spain and, of course, the UK.
What led you to taking a job at Wolfson?
Wolfson is in a unique position, having grown to become an international player in the semiconductor business. There aren’t many technology companies like it in the UK. However, Wolfson’s growth isn’t finished yet and we have ambitious plans for the future. The company continues to grow its world-class engineering team and needed someone experienced to take them to the next level. That is what I do and why I was approached to come and lead the team in the next step.
What drew you to work and live in Scotland?
Scotland has a very good balance between the hype of the city and having access to countryside and coast just next door. For us, living near North Berwick by the sea, it is an easy commute to Edinburgh. We get the best of both worlds. It’s a very good way of life.
How does Edinburgh differ from where you lived before?
It’s excellent and compares very well with all the places I’ve lived – such as Montreal, the Basque area of Spain, Hampshire and Cannes. My family is very happy here.
Also, Scotland has the economic capability of supporting companies such as Wolfson. This mix of having a strong technology and economic centre, but also offering a good way of life, is better than around London, Paris or the other larger capitals.
How did you find the actual process of moving to Scotland?
The process was very straightforward, and we found a house to rent easily. The schools for our children are excellent – a better standard than I’ve seen anywhere.
What kind of things do you get up to in Scotland?
We enjoy the beach, which is nearby and lots of hiking with the children and the dog. In terms of anything outdoors, it’s a great place. As for days out with the family, the options seem infinite.
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