According to new research, some 15% of expats have cancelled plans to return to Britain in the last year. Respondents to a study commissioned by Lloyds TSB International said their quality of life was better abroad, their finances healthier, their cost of living lower, and their neighbourhoods safer. In fact, expats are increasingly shelving plans to return to the UK at all. The proportion now planning to live away from the UK indefinitely has leapt 13% in 12 months, to 69%.

Expats say they have a better quality of life abroad. 74% hold this view, against just 7% who say it was better in the UK. 64% claim they are financially better off, against just 12% who say they were wealthier in the UK. When asked about the cost of living, again more than half say it is lower abroad.

We can’t exactly blame them for not wanting to come home, but this does mean that firms relying heavily on international work may want to adjust their business plans a little for the coming twelve months.