Relocating - how to handle at work

[Calmvibes33]

Hi

I am planning to relocate as soon as possible from London back to Scotland, which is where I grew up.
I am sure that this is the best move for me and I am looking forward to the new year ahead and a new start in Scotland.
Currently I am working out the logistics of the move and I am job searching in Scotland. What I am struggling to work out is whether to just get on with my search discreetly and take some annual leave if/when I need to go to Scotland for in person interviews and just not tell my current employer.
My initial thinking was to do this, as normally in the past when looking for a new job (if in the same location) I would do my search discreetly and only inform my employer when I am giving notice.
However as relocating is such a big thing and I may need time off more regularly for interviews and for longer periods, not just time of for an afternoon 1 odd day but a good couple of days to make the trip, should I just be open with my employer?
The driving force for my move is a change in my personal life , which my manager is fully aware of so I think they will be accepting and supportive of the move.
is it acceptable to inform them now of my plan to leave but not officially give my notice?
I am slightly tempted just to give notice and then look for a job as I have a quite long 3 month notice and I will be staying with family when I first move so living cost will be low initially.
My current job keeps giving me great opportunities e.g. to go to conferences and travel etc but I feel a little uncomfortable accepting to do these things when I may well travel and then hand in my notice around the same time , since I am actively looking to move and ultimately leave my job.

Just looking for some general opinions here, what would you do if you were me?

For background I’ve been in my current job for some time , Over 6 years and have a good relationship with my management and colleagues.

I think this depends on the industry you're in and whether you feel there'll be any detrimental effects on you if your employer knows you intend leaving. In my area (NHS) I'd tell them as I'd be confident of finding another job within a couple of months, may not be the perfect job but something that would let me move back.

If you're fairly confident of finding a job reasonably quickly then I'd just start dropping into conversation with line manager that you've decided to return to Scotland and you'll be job hunting. Then it won't be any surprise when you're asking to take leave at fairly short notice.

But if you're in an industry where may take months to find another job then it could create a lot of uncertainty around you in the workplace and depends whether you feel you could be treated differently. In this case I'd probably wait until you start to get interviews before saying anything.

Good luck with the job hunt and move

Thanks @NYName that is really helpful advice.
My job role is quite specialist so w little harder to find a vacancy in Scotland but I am
open to trying something new/ taking a job just so I can make the move.
I’m applying and hoping to get some interviews soon but your advice to perhaps waiting to tell my current employer until I have an interview is good advice!
You hit the nail on the head my worry is exactly that finding a job will take longer than I hope and if I am open with my employer too early that I’ll get over looked in my current role and just be stuck not progressing until I can finally make my move to Scotland!