Life after London

[oliverson]

i guess every so often in life, and especially in the world of software development, one has to 'reinvent' oneself. After 8 years solid of contracting in the London financial sector, living in hotels, rentals, B&B's, etc, I realise the time has come to head back home (Northern England) and try carve out a niche for myself up there. Now there's always a bit of uncertainty making changes like this but the future in London / finance looks very bleak. It's gotten harder and harder to get work and as I approach 50, I look around and ask whether this is what I want for the rest of my life. And the answer is NO. But how do you turn your back on a career/lifestyle that's served you well for almost a decade? It's like one of those relationships where you know it's over but you just hang on in there, afraid to make the move.

I ask myself what the new world looks like - contracting along the M62 corridor. Sure the rates will be less (though there's definitely a narrowing of the gap as northern rates are in general the best I've seen them and the London rates are very depressed, continually driven down by cuts and competition both on and offshore). Then there's the looming travel and expenses issue.

I'm interested to hear from anybody who has made a similar transition. I'd like to try build up a small set of customers within a reasonable commute and by going direct, lessen the shortfall in day rate.

Cheers.

[MrMarkyMark]

i guess every so often in life, and especially in the world of software development, one has to 'reinvent' oneself. After 8 years solid of contracting in the London financial sector, living in hotels, rentals, B&B's, etc, I realise the time has come to head back home (Northern England) and try carve out a niche for myself up there. Now there's always a bit of uncertainty making changes like this but the future in London / finance looks very bleak. It's gotten harder and harder to get work and as I approach 50, I look around and ask whether this is what I want for the rest of my life. And the answer is NO. But how do you turn your back on a career/lifestyle that's served you well for almost a decade? It's like one of those relationships where you know it's over but you just hang on in there, afraid to make the move.

I ask myself what the new world looks like - contracting along the M62 corridor. Sure the rates will be less (though there's definitely a narrowing of the gap as northern rates are in general the best I've seen them and the London rates are very depressed, continually driven down by cuts and competition both on and offshore). Then there's the looming travel and expenses issue.

I'm interested to hear from anybody who has made a similar transition. I'd like to try build up a small set of customers within a reasonable commute and by going direct, lessen the shortfall in day rate.

Cheers.

Did you not already try this already, then you went back?

[Cirrus]

I'd like ... by going direct, lessen the shortfall in day rate.

Agents only take about 10% normally so that's the absolute maximum you will save.

Not bad value from where I'm sitting.

[oliverson]

Did you not already try this already, then you went back?

yeah, the analogy of a relationship is probably a good one here - I went back and regretted it.. I guess what's changed this time around is the state of the market, the impending changes to travel/accommodation expenses, the fact I'm another year closer to 50, and having been away for a little while, the realisation that I just sold 8 years of my life away, only for money.

[Cirrus]

Apart from London, in recent times I have had contracts based in Sheffield/Birmingham, Peterborough, Derby, Nottingham and Newcastle. Lloyds/Halifax and Coop Bank are always looking for people.

[MrMarkyMark]

yeah, the analogy of a relationship is probably a good one here - I went back and regretted it.. I guess what's changed this time around is the state of the market, the impending changes to travel/accommodation expenses, the fact I'm another year closer to 50, and having been away for a little while, the realisation that I just sold 8 years of my life away, only for money.

Cool, I remembered the post, as I have a colleague in exactly the same, work away, situation as yours.

I just sold 8 years of my life away, only for money.

For me, try 15 .
However, at least I have had plenty of time off in between, therefore, I have got a lot of other things out of it than just money.

[LondonManc]

Keep having the odd gig back in the north but the length of contracts, project types, etc just isn't there. Day rates in my specialisation seem to be holding so I'm not unduly concerned. The T&S may hit but given its a percentage loss rather than total loss I feel that I can simply adjust my travel and accommodation and stand the hit.

[unixman]

Hi OP. Despite coming from "up north", and being about the same age as you, I've never made the transition you mention and never worked in the City of London. My patch over the last 10 years has been the M1 corridor, north of London up as far as Derby. I've also had a few contracts within 20 miles of home, near MK.

I'd love to now how this can be accomplished:

I'm interested to hear from anybody who has made a similar transition. I'd like to try build up a small set of customers within a reasonable commute and by going direct, lessen the shortfall in day rate.

[MrMarkyMark]

I'd love to now how this can be accomplished:

Quote Originally Posted by oliverson View Post

I'm interested to hear from anybody who has made a similar transition. I'd like to try build up a small set of customers within a reasonable commute and by going direct, lessen the shortfall in day rate.

The answer to that is not easily, due to the standard contractor engagement model.
However, it is possible, as I know some that have done it, usually fixed price though, rather than T&M.

The issue with going direct is factoring your invoices for 3 months, I know I have done it.
That sort of payment term is not unusual either, I made £50 PD out of it.

I have to say that they were quicker paying the invoices after, however.

[unixman]

Factoring your invoices? You hired a company to chase the debt?