Contracts in London

[up4it]

DaveP: I live in the North-West and have worked in the London area before now.

Generally, you will only get a look-in on a London gig if they can't find someone local.

As for digs, hotels are usually booked up for months on end. Though, there are cheaper B&B which aren't everyones idea of a cosy nights stay! I did arrange to let a canal barge but the gig ended before i managed to sort it!

I've spent many an hour stood up on the bleeding Virgin cattle-truck trains on a Friday evening. Driving isn't an ideal option due to sheer volume of traffic and pollution.

The things we contractors have to put up with!

[gadgetman]

I've mentioned on here before that I use Youth Hostels when working on short contracts in London.

Don't think I could get away with being described as a youth

So, it is possible to do a London gig for around 120 quid a week, travel + bed & breakfast.

Sure it is and its even cheaper if you sleep on a park bench

[shelby68]

I use www.spareroom.com and get a flat share done it twice now, you'll generally find a room for under 500 quid so long as your not precious about your own bathroom and a lot have an en-suite for not a lot more.

[dang65]

Don't think I could get away with being described as a youth

Sure it is and its even cheaper if you sleep on a park bench

Yeah, that's the reaction I get from most people. YHA hostels have been open to all ages for many years now though (I'm 43), and you get a wide variety of people there.

I've stayed in cheapo B&Bs, European style credit-card entry motels, Travel-Lodges and "posh" hotels and I'm honestly most comfortable in Youth Hostels. In a hotel, if you have your own room with a TV then it's easy to spend the whole evening with the remote just flicking around trying to find something, anything, to kill the boredom. You'll almost certainly be in some crap part of town where nothing's happening and there's nothing to look at, or even worse you'll be on some industrial estate near a main road.

With a Youth Hostel you're often right in the middle of town (try St Paul's, for example), loads of people around, lively pubs, shops open late. The hostel will have a communal TV room so you can witness Americans experiencing Top Gear or QI for the first time.

As I say, you have laundry facilities on site so you can do a wash on a Thursday evening and leave your stuff at work. Makes you more popular at home and you can travel light.

I dunno... I shouldn't try and push this too hard or the hostels will get crowded. It works very well for me though, that's all I'm saying.

[Dow Jones]

Reason for it

So now you know why contracts in London are paying more. It's to cover the additional costs of mortgage/rent, food and travel on the tube. Not rocket science, isn't it?
Also there are more niche finance contracts in the City.
As far as discrimination is concerned, works both ways. When anyone from the South applies oop North, what are his chances against a local candidate?
I think the main reason for preferring someone that lives locally is the fact that he can be called upon at short notice for overtime and w/e work. A lot of people working away from home can't do that.
Finally, I find Scots more willing to work away, unlike some of the obstinate northern types, that always whinge and plainly hate being away from home.

[up4it]

Dow Jones: Stop that bleedin' whingeing, Souvverner!

If I'm not working overtime when I'm away on a gig, I'm down the gym pumping iron!

ECKYTHUMP to thee, mi lad!

[DodgyAgent]

I'm attracted to contracts which are based in London simply because of the rates available.
But I live in the NorthWest of England so you can see the obivous problem.

Just wondered if others have taken contracts in London & have had to source accomodation during the working week.

Apart from sleeping in a bus shelters are there any cheap alternatives ?

If you have to ask you can't afford it

[dang65]

I'm a Southerner living up North, and my CV shows that I've worked all over the place, including Europe. Still come up against that local-jobs-for-local-people thing though. You have to make a point of your past record and willingness to move around. Even say that you have family living in the place where the contract is.

[scooterscot]

You'll be ok if you don't have a Scottish address it would seem. I recently applied for a role in the City and in my short three years as a contractor I have never seen a job Spec which matched my skills so closely. Sent the guy my CV and a day later was told not suitable and this is not the first time either seriously thinking of getting a London address on my CV.

I have also been told by a pimp (by mistake I would asume) when looking for bodies to fill London roles she would only search within a 30 mile radius.

I have also been told by a pimp (by mistake I would asume) when looking for bodies to fill London roles she would only search within a 30 mile radius.

Similar issues in the past. I don't put my address on my CV at all now, and it works.

As a contractor I live no where yet I live everywhere, as a business my services are not bound to one location and I do my best to make sure my clients understand that.

[BlasterBates]

Just add one to the house number of the client