Are things normally this quiet? (first timer in north-west...)

[rootsnall]

I moved back to lovely Lancs and I have been in constant work for over 4 years now all within an hours commute, 5 different contracts. A bit flukey I think but there is quite a bit of work in and around the M6/M62/M56 between Manchester and Liverpool. Quite a few Co's have moved their IT stuff to lovely ( cheap ! ) industrial estate locations up here from the Sth East. Once you get past Preston you are making your commute quite a nasty one. The M6/62 junction is a joy to behold !

[expat]

PS.. don't you think it's kinda perverse that we work in a field that enabled most things to be done remotely - yet we still have people commuting 140+ miles a day. Ridiculous.

Yes. But if it can be done remotely, it can be done remotely from Bangalore. Be careful what you wish for.

[ookook]

In my experience of contracting - which has all been in the North so far - theres plenty of work around in between the Sheffield / Leeds / Manchester triangle.
Admitedly thats a wide area but I've never had trouble picking up good rates. Although I suppose it helps that I tend to work with one particularly big Telecom company.
A lot of the north west based contractors in the office also seem to cycle around between the various banks / telcos but they never seem to be out of work. Maybe you need a foot in the door first

[KentPhilip]

I am from Lancaster. I have been contract for 10 years. I have worked no days in Lancashire in that time.
Go where the work is, make sure the rate covers your costs. Commuting is easier by plane to the mainland than train to the South and offers a better lifestyle.

Plan B is your getting out of IT plan.

Plane from Lancaster? I didn't know there was an airport there - only a few mills and a bale of hay.

[Sausage Surprise]

Don't know what it is that you do but the Testing market's really quite dead at the moment. You're also at the disadvantage of being a first-time contractor.

If you don't think you can manage to arrange a B&B for weekdays if you work away do you think you're really think you're cut out for this contracting lark?

Plan B's are various posters' schemes for making cash, e.g. buy-to-let, providing other services on the side, etc.

Eh?

Type in "Test" into Jobserve for UK contracts over the last 7 days.

[TheBigYinJames]

Eh?
Type in "Test" into Jobserve for UK contracts over the last 7 days.

If he wanted to read fiction, he could go to a library

[NickNick]

Plane from Lancaster?

It was a bomber.

Thenkyewverymush, I'm here all week, try the veal

[dang65]

Eh?

Type in "Test" into Jobserve for UK contracts over the last 7 days.

I get 113,425 jobs titled "test please delete".

[DiscoStu]

Eh?

Type in "Test" into Jobserve for UK contracts over the last 7 days.

Then try applying for some and see what sort of response you get...

[Ardesco]

Don't know what it is that you do but the Testing market's really quite dead at the moment. You're also at the disadvantage of being a first-time contractor.

If you don't think you can manage to arrange a B&B for weekdays if you work away do you think you're really think you're cut out for this contracting lark?

Plan B's are various posters' schemes for making cash, e.g. buy-to-let, providing other services on the side, etc.

The test market seems to be up and down for me at the moment. A few weeks ago I got lots of calls and an interview (bloody horrible place though so I'm glad I didn't get it) I then had nothing for 2 weeks and now I'm getting lots of calls again and have had another 2 interviews. In general it doesn't seem to be that different to a couple of years ago.