Java skills

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Intersting points Nomadd

South Manchester is definitley an expensive place but the range of prices is a lot more vast than that in London. You can get a good semi detached house in a pretty good area e.g. Heald Green, Cheadle Hulme (the better part of it), Gatley, Handforth for a hell of a lot cheaper than the equivalent areas in London. There are plenty of semi's, bungalow's, detached houses varying from £650 - £800 a month which are pretty damn good.

Council tax is a killer in the higher bands though (i pay nearly £2000 a year for a 2 bed flat).

Living in South Manchester is generally cheaper than London because of the life style. You save time travelling and there are no crazy congestion charges and underground ticket prices. Eating out is cheaper, life is generally more chilled out.

Although on £600/day I don't think it would make much difference.

[northernladuk]

Am not sure why we are even attempting to compare house prices between Manc and London? Comparing the most expensive area in Manc for an average area in London seems a bit apples and pears?

Bit of a no brainer as to which is like for like more expensive no?

[nomadd]

Living in South Manchester is generally cheaper than London because of the life style. You save time travelling and there are no crazy congestion charges and underground ticket prices. Eating out is cheaper, life is generally more chilled out.

Although on £600/day I don't think it would make much difference.

I motorbike to work. 30 minutes, door-to-door (11 miles.) No Congestion Charge for a motorcycle. Never use the Underground.

And as for "Eating out"? Well, you don't need that when you have a good microwave.

I agree that the lifestyle can be more chilled out, but that's more to do with the client site, TBH. I would not call my time at Barclays in Knutsford "chilled out"; whole experience for both permies and contractors was destoyed by one bad manager...

Still, I keep an open mind. If another contract came up in Manchester, I'd certainly look at it - but only once the rate "pi55 taking" stops.

Nomadd

[Francko]

If I can rent a house for the same amount - which I can - then I'd rather be picking up £600+ / day in London than half that in Manchester. I was offered a role back at Barclays in Knutsford recently - rates had fallen from the £525 I was on 2 years ago to £250!
Nomadd.

I think you are taking for granted that all contracts in London are paying 600+. Unfortunately not only Manchester rates have been cut to 300 from 550 but also London rates are often cut from 600 to 400 and even less.

[nomadd]

I think you are taking for granted that all contracts in London are paying 600+. Unfortunately not only Manchester rates have been cut to 300 from 550 but also London rates are often cut from 600 to 400 and even less.

Depends which field you are in.

The bigger issue is the lack of roles in Manchester. One week search with "Java" brings up:

LONDON (ENG) + 25 Miles (371 Jobs)

MANCHESTER, Lancashire (ENG) + 25 Miles (14 Jobs) ...and 4 of those are the same job - in West Yorkshire!

Nomadd

[Francko]

Depends which field you are in.

The bigger issue is the lack of roles in Manchester. One week search with "Java" brings up:

LONDON (ENG) + 25 Miles (371 Jobs)

MANCHESTER, Lancashire (ENG) + 25 Miles (14 Jobs) ...and 4 of those are the same job - in West Yorkshire!

Nomadd

Sure it depends on the field. But generally speaking I can say that contracts that used to pay 500-600 a day just over a year ago, it's not common to see them advertised now for 350-400 and yes in Central London, so don't think it's just a Manchester problem...

[Billy Pilgrim]

by the way - ever get your Java bod ???

[OrangeHopper]

I suspect he did because the role only appeared on jobserve the once.

[scooby]

Well, we've gone for the "plenty quickness, much cheapness" appraoch.

He's located in London, but staying up here... Absolute dire rate too!

[mobi]

Don't be naive! Nowadays loads of people are happy to work for £300/day in London!