Why the hell are there in contracts in Manchester?!?!

[SueEllen]

I just fail to understand why Manchester is so crap for contracting. For example if you lived in London,you would expect to be working in the city

Mmmm. No. London covers a massive area plus Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Kent etc are near by. There are many firms who have specifically put their back office operations outside London in the Home counties.

Most of my contracts have been outside London. While slightly more expensive unless you going to Slough it's nice not to commute into London for example you can get a seat on public transport or even drive to work.

[Fred Bloggs]

I'm in process engineering and the N/W used to be pretty busy. The N/W is still a hub for what is left of the UK nuclear industry but the rates are very low and the work is mind numbing in nuclear. The jobs scene has been truly dire in the N/W for the last two and a half years but I see a little stirring lately. I too have never landed a job in Manchester or its suburbs. The only jobs I've had in the N/W were in Runcorn, Widnes and Warrington. Presently I'm in Surrey but I do not like it, only the money (very good, 2x N/W rates) and lack of work at home have kept me down here the last 9 months. I am determined to get back to the N/W for my next job even if it is on only about 40% of what I'm getting down here.

[Pogle]

Yep Manchester is tulipe for my skill set too.
Which is why I've been commuting to Swindon every week since Feb and will continue to do so for most of next year too.
Contractors need to be flexible.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Yep Manchester is tulipe for my skill set too.
Which is why I've been commuting to Swindon every week since Feb and will continue to do so for most of next year too.
Contractors need to be flexible.

Being flexible - fine..... that still doesn't answer my question: why no contracts in Manchester?!?! Let's say we got 1 in 2 or 1 in 3 in Manchester, that would still be ok, but it seems to be a 1 in a 1000 chance.

[configman]

I live in Berkshire, why do I keep getting called about contracts in Manchester

[TykeMerc]

I live in Berkshire, why do I keep getting called about contracts in Manchester

For the same reason most of us Northerners get most of our work down South. Sod's law.

[lilelvis2000]

That CIS contract I had in M'cr must have been lucky for me then. Not really as I live in the armpit and face a 1 1/2 hour commute each way...Glad to be away from M'cr really. I thought Stockport was the place to be in IT in Manchester?

[northernladuk]

I went for a post at CIS and it took me longer to get there than it did to drive to Leeds/Liverpool or Chester. Turned that one down due to better opportunities further afield oddly.

[configman]

For the same reason most of us Northerners get most of our work down South. Sod's law.

The maps must be upside down in this years REC and ATSCO diaries

[TykeMerc]

The maps must be upside down in this years REC and ATSCO diaries

Apart from 18 months near to Preston, I've spent most of the last decade 200+ miles south of where I live and most of the last 9 months nominally in Berkshire.