Working outside the city (London)...?

[darmstadt]

<Looks up at logo. Ponders 'ContractorUK' name, notes that it's not 'ContractorGlobal'. Goes back to work...>

Might have to get rid of this page then: Overseas Guides - IT Contracting in Australia, USA, South Africa and Europe :: Contractor UK :-)

[psychocandy]

Been contracting 8 years now in the City (London). Started off commuting for a few years (like many others) but then decided to just rent closer to work to get some life back. Almost 4 years have passed and I'm yearning to do something new this year - I'm sure a few reading this may feel the same.

The thing is that from experience all the well paid, decent (blue chip, IB, etc) companies are within London. A few are dotted around the UK but the vast majority are based in the capital.

So, my question is to those that have moved to new gigs outside the M25. Did you prefer to work outside London? What changes to your life did you notice (i.e. not paying a fortune for hotels / trains)? Was it worth it and would you do it again?

The reason I ask is that all my contracting experience is in the City. A job is a job at the end of the day, however I'm sure most of you can't deny that the decent work environments are in London (rather than slogging away in some backroom office in a town no one has ever heard of). I know that my previous IB client had offices outside the M25 but after visiting them you do notice the calibre of colleagues declining and even the offices aren't as nice - not trying to sound like a total ****. Is it just me that notices this?

What would you say - still focus on London or venture out (I may surprise myself)?

Gotta be a wind-up....

Believe it or not there is life outside London. A lot of us have even got gas and electricity....

To be honest, you couldn't pay me enough TO work in London.....

[Anubis]

Not a wind up - genuine post. I don't see many skyscrapers and cool offices in Wales.

I'm not having a dig; on the contrast if anything - where are the decent places to work outside the M25? ok...Manchester city center will have a fair few, as will Birmingham - but what about all the towns inbetween. Surely contractors gravitate towards London down here in the south? If not, where do they go? Where do they work? What is it like? Why did they choose to work outside of London?

That's the point of my original post because I do not know.

[SueEllen]

Not a wind up - genuine post. I don't see many skyscrapers and cool offices in Wales.

I'm not having a dig; on the contrast if anything - where are the decent places to work outside the M25? ok...Manchester city center will have a fair few, as will Birmingham - but what about all the towns inbetween. Surely contractors gravitate towards London down here in the south? If not, where do they go? Where do they work? What is it like? Why did they choose to work outside of London?

That's the point of my original post because I do not know.

I think you need to go on holiday in the UK as you sound like you have never lived or stayed anywhere apart from London.

There is more to the UK than cities......

[stek]

Working outside the city (London)...?

Never worked in London, and I'm not attracted to skyscrapers!

Worked at the Coop in Manchester, 24 floors and the DVLA in Swansea, 15 floors plus lift announcements in Welsh. Last role was third floor in Newcastle and current by amazing coincidence also third floor here in Dublin.

I have also worked on ground floors, first and fourth. And second. Oh and 11th also in Manchester for Railtrack.

[Anubis]

I think you need to go on holiday in the UK as you sound like you have never lived or stayed anywhere apart from London.

There is more to the UK than cities......

...so can you answer my question(s)? Where do you work and why? Do you like where you work?

It's just an honest question. Some people here think it's an all out attack on their local community - odd.

[Anubis]

Never worked in London, and I'm not attracted to skyscrapers!

Worked at the Coop in Manchester, 24 floors and the DVLA in Swansea, 15 floors plus lift announcements in Welsh. Last role was third floor in Newcastle and current by amazing coincidence also third floor here in Dublin.

I have also worked on ground floors, first and fourth. And second. Oh and 11th also in Manchester for Railtrack.

Did you prefer Manchester, Swansea or Dublin?

[stek]

Working outside the city (London)...?

Did you prefer Manchester, Swansea or Dublin?

Tough one! Swansea, it was a top rate (cos no one will go there) and everything was cheap esp. digs.

Dublin is nice, makes Leeds or Manchester look shabby, can't compare to London cos I've never been to Africa.

[Anubis]

Tough one! Swansea, it was a top rate (cos no one will go there) and everything was cheap esp. digs.

Dublin is nice, makes Leeds or Manchester look shabby, can't compare to London cos I've never been to Africa.

Thanks for decent response.

Would you say Dublin had a better pool of talented people to work with? Or was it more about the place?

[stek]

Working outside the city (London)...?

Thanks for decent response.

Would you say Dublin had a better pool of talented people to work with? Or was it more about the place?

Talent? Who cares, the more incompetents there are there are the more work there is for me putting it right!

I think if I'd be concerned with working in a team or with good people I'd be permie. As it is I like parachuting in, doing the needful, and buggering off. And really I couldn't give a toss about the location or quality if building, though I have to admit toilet facilities are important and 3G signal therein, followed by totty count and local food/beer options.

Means to an end for me and the end is money...