Working outside the city (London)...?

[Anubis]

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)?

[RasputinDude]

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.

Rubbish. Never worked in London, never felt the need to nor wanted to. There are plenty of gigs outside of that hellhole (based on skills obviously).

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

You seem to hold a very London-centric view. Letting go of that is going to be difficult for you, but if you can then you'll find that there are some very intelligent, high-calibre, well skilled people that just aren't interested in working in London.

[cojak]

WRDS

There's more to the UK than London you know. I'll be looking for my next contract out of London (Leeds/Manchester probably but will look at Birmingham and Bristol if I have to).

[Anubis]

May I ask why you prefer to work elsewhere? Just trying to get people's opinions.

I'm not all for London. It's just that for my skills it seems the vast majority of roles are based there - if I could find somewhere decent outside the grid locked over populated city then I'd obviously consider it, but they are either very few and far between or they have a significantly lower rate (hence I always stick to London).

Has anyone here moved from roles in London to somewhere else? What do you think? Did you think it affected your prospects in any other roles (i.e. you worked for a company outside London then moved back into IB but found it harder?)

[northernladuk]

Get a gig at Barclays in Radbroke Hall. Great drive giving it the berries through the countryside to get there, count how many Lambo's, ferraries etc pass you on the way in through Alderly. Do a mornings work then go sit on the croquet lawn with your lunch in the sun watching the ladies go by. Great stuff. Gig and rates are rubbish and likely to get kicked out on your arse about November but can't have it all LOL.

[stek]

Working outside the city (London)...?

I'm in Dublin now in a building surrounded by abandoned half built other building, the Celtic Tiger? More like Gay Tiger

[Scrag Meister]

I love living and working in London.

So much to do and a lot of free stuff too.

Only yesterday the wife and I went for a ride in the Emirates Cable car over the Thames nr Greenwich, then caught a clipper down the river to St Katherines Dock and got some food.

Went to the zoo last Sunday.

Luckily I also have a place in Devon, so if we need some slow, peaceful and quiet time we go there.

My work isn't my life it facilitates my life.

[darrenb]

You seem to hold a very London-centric view. Letting go of that is going to be difficult for you, but if you can then you'll find that there are some very intelligent, high-calibre, well skilled people that just aren't interested in working in London.

You seem to hold a very UK-centric view. People on this forum will be astonished to learn there's a world of high-calibre people out there that have never even heard of IR35.

[cojak]

You seem to hold a very UK-centric view. People on this forum will be astonished to learn there's a world of high-calibre people out there that have never even heard of IR35.

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

[norrahe]

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

Unfortunately for me what I do although is a transferable skill, my niche market up till recently was in London, despite trying I could never get anything local in Northants/ Beds/Bucks.

But as fun as London is, there is life ( and work) elsewhere.