Java vs .Net contracts - much more .net up north?

[eek]

Newcastle has a fair amount of techie stuff going on but otherwise I'd suggest looking at Edinburgh.

Newcastle is hardly a hot bed of contract work. Outside Sage, Nomad and whatever consultancy is trying to get Java Developers in Longbenton at £200 a day there is little around.

[stek]

Newcastle is hardly a hot bed of contract work. Outside Sage, Nomad and whatever consultancy is trying to get Java Developers in Longbenton at £200 a day there is little around.

I was at HP on DWP in Northumberland Park last year, decent rate for Newc, been asked to go back at same for same on UC, rate is utter pants though so it was a snigger and a no.

[doodab]

Ditto here.
I live up North, but work down South.

I know a few people from the NW who do this. OK if you can WFH a couple of days a week.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

I am from the NW myself and find it a contracting dead-zone....

That's a ridiculous statement. Firstly define what the limits of NW are and then which area of IT you are talking about.

[eek]

That's a ridiculous statement. Firstly define what the limits of NW are and then which area of IT you are talking about.

Its hardly a ridiculous statement. In 20 years of contracting I've had 1 interview in Manchester. Worked near Chester for a bit but technically that was North Wales......

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Its hardly a ridiculous statement. In 20 years of contracting I've had 1 interview in Manchester. Worked near Chester for a bit but technically that was North Wales......

So that just goes to prove my point. In 4 years of contracting I have worked in Crewe, Wythenshawe, Knutsford (twice) and turned down about 5 other offers all within the greater Manchester area.

Even though that has been my experience I wouldn't go on to say that the North West is full of contracts. So it comes down to how far you are willing to travel within the NW, your area of work and rate expectations. Otherwise it's a case of how long is a piece of string.

[rashm2k]

Thanks for your replies guys! I'm currently in London so potentially OK.

Whats the normal age of contractors you see/know/meet? I'm in my mid-late twenties so, don't have tonnes of experience, but I'm good at what I do. The question I'm trying to answer is 'will an employer generally not even look at me because of my age', I understand there will be exceptions, but I'd like to get a general feel of when people start.

[eek]

So that just goes to prove my point. In 4 years of contracting I have worked in Crewe, Wythenshawe, Knutsford (twice) and turned down about 5 other offers all within the greater Manchester area.

Even though that has been my experience I wouldn't go on to say that the North West is full of contracts. So it comes down to how far you are willing to travel within the NW, your area of work and rate expectations. Otherwise it's a case of how long is a piece of string.

You're not a .net or Java developer though are you?

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

You're not a .net or Java developer though are you?

I have worked in .NET but SQL/BI is my main area. I work with .NET developers all the time though and am aware of the market - I am not saying it's good or bad just that it depends on many factors whether you can get contracts up north.

[Bunk]

Thanks for your replies guys! I'm currently in London so potentially OK.

Whats the normal age of contractors you see/know/meet? I'm in my mid-late twenties so, don't have tonnes of experience, but I'm good at what I do. The question I'm trying to answer is 'will an employer generally not even look at me because of my age', I understand there will be exceptions, but I'd like to get a general feel of when people start.

It's not your age that's the problem. It's that 2 years in either .Net or Java isn't much and would put you way down the pecking order compared to experienced contractors. Out of interest, have you picked one to focus on or do you intend to carry on doing both?