Contracting outside of London/Moving to the coast

[Flubster]

There are a few Pharms that use SAS people not that far away.

Don't do pharms and they tend to ask for the relevant SAS modules. Also, pharms is mind-numbingly boring....

[ChimpMaster]

Doesn't Dorset have a few banks around that use contractors? I used to work at Barclays there until they closed the office down - it was a great place to be. I'm sure there are several big organisations in and around Poole.

[alreadypacked]

Contract & by the sea = Dublin

[SandyDown]

yep, outside London very little jobs and not paid well, plus completely different culture. If you move to the coast you need to do it for the lifestyle change, therefore may be go permie, there are a lot of companies in Bournemouth / Southampton/ Norwich, but don't know why there's no contractor markets !!

I too live outside London (Oxford) since graduation I had one local but permie role

[King Cnvt]

Ain't London near Sarf End on Sea? Luverly, cockles an' mussels. Jellied Eels. Pukka.

[SandyDown]

Doesn't Dorset have a few banks around that use contractors? I used to work at Barclays there until they closed the office down - it was a great place to be. I'm sure there are several big organisations in and around Poole.

Exactly there is JPMorgan, Infosys, Bank Of America now(after buying out part of JP Morgan) are many many others, go to centre of Bournemouth and you'll see a vast number of technology and finance companies, unfortunately they rarely have contractor position, perhaps because they have plenty of permie applicants, also in these areas people tend to stick to the same job for decades.

[NickFitz]

It's possible to live in Weston-super-mare and commute to Bristol. You could have the missus/husband running a B&B while you do your DBA stuff

[Ruprect]

What are you expecting? Herne Bay to be the IT hub of the UK?

Mrs Rup forced me to go to Herne Bay the other week *shudder* - was worse than southend on the chav front. I would imagine most of them think IT stands for "I'm Thick"

[daviejones]

Doesn't the long commute (distance-wise) make it more likely that you'll be late or absent, owing to rail foul-ups?

Yes. I once took 7 hours to get home...

[daviejones]

Wow, not what i was hoping for!

I thought it'd be like, 'come on in, the water's fine!'

Hmmm....Don't like the idea of a 3 hour commute everyday.

C'mon people, there must be some success stories - don't be shy!

Thanks to everyone that's replied so far...

I used to do 4 hours each way every day by train......I must have been maaaad!!!