Reply to: North West Contractor Scene

[FrontEnder]

Hmmm, opportunities don't sound great at the moment. I'm currently on a good role with a public sector client where the work is interesting but doesnt require more than a 40 hour week and I get to work from home sometimes. I'm not a dev, so at a guess £300 pd looks like top end in NW.
I know the upcoming ir35 changes, although I'm not sure whether the end client will deem me inside or outside - yet to assess.

On a slightly different note, if the rates don't match London, what's the work like? Do they generally offer some flexible hours or work from home? I can take a job on less pay, but I really want to avoid an inflexible dull job which has no prospects for CV or career improvements.

It totally depends on the company rather than the location. There are a lot of digital agencies in Manchester and they're usually relaxed working environments and can be quite flexible.

There are companies like rentalcars.com in Manchester that are highly innovative, both in terms of technology and working practices.

[MrMarkyMark]

In my experience , and I had dozen of interviews in London (unsuccessfully), jobs in London seem more "advanced" than in NW, utilising newer tech, demanding more knowledge from a contractor . To contract in London you need "London experience" indeed

Basically you are really saying you aren't quite good enough, then?

[The Spartan]

In my experience , and I had dozen of interviews in London (unsuccessfully), jobs in London seem more "advanced" than in NW, utilising newer tech, demanding more knowledge from a contractor . To contract in London you need "London experience" indeed

The tech generally is newer but add to that a large pool of candidates that are available in and around London, I was the first person interviewed for my current gig but had to wait two weeks to find out whether or not I had landed the role as they had 8 other people to interview and that was after they'd done phone screening.

[diseasex]

On a slightly different note, if the rates don't match London, what's the work like? Do they generally offer some flexible hours or work from home? I can take a job on less pay, but I really want to avoid an inflexible dull job which has no prospects for CV or career improvements.

In my experience , and I had dozen of interviews in London (unsuccessfully), jobs in London seem more "advanced" than in NW, utilising newer tech, demanding more knowledge from a contractor . To contract in London you need "London experience" indeed

[MrMarkyMark]

You can fly to london and the US, amongst other places, so getting from Dublin AIrport isn't too bad.
When you're in Dublin getting to the airport is a pain. No trains, only buses or taxis.

This is exactly what I meant actually....

[Biggles78]

Hmmm, opportunities don't sound great at the moment. I'm currently on a good role with a public sector client where the work is interesting but doesnt require more than a 40 hour week and I get to work from home sometimes. I'm not a dev, so at a guess £300 pd looks like top end in NW.
I know the upcoming ir35 changes, although I'm not sure whether the end client will deem me inside or outside - yet to assess.

On a slightly different note, if the rates don't match London, what's the work like? Do they generally offer some flexible hours or work from home? I can take a job on less pay, but I really want to avoid an inflexible dull job which has no prospects for CV or career improvements.

[WTFH]

++ getting anywhere from Dublin airport is supposed to be a nightmare.

Hence min 700 euro PD.

You can fly to london and the US, amongst other places, so getting from Dublin AIrport isn't too bad.
When you're in Dublin getting to the airport is a pain. No trains, only buses or taxis.

[SueEllen]

Well true, as agent said, "the cream always go to the top" ...

Nope it's called having the right skills for once.

[Big Blue Plymouth]

I wonder who they are getting in, if they are getting in

I wonder...

I've just had to turn down an agent who had a role that I would normally be a shoe-in for.

I ticked all the boxes plus have sc. Then she informed me it was for Army HQ in Andover.

[MrMarkyMark]

precisely what I mean. €450 != £ 450. more like £ 385 at today's exchange rate and having to live away as well. That's more like £ 300 after the travel and expenses. May as well be permie.

++ getting anywhere from Dublin airport is supposed to be a nightmare.

Hence min 700 euro PD.

[oliverson]

Dublin is booming now. I had few agents asking me to relocate as they are hiring 25 contractors, something i have not seen in the UK.
Had interview request for City bank in dublin @450 euro but that was day after i had local gig

precisely what I mean. €450 != £ 450. more like £ 385 at today's exchange rate and having to live away as well. That's more like £ 300 after the travel and expenses. May as well be permie.

[diseasex]

Small money out there, once you have factored costs in, 700 euro PD at the very least you should be looking at.

True, I'd mention Sydney or melbourne gigs @ 700-800AUD pd.
Hard to say wheres the best money, London seems out of reach now.

[MrMarkyMark]

Dublin is booming now. I had few agents asking me to relocate as they are hiring 25 contractors, something i have not seen in the UK.
Had interview request for City bank in dublin @450 euro but that was day after i had local gig

Small money out there, once you have factored costs in, 700 euro PD at the very least you should be looking at.

[diseasex]

It's crazy the rates up there are so bad. I was on £ 450 twelve years ago in Yorkshire and even now that's difficult to achieve (.NET development). I blame the agencies for either pocketing the difference or just not pushing hard enough. But then again, rates in London haven't increased that much either. What I'd give to go back 12 years. I still had a thick head of hair and boyish charms back then. Still a hit with the ladies. Ah well, it all had to end sometime :-(

Dublin is booming now. I had few agents asking me to relocate as they are hiring 25 contractors, something i have not seen in the UK.
Had interview request for City bank in dublin @450 euro but that was day after i had local gig

[oliverson]

Yeah this is true - although I was on 400 a day outside of banking. On more now in banking but they are tightening their belts and rates are harder to negotiate I think.

Up here I don't know - £300 to £350 seems to be the mark for dev work.

There are a few sub £300 role though.

It's crazy the rates up there are so bad. I was on £ 450 twelve years ago in Yorkshire and even now that's difficult to achieve (.NET development). I blame the agencies for either pocketing the difference or just not pushing hard enough. But then again, rates in London haven't increased that much either. What I'd give to go back 12 years. I still had a thick head of hair and boyish charms back then. Still a hit with the ladies. Ah well, it all had to end sometime :-(