Reply to: Barclays in Knutsford

[pmeswani]

Good news guys,

I am starting here soon. So who else from here is gonna be with me?

I'm still waiting to hear from the Indian Agency about a role in Barclays. So I might be with you soon, if I get an interview with them first.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Good news guys,

I am starting here soon. So who else from here is gonna be with me?

[portseven]

I know that feeling. When I was there around 2000 they got rid of 31 out of 32 contractors in one foul swoop.

Tennis courts are good. I was there around the "Barclays Bonk" scandal, so more than tennis was going on

I heard it was Squash!

[quackhandle]

Come on, you have to spill that!

qh

[ChrisPackit]

they panicked during the credit crunch and get rid of every single contractor (or as near dammit).

I know that feeling. When I was there around 2000 they got rid of 31 out of 32 contractors in one foul swoop.

Tennis courts are good. I was there around the "Barclays Bonk" scandal, so more than tennis was going on

[quackhandle]

I worked there a few years ago until they panicked during the credit crunch and get rid of every single contractor (or as near dammit). It was only 7 miles from home so I loved it, 10-15 min commute, but since it was a bank they had a bit of a snobby attitude. When I was there they were forcing people to wear suit/tie and stop the dress down days. Parking was okay I found, unless you got there after 9.30. Biggest problem in my dept was no desks to work from (but yet they wouldn't let you work from home) and the canteen I found was very average food. Took ages to get setup and I got my laptop bag before my laptop. Like most places some arseholes some nice people. Excellent tennis courts though.

HTH.

qh

[Mephisto]

Come join us!! I've been here 6 weeks now and absolutely love it.

Parking is fine if you're here before 9ish though attempting to get through Knutsford after 8am is futile IME and the slightly longer run through Peover is much quicker. Also there are exits from both sides of Knustford service stations which shave time off too.

The atmosphere seems ok - people just get on with it really and there's a mix of Perm/Contractor but its difficult to tell the difference.

Which project/area are you interviewing for?

[rsingh]

What kind of roles do they tend to offer at Radbrooke Hall? Is it dev or admin?

[nomadd]

I think even at £150 a day local v London, I'd do local every time. Current gig is in Surrey, but it is >2x North West local rates, so has been well worth doing.

This^

Worked at Radbrooke 3 years ago and have had several offers to go back. All at £250-300 / day less than I earn in London at present. Nice place, but not going back on those rates.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Incidently, has anybody tried the new A34 bypass extension? Would it help in getting to knutsford?

[Fred Bloggs]

Totally agree with that, £100/day difference not worth it to work in London. At £150 its worth considering but any less and it's a no brainer.

I think even at £150 a day local v London, I'd do local every time. Current gig is in Surrey, but it is >2x North West local rates, so has been well worth doing.

[ChrisPackit]

I worked there about 10 years ago, and it was the best place I have ever worked. Nice people, OK rate, loads of totty, good sports / social scene...what more can you ask for. I did speak to a friend of mine who was there 3 or 4 years ago and he said it had changed a lot now for the worse.

It's simple to get to. I used to get there for 7:30 so parking wasn't a problem.

In summary, I'd love to go back there...

[northernladuk]

Would you say that financial sector on your cv helped you in getting future contracts?

Not as yet as I haven't take two roles in the same industry sector yet oddly enough but.... I do get a lot of calls to go back to Barlcays. I think a large majority of contractor in the area have worked in Barclays so think it is pretty common on a CV.

They haven't strictly 'helped' me yet but the extra calls from them I am sure will land nicely sometime in the future.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

You can kiss a good chunk of that 100 quid goodbye in accodomation and then there is the peace of mind aspect. I would happily accept a 100 quid less if it was between Radbroke and London. In Summer Radbroke is a lovely place and as long as I was content I wasn't losing out massively on rates in the area (which I would be for my sector and Barclays) I would say go for it. It's a great site to work on IMO.

Would you say that financial sector on your cv helped you in getting future contracts?

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

You can kiss a good chunk of that 100 quid goodbye in accodomation and then there is the peace of mind aspect. I would happily accept a 100 quid less if it was between Radbroke and London. In Summer Radbroke is a lovely place and as long as I was content I wasn't losing out massively on rates in the area (which I would be for my sector and Barclays) I would say go for it. It's a great site to work on IMO.

Totally agree with that, £100/day difference not worth it to work in London. At £150 its worth considering but any less and it's a no brainer.