Moving Away from the Southeast... What am I missing?

quantumlobster

Andalya wrote: »

In this case I think the OP stated that their job is quite London-specific. Lot's of us would happily leave London if it didn't mean switching industries and starting from the bottom again.

I work full time in insurance/IT, so job opportunities are heavily based around Southeast/London

There is insurance and IT work all across the UK; it's not some magical voodoo that only people south of Watford can do. Of course there's more of it in the SE. I said as much in a previous post.

Again, there are jobs of all kinds right across the UK. You just have to work the job search harder - no switching/starting again required.

If you really want to get out of London, you absolutely can, but you will have to work at it. Imagine - working in Leeds or Newcastle or York, or even Middlesbrough :eek:

Red-Squirrel_2

quantumlobster wrote: »

There is insurance and IT work all across the UK; it's not some magical voodoo that only people south of Watford can do. Of course there's more of it in the SE. I said as much in a previous post.

Again, there are jobs of all kinds right across the UK. You just have to work the job search harder - no switching/starting again required.

If you really want to get out of London, you absolutely can, but you will have to work at it. Imagine - working in Leeds or Newcastle or York, or even Middlesbrough :eek:

The good thing about the finance type jobs in the north of the country is that the salaries are still decent and your money buys you a much better quality of life than in London.

A relative of mine works in insurance here in the north, they were offered double their salary to relocate to London but when they looked into the houses and locations they could afford, cost of childcare, commute etc. realised they were much much better off staying put on the lower salary.

Sobraon

Just ‘my take’ on Lincs as I actually live here –YMMV.

We did more or less what the OP suggests but many years ago. At that time as well as having grammar schools Lincolnshire also had one of the best comprehensive schools in the country.
Our eldest daughter went to that comprehensive (that year the pass mark for our postcode to access grammar schools was >100%). She decided to not transfer at 14 or16.

Second and third children went to one of the grammar schools. The schools were very well led and behaviour in the schools was very good and all three were very happy at school. All three got fantastic GCSE scores and excellent A level results and got into Russell group universities.

There are some downsides. Lincolnshire people, particularly in the villages, can be very reserved and it can take many years to become established. There is also an almost complete lack of public culture which I believe is due to the long term lack of investment by central government (both flavours) in Lincs. Health services are not very good (sorry) so local people tend to go to Leicester, Nottingham or Sheffield for anything serious, although the new medical school in Lincoln may change this. After university all three children have returned to Lincolnshire and also we (my wife and I) have no intention of leaving the county.

There is plenty of land and space, a great variety of homes at achievable prices and the weather is also pretty good. Crime is low and sometimes we will have one Police officer on duty for a 400 square mile rural ‘patch’ of the county with nothing to do.

Lincolnshire, I guess is continuing to live in want might be described as the 50s/60s but I think this is because it is what Lincolnshire people want.

bertiewhite

Sobraon wrote: »

Crime is low and sometimes we will have one Police officer on duty for a 400 square mile rural ‘patch’ of the county with nothing to do.

Except in Boston

Davesnave

Sobraon wrote: »

we will have one Police officer on duty for a 400 square mile rural !!!8216;patch!!!8217; of the county with nothing to do.

A few years ago I happened to be driving my 3.5 tonne van along a very quiet local B class road at 01.30. Reaching the junction with an A class road, I found a police car parked up and a couple of large, very stern-looking officers blocking my path.

"Here we go," I thought, "it'll be 'What's in the back of your van, chum?' " and maybe, "Can you show me your licence?" if there's disappontment at my very boring, legitimate load.

But no. When I wound the window down, the question was "Have you just driven from xxxx, and if so, did you happen to see a golden retriever or labrador type dog?"

I replied that, yes, I'd driven from xxxx, but all I'd encountered in 10 miles was a milk lorry.

"Oh, right," came the reply, "then in that case we'll keep going on the main road. Had a report of a stray dog, but the person was rather confused about the location."

As I drove on, I wondered where else in the country two policemen would be looking for a stray dog at the witching hour of a Friday night/Satyurday morning...

Now I know! :rotfl:

Smodlet

quantumlobster wrote: »

There is insurance and IT work all across the UK; it's not some magical voodoo that only people south of Watford can do. Of course there's more of it in the SE. I said as much in a previous post.

Again, there are jobs of all kinds right across the UK. You just have to work the job search harder - no switching/starting again required.

If you really want to get out of London, you absolutely can, but you will have to work at it. Imagine - working in Leeds or Newcastle or York, or even Middlesbrough :eek:

:eek: indeed. At least they speak a form of English in Grantham, what with it being darn sarf 'n' all. Newcastle was a foreign country when I lived there. I was regarded as alien because Ah divent taaahk liyke thaaah'.