Demand for contractors outside London to work in London

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

In the past I used to apply for London roles and constantly get asked if I had worked in London in the past. Usually agents would then dismiss my application on the basis I was a) outside of London and b) had never worked in London before.

I have noticed an increasing trend of agencies asking if I would be willing to work in London and quoting higher rates than I had previously applied for. This time however, I keep explaining that London just doesn't work financially and that for an extra £100/day it was pointless to even consider London.

Was just wondering if anybody else has experienced the same or if it is just in my field? Also is it the case that supply for these contracts must come from within Greater London or will they have to increase the rates to make it financially viable for contractors like myself to consider working there?

[BrilloPad]

What field are you in?

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

What field are you in?

BI Development/Data Warehousing/Banking

[eek]

I thought you were in a decent contract of a reasonable length, a renewal soooo good that you annoyed an agent by rejecting a contract that you had been offered.

Yet you are still hunting for work

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

I thought you were in a decent contract of a reasonable length, a renewal soooo good that you annoyed an agent by rejecting a contract that you had been offered.

Yet you are still hunting for work

who said I was looking for work? I'm hanging onto this contract for dear life.

[cojak]

I'd consider it - send them to me...

[SpontaneousOrder]

What's the question? Do people choose to commute based on whether it's worth it or not?

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

What's the question? Do people choose to commute based on whether it's worth it or not?

Nope - whether London's market will ever be for other than Londoners.....

[Dallas]

I hired a dev chap who said he was from Lewisham and willing to work weekends when we were doing dress rehersals. Turned out he was from Bristol, had a young family and was unable to get ti London on the weekend - plonker

So I guess it depends how high risk your project is. Another chap here is on a 3-day london, 2-day home agreement. But all he does is reboot a server if it falls over.

[MicrosoftBob]

I hired a dev chap who said he was from Lewisham and willing to work weekends when we were doing dress rehersals. Turned out he was from Bristol, had a young family and was unable to get ti London on the weekend - plonker

So I guess it depends how high risk your project is. Another chap here is on a 3-day london, 2-day home agreement. But all he does is reboot a server if it falls over.

A lot of people who live way outside have a flat or other accomodation in London so that they can honestly say they 'live in London', it's quite sensible when clients are looking for reasons to reject people