Manchester?

[Alessandro]

Hello, I moved from Italy to London 4 years ago. I am about to complete level 3 and will complete NVQ within the year.

Since I moved here I've only visited Edinburgh, Bath and Brighton, so I have no idea what the North West looks like. I was reading about Manchester and my impression is that it is a great place to live, cosmopolitan, vibrant and more affordable (rents etc.).

But is it a good idea to move to Manchester for a recently qualified electrician with no connections? I was thinking next year, I would have at least one year of experience under my belt and maybe 2394 & 2395 Inspection and Testing. I can see there are tons of jobs in London, but what is the situation in Manchester? Would I get jobs through agencies as easily as I can in London? Also is driving an extenuating, horrible experience like it is in London?

Everyone is telling me that London is the place to be, but I'm starting to find it a little too stressful and especially insanely expensive..

 

[Evans Electric]

I think you'll find that London is the LAST place to be Alessandro , the traffic is a nightmare .  People are unfriendly.

Go North young man ! 

Cost of living is cheaper . Houses are cheaper . People are friendlier

 

[ProDave]

If I can make a living in the sparsely populated Highland, then I am sure you can make a living as an electrician anywhere.

I hate traffic congestion so personally I would avoid any big city.

 

[steptoe]

I live on the edge of Manchester,

I LOATH driving into it, avoid it at all costs if I can,

Loads of agency work, rubbish money,

Loads of installers, very few proper electricians, I always seem to be pricing against installers, drunken Bob, and someone's mates uncle, I've decided not to join the race to the bottom, I give a price, 

No, sorry luv, I can't do anything with it, it's the best you will get for a proper job,

Invariably I get the odd call 6 weeks later to fix a fault,!!!!!

Invariably on the odd occasion they actually get me to fix it after I've refused to explain the heating/lighting/power/RCD tripping problem over the phone to their 'spark',  

Their economy choice has cost them dearly,  

:|

 

[Essex1]

I live on the edge of Manchester,

I LOATH driving into it, avoid it at all costs if I can,

Loads of agency work, rubbish money,

Loads of installers, very few proper electricians, I always seem to be pricing against installers, drunken Bob, and someone's mates uncle, I've decided not to join the race to the bottom, I give a price, 

No, sorry luv, I can't do anything with it, it's the best you will get for a proper job,

Invariably I get the odd call 6 weeks later to fix a fault,!!!!!

Invariably on the odd occasion they actually get me to fix it after I've refused to explain the heating/lighting/power/RCD tripping problem over the phone to their 'spark',  

Their economy choice has cost them dearly,  

:|

Interesting. I have just made the same choice. We pay to join many schemes. The NICEIC of which are by far the cheapest. Some of our competitor choose not to pay the money we do to join these schemes. We get audited 5 times a year for various levels of compliance.  We pay an external safety compliance company to keep tabs on us to ensure we are up to speed. Our competitors do not. 

How can we be competitive when it is not a level playing field?

Recently we had an incident where a trunking lid we installed fell quite some way and almost hit a member of the public. What I priced for a 5 night job (engineering hours) was squeezed by the client to 3 due to funds. I said ok. Everyone under pressure. Things are missed. Accidents happen. 

So so in hindsight I have vowed NOT to anymore be a part of the race to the bottom. Almost cost my business so just not interested. 

 

[NozSpark]

There are far too many people in the race to the bottom... I'll not be a part of it either... In fact I've recently been charging more and I've getting just as much work

 

[ProDave]

Interestingly I found a site claiming to give the day rate for all trades across the UK. According to that, the top price up here is £140 per day for a sparky. Well even if I only work a 7 hour day I earn more than that. Not sure what that says, but customers lkeep coming back and recommending me.

 

[Essex1]

Interestingly I found a site claiming to give the day rate for all trades across the UK. According to that, the top price up here is £140 per day for a sparky. Well even if I only work a 7 hour day I earn more than that. Not sure what that says, but customers lkeep coming back and recommending me.

Interesting. What did it say for London?  Do you remember?

 

[Blue Duck]

a jam sandwich and a poke in the eye with a ****ty stick!

 

[steptoe]

You get 'installers' round here  working for £100/day, :shakehead

That's what you compete with,

I've had a **** year,

Starting to turn the corner now, I hope,   ray

 

[Sharpend]

So most members in this thread are charging more than the going rate (going rate will be determined my the number of chancers,etc - not by proper sparks), which demonstrates exactly what I say, money is not the object it's the attitude and approach that determines the price of a job. If people like YOU and what YOU present then they'll pay what YOU ask. 

Simples!! 

 

[ProDave]

Interesting. What did it say for London?  Do you remember?

Here it is if you want to check your area http://www.buildingsheriff.com/tradesmens-day-rates.html

£180 to £240 per day for an electrician in London.

 

[Sharpend]

Oh balls in that case I'd better take a pay cut and give some back!

 

[Essex1]

So most members in this thread are charging more than the going rate (going rate will be determined my the number of chancers,etc - not by proper sparks), which demonstrates exactly what I say, money is not the object it's the attitude and approach that determines the price of a job. If people like YOU and what YOU present then they'll pay what YOU ask. 

Simples!! 

Or as profit and money is so filthy as you say you could do the work for free as I am sure you do  :innocent

 

[Sharpend]

Essex for the record, I do more free work than I do paid work! 

 

[Andy™]

Here it is if you want to check your area http://www.buildingsheriff.com/tradesmens-day-rates.html

£180 to £240 per day for an electrician in London.

seems to be a country thing and not regional - all jockland sparks are £100-140, england are £180-240, wales is £80-130, NI £80-80

 

[Sharpend]

Wow ain't moving to NI, there's no scope for improvement!! :slap  

 

[ProDave]

Okay we are all agreed, that site is a load of old tosh then.

 

[Essex1]

I would not be surprised if it is accurate. Remember it is an average. 

 

[Lusk]

I was reading about Manchester

The place is a hell hole and there isn't any work here, pick somewhere else!