About the Landscape Juice Network

Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.

LJN's professional business forum is unrivalled and open to anyone within within the UK landscape industry

LJN's Business Objectives Group (BOG) is for any Pro serious about building their business.

For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.

Geographical Move/Wages/Life Standard

Hi.....

Strange question however I would appreciate the views opinions of you good folk.

I am based in the South East and work on the tools in a senior position within a large company. As with all Hort jobs money is never the best but I love it and would not change. I do also crave at some point in the future branching out alone but not yet. As with all things in the South East prices of living is very expensive and the congestion of it is so bad....long commute ect.... All this is down to being relatively close to London which is of no use to me and my family....

So the question is what is life like up North or down West in the Hort/Maintenance world....ease of jobs/cost of living to wages??

The holidays to Wales/Yorkshire over the last year gets me thinking....

Cheers....

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • Tough call. Whilst you say the cost of living is high in the south east, that's really only housing? Most other costs are the same nationwide, and in fact a lot of things like fuel are actually cheapest in the south east where transport is less, and competition higher.

    If you don't have to work in London, getting around is no worse than anywhere else. All cities have traffic issues, so moving to another city wouldn't help.

    I took over a job many years ago from a guy who moved from Slough to Hull. It meant being mortgage-free. He found he was earning so much less that he came back here to do a few weeks whenever he could, so was adding travelling and accomodation to his outgoings. He was worse off without the mortgage, which sounds mad, but also not benefitting from the house price increases in the south east.

    I'd look more towards working locally if it's the commute that's the issue. The home counties are as wealthy as London, but with none of the congestion, parking or other hassles.No offence to people in other parts of the UK, but I think you're struggling to get close to the same rates you can charge down here.

  • In employment I cant say but as self employed 1 man operative, depending on how you opperate you should be able to take home 20k+ and possible 30k if you are good and manage your business well in yorkshire.

    Living costs are about 2/3 of that in london as I understand it.

    • David, do you mean Yorkshire as where we go on holiday: the unspoilt, rural backwaters?

      Or, the main towns where living costs are higher, and there's just as much traffic.

      • Both - I live in leeds but about half of my work is the rural belt north of leeds - 1 mile from where I live in both directions their are 1 million houses and 120k semi's. That and the traffic in leeds is not as bad as london, birmingham or manchester by a long shot.

        • Thanks, David. Interesting to know.

          My brother lives in Manchester. They are both lawyers, and salaries are around a third of what they'd make in a central London firm. Their house cost about a third of a London suburbs house, but the commute is easier.

          Good point about there being expensive housing in all parts of the country if you look for them, and those houses need professional gardeners.

  • I live down in Devon but I originally came from Sussex. I moved around on promotion to different gardens within the National Trust eventually settling in the South West. The pace of life here is slower but the cost of housing and day to day living is on a par with the South East. The climate here is wetter but the season kicks off earlier down here and, depending where you are, the winters are milder compared to the rest of the country. It's worth noting that Exeter is the third most popular city to live in according to a report in the Su day Times a few months ago. This reflects the house prices considerably. If you can relocate within your present company down here or to Yorkshire or wherever that will give you a head start on whether you would want to strike out alone.
  • Thanks so far everyone....yes mainly for house prices and family quality...ie smaller class sizes in schools ect and yes a nice backwater place 30 mins from a big town/city. Everywhere in the South East is over crowded and on the house prices in sure a town house in the centre of Manchester with transport links close to amenities is more for a reason, that's the last thing I want!!!!
This reply was deleted.

LJN Sponsor

Advertising

PRO

How Do You Qualify A Sales Lead?


I don't know about you, but our phones and emails are starting to get busy with enquiries. I've learned over the years that it's all too easy to answer the phone, arrange a consultation and then spend a couple of hours with a prospective client…

Read more…
Comments: 0