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Is there still a big difference between the north and south when it comes to landscaping and paving?

This discussion on Paving Expertsuggests that it's still might tough the further north you go compared to the southern half of England.

Here are a few telling quotes:

"Business been pretty slow this past year, wreck my body for a crap wage that I struggle to support wife and kids"

"the arse has completely fallen out of Paving and landscaping in my area. It's brutal right now, there's no demand for quality workmanship and there's far too much competition."

"I went from earning 30+k a year as a paver working on big sites for a national firm to earning 10-£12 per hour as a ground worker on agencies."

"it is definitely booming in the south east of england everybody I know down here is busy busy busy  on decent work skilled men are in short supply so the wages have shot up"

"Yeah, things are pretty rough just now. I quoted a big job for a care home ~22k, they got 3 other quotes that were £20-£24k... they went with a couple of polish guys who did it for £10k and told them that anyone quoting 20k is ripping them off  "

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  • Hi Phil.

    Personally I don't even think it is a North/South divide anymore (if it ever was).

    It is now more like a South East/Rest of the Country divide, with very small pockets of exceptions, certain areas of Cheshire for example.

    Having worked with Graeme down in Surrey/Berkshire areas, I was in awe of some of the gardens, and it seemed to me that every third or fourth van was sign written with landscaping services. I couldn't dream of charging the same for certain equivalent sized gardens here that would cost to maintain in those areas as for obvious reasons, & that, as Graeme would know, is no sleight on his prices, just basic localised economics.

    If money were krill & zooplankton the South East would be the whale shark & the rest of us would be sardines. With the odd tuna.

    • I honestly don’t think there is a massive divide, yes some areas can’t support decent rates but then housing and perhaps other costs are lower and reflect this.

      I like to think it’s more on how you market yourself and attract the right type of clients and of course selling yourself.  But heck yes every other van is a gardener or landscape designer, thankfully we have a few dodgy companies that go around putting sugar in lawn mowers which I guess helps get rid of the competition  (and before anyone jumps on this, it is a joke, see http://landscapejuicenetwork.com/forum/topics/mower-sabotage-beware)

      And David those £15 quick strim jobs are now £20 to £25 per visit!

      • Graeme.

        Only £5 - £10 rise in seven years!?

        You continually buck the trend of greedy Britain.

        I was thinking more of that little job we used to do going through the little cast gate with a small bit of grass to the left and a little bit of grass further on for £25. Good memories, and still brings a smile.

        I also remember the "sugargate" thread so another smile.

         

        • That one - at least double now!  I still chuckle when you did the "gentleman's sports injury clinic" and you said I think it was a Mothers Union meeting!   Happy days.

          I might need to call upon your services for my daughters place in Stoke Gifford, the lazy students haven't mowed the lawn for a month or so!!

        • I will have you know David that I proudly voted Labour for the first time in my life!

  • I live near Preston & I see plenty of hard landscapers driving fancy new 4x4's with there other halves also in top cars, they are working hard have rode out the bad times have a good reputation & deliver what they promise

    I will stick to lawn care them flags are to heavy for me at my age 

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