The midlands

Nathan said:
Can't believe people are suggesting areas like Solihull. Staffs or Shropshire much better option, especially if close to the M54.
Click to expand...

I can't believe people are suggesting locations when the OP is 2 years from getting a job let alone knowing where it is :p.
 
Easy then, anywhere but crappy London, the south east or South west.

But not as far North of the dumping grounds of Sheffield and Manchester areas.
 
TheMightyTen said:
Wait until you find where your job will be and then base your choice of living location based on the following caveats

1) Between the hours of 07:00 and 10:00 the main Midland thoroughfares grind to a complete standstill.
2) Between the hours of 10:00 and 15:00 the main thoroughfares just about move but really don't plan on getting anywhere in a reasonable amount of time.
3) Between the hours of 15:00 and 19:00 see point 1.
4) All other times expect most thoroughfares to be shut as some numpty sticks another hole in the ground and shoves up temporary traffic lights that fail to work.
5) Ensure vehicle is a 4 wheel drive as when you actually get to move most road surfaces are akin to an off-road experience.

When you find where you are going to work my advise would be to see if they will let you place a caravan in the car park to live in or let you work from home, anything else get one of those classy bead seat covers to stop your arse going to sleep because you are going to spend a long time sat on it staring at taillights and number plates.
Click to expand...

This is easily solved by riding a motorbike, I've done plenty of riding around and to Birmingham in rush hour traffic with next to no slow downs.
 
I live in London... and am an engineer by training (though am more of a programme/project manager now), and have a job, in a large engineering project in London, that was lucky! :p

That said, London is loathsome, so if you can live out of it then go for it.

I went to Loughborough too, and I loved being in the countryside - it was bliss. :)

If she's willing to commute a little you can find a mid-way place so she can still get into London. Salaries may be less, but you will get more for your money out of London generally.
 
Freefaller said:
I live in London... and am an engineer by training (though am more of a programme/project manager now), and have a job, in a large engineering project in London, that was lucky! :p
Click to expand...

Only because your handsome, a lesser man would be flipping burgers and asking do you want fries with that.

Thinking about it I'm originally from the East Midlands not far from Northampton and there's plenty of lovely little places round there that will still have you straight into the middle of London by train in under an hour which is nothing really in terms of a commute.
 
Dunks said:
I've had a look at what's available in London and although there's probably thousands of jobs for Engineering, they all tend to be building services related! Seems to be quite hard for me, a mechanical engineer (nuclear/subs) to be able to break into...
Click to expand...

There are a significant amount of building services and also software engineering in London. There are other automotive and aerospace companies in London from major players to small startups. I've found they don't tend to advertise and tends to be more head hunt type hiring. However there are a lot around London, easily close enough to live in or commute to London.
 
Coventry isn't half as bad to live in as people seem to think it is, easy commuting from there to most of the country too.

99% is a large exaggeration sure, but I don't know why people are saying that the Midlands isn't somewhere with lots of engineering jobs.

Oil/gas is in scotland, and construction and consultancy tends to be London, but the Midlands is the place for pretty much everything else. Coventry and the surrounding area has a large amount of Automotive (JLR, Lear, SME suppliers) and Civil (Seven trent & National Grid headquarters) jobs, with a bunch of aerospace, defence, and medical engineering firms too. Plus two UK top 20 universities with a large engineering focus and business links if R&D is more your thing.
 
delta0 said:
There are a significant amount of building services and also software engineering in London. There are other automotive and aerospace companies in London from major players to small startups. I've found they don't tend to advertise and tends to be more head hunt type hiring. However there are a lot around London, easily close enough to live in or commute to London.
Click to expand...

We're looking at buying in Stratford, so should be easily commutable to most places within central London, and easy enough to head out, especially towards Essex.

I wouldn't mind doing something like building services, but not sure how much luck I'd have coming from my nuclear background! A lot of skills are pretty transferable though.
 
Oh and guess used the fact Mech Eng does not really pay :)

That being said its not poorly paid, but when you compare it to the amount of knowledge and effort it requires compared to some ****** who studied law, Banking, Doctor you will get bitter and resentfull in about 4 years from getting your degree.

It is however very interesting once you hit your spot.

Edit

Then when you hit your sweet spot, you will be moved to filling in fricking timing plans as thats all that people care about. The world could be ending but if there was a updated timing plan its fine and everyone will be safe :D
 
Last edited:
tom_e said:
There is a reason the saying "Being sent to Coventry" is a bad thing :p
Click to expand...

Yeah it dates back to the reformation of the church, when Coventry was a walled town and being sent there meant that the crown could keep an eye on you :p Doesn't have quite the same meaning these days :p
 
The thing is, with an engineering degree you can move fairly easily into another field if worse comes to the worse.

I went from, junior engineer in a telecomms/IT company to project manager, to operations manager, service manager, business improvement manager, to innovation manager.

In a few different companies from SMEs to large FTSE100 to public sector.

You can make yourself fit if you have the right skills.

That said, if you have a field you're particularly interested in, go for it!
 
Cor, didn't check this in a morning and all these replies!

Sounds like there are many opinions as to whats good/bad! Will be difficult to make a decision before properly knowing where we are both going to be working.

Unfortunately Mech Eng doesnt pay the highest amounts, but I'm looking at being on £26-30k out of uni, which is quite reasonable I think.
 
Banzai_Joe said:
Lol, yeah we don't want em in the midlands.

Anyway if you move to Brum/Solihull area you have to content with THE worst accent.....ever....in the history to stuff.......FACT! :p
Click to expand...

only if you live in the cheap bits... 'north solihull' etc... move to some of the villages in the borough and you won't get much in the way of accents (it isn't actually part of Birmingham anyway :p)
 
Nottingham..... has a strong Financial hub and plenty of us southerners here. Women love the place too because of the shopping. Lads like looking at women.

Home of the national videogame arcade too, which is a blast.

It's a perfect match.

Rolls Royce isn't too far away for a commute neither.
 
Last edited:
miikeeyy92 said:
Cor, didn't check this in a morning and all these replies!

Sounds like there are many opinions as to whats good/bad! Will be difficult to make a decision before properly knowing where we are both going to be working.

Unfortunately Mech Eng doesnt pay the highest amounts, but I'm looking at being on £26-30k out of uni, which is quite reasonable I think.
Click to expand...

lol lol lol, I know PCB engineers that have 20 years exp that are not even hitting that.

Personally if a graduate came looking to me for a job asking for that wage you would get left in the meeting room alone until you have the balls to walk out.

Kids these days, I want the moon on a stick.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom