Moving North for a better deal (Aberdeen oil jobs)

[cymtriks]

I was brought up in the North of England and moved South in the late 80's because that's where the money seemed to be and at the time and the North seemed to be in terminal decline. A lot of our school and university friends were also moving South at the time. Some went for work reasons, some just decided that there was no future in the North for them. This was certainly how it felt for me at the time.

Now one of my ambitions was to have a workshop where I could do some serious projects, several of them car related. Due to Southern house prices getting this is going to take many more years and its already taken a fair few. There are also many other things I'd like to do that I can't due to not having the spare cash.

Recently I've heard that jobs in my line of work, engineering, are actually well paid if you move far north enough, i.e. to the oil and gas industry in Aberdeen. OK this isn't news, but last week someone at work mentioned some figures that were too tempting to ignore. A quick look at house prices reveals a further incentive. I might actually be able to do some of the stuff I want to do before I retire!

So here's the question, has anyone else moved from the South to the North or Scotland for a cost of living reason and did it actually make them better off?

More specifically has anyone with a job in engineering, especially FEA, moved from the South and taken a job in the Aberdeen oil industry? Are you better off? Was the move worth it?

[jp1982]

Hi

Not from Aberdeen myself, actually Lincoln but i work in oil and gas industry (currently i'm offshore Holland). Offshore certs open up up a wide variety of jobs and a lot of companies are happy for you to work from home as it is mainly 2 weeks on 2 weeks off. This could give you time for projects and mean not having to live as far north as Aberdeen. Quite a few guys from lincs regulary commute up to aberdeen for work either by train or flying. If you didn't fancy offshore then onshore work is available and both pay well but offshore workers generally get more time off. Hope this helps

[Albert Bridge]

We are in the process of doing just this. O/H has been working offshore for a couple of years during which time I stayed in London. We would see each other when he wasn't working - could be for three weeks at a time. He has now moved back onshore so we are in the process of relocating to Aberdeen. We have a much much bigger house,plus land, and very nice views. We are close to both the sea and mountains.
I still spend time in London, the drive is rather long but a good chance to listen to some music and enjoy the car.
We haven't yet sold the house in London but will be doing so shortly. O/H also wanted somewhere to 'potter' around in - we now have a double garage in which he can do this. A double garage in London would probably cost the same as our place here in Scotland!

[Chassis 33]

Sorry to hijack, but could anyone give me any pointers for getting into oil and gas from a design/engineering perspective? My brother is a WMD bod mostly off Aberdeen so I know what goes on from that point of view to an extent, but wouldn't know who to contact, what previous experiance is transferable etc.
Regards
Iain

[jp1982]

Hi Iain

A google search for oil and gas jobs brings up the main job sites. These will give reasonable pointers as to what qualifications/experiance and what areas jobs are available in. Any engineering experiance would be transferable as there is a wide range of jobs available.

Jim

[xxdaix]

Hi Cymtriks
My Dad works Offshore and lives in north Wales he either fly's up to Aberdeen from Manchester or occasionally drives, before living in north Wales he used to live in the North East, but has never lived in Scotland and it has not proved a problem and you only have to make the trip every 2 weeks.
So you don't have to be at the top of Scotland to enjoy the benefits of working off shore.

[Nineoneone]

I live on the south coast {sussex] & have worked out of Aberdeen for the last 14 years. The travelling can be a grind but so can the work

It can be done & affords a very comfy life style

[paul26982]

ive read so much on these topics and googled alot, even joined groups on face book, live in the north east england, 10 mile from newcastle, worked in production, automotive all my life since leaving school, 26 now. want to get into this buisness so much, read that they recomend doing a health and survival before anything so you can put that down and they will take you serious, but is there anything else or other way, as im wanting to do this so much, sort of a passion for it.