2000 quit capital for Leeds lifestyle

lil eva · 2000 quit capital for Leeds lifestyle

THOUSANDS of skilled workers are abandoning London for Leeds, a recruitment specialist says.
They are drawn by the improved work-life balance and substantially lower house prices.

According to recruitment agency Qualitas as many as 2,000 legal, financial and IT professionals moved to Leeds from London last year.

Mike Berry, managing director of recruitment agency Qualitas, said: "The majority of the people we place in Leeds are house price refugees – professionals earning substantial amounts in London but still struggling to get on the property ladder.

"In the last 12 months Leeds has started to attract them like a magnet."

The average house price in Leeds is £155,057 compared to £354,625 in London.

But there are other factors. Mr Berry said: "People are coming for the culture and also to improve their work-life balance.

"A lot of people are fed up with London's long commutes. Leeds might not have a mass transport system, but for people used to London Underground, it's a commuting Shangri-la."

In Leeds nearly one in 20 people walks to work, whereas in London the figure is one in 500.

Qualitas says the number of jobs in financial and business services in Leeds has grown by 18 per cent in the last five years.

Even with two universities and several further education colleges producing highly skilled candidates demand from local business is outstripping supply and the gap is being filled by professionals moving to Leeds from London.

Between 2000 and 2005 the total employee jobs in Leeds grew by 27,600 with the financial and business services sector alone accounting for 61 per cent of the extra jobs. Projections suggest that between 2006 and 2016, total employment in finance and business services will grow from 112,000 to 119,000.

London-based Qualitas is setting up a new regional headquarters in Leeds.

Mr Berry, said: "Leeds economy is growing fast and there is a talent war developing as employers fight to fill posts with top-flight people."

The full article contains 357 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.

Jolufc

I reckon its due to the footy club really

lil eva

Just what i was thinking Jo

Joe1

What's the situation with science related jobs, I'd quite like to gointo research or something and of course, living in or near Leeds is one of my main goals (obvious reason) so I'd love to know about job opportunities in that field in Leeds.

will_lufc

good luck joe hope you can get something sorted theres no better feeling than going to see leeds united,i buzz everytime i go thats what makes it so good and now my son is just as bad lol

Joe1

I'm working on niece and nephew at the minute, they've both got shirts and teddies, hehe won't be long until they're fully fledged Leeds fans.