Jobs in Media: Is London Really Where It’s At?

As the capital, London is understandably at the centre of England’s hustle and bustle; it’s where news comes first, stories are created and fashion is made. It is also generally known that the financers collect in the East’s Canary Wharf, aka the business men in the square mile. Politicians can be found in and around Westminster and the industrials congregate around Soho, sometimes mixing with the fashion forwards in the centre, while the creative’s float across Hoxton square and into Shoreditch.

The Dream Job

Many dream of a job in London. The city holds a vast amount of the job opportunities available in this country. In addition, many companies have their head office or flagship store there. For aspiring journalists, the headquarters of the major tabloids such as The Times and The Guardian and international magazines like Vogue, Esquire and Elle - all house their ideal job. London is the hub for any wannabe Stockbroker and for lawyers, graphic designers, accountants and researchers, the city offers for a world of opportunity with higher salaries and chances of promotion.  

Beating the Competition

However, with a population of over 8 million a further million commuting into the city each day and over forty higher education institutions; competition for those dream jobs is high. In response to this, people are taking themselves, and their companies, out of London and to other thriving areas not instantly associated with ‘the dream job’. Developments in technology are raising the speed of all things digital and increasing accessibility, allowing employees more opportunity to work away from the big city; so naturally escaping London is becoming a popular option. You can now pursue your dream career as a magazine or newspaper editor in Suffolk, or develop your career in marketing Sussex way.

Brighton Up Your Life in London by the Sea

Brighton is known for its creative allure, which has led to increase of creative and media job opportunities. With its own steadily developing digital hub, the city rivals London by offering a breath of (seaside) fresh air from the capital and has become known as ‘London by the sea’. With regular trains direct to London, and a dynamic business network Brighton has meant less compromise when moving outside of London. The fact that Disney’s Club Penguin is located in Brighton, as well as their Black Rock studio demonstrates that being based in a major city like London is no longer essential for media companies.

Save Some Money Up North!

Similarly, Manchester offers a suitable replacement for the tourist-heaving capital city. With fast trains getting you between the two quicker than it takes to actually go around London, as well as far cheaper living expenses, moving up North is not a bad shout at all. The BBC’s huge relocation to Salford is a great example of this. The 200 or so miles are irrelevant when up-to-date broadband connections offer phone calls, emails, texts, iCloud, and impressive office technologies that enable sharing information to happen within a split second.

Beyond the Smoke

So for those struggling to make it to the big smoke, all is not lost! There are so many other jobs outside of London that have so much to offer with far cheaper living costs. Don’t let the smoke cloud you with the illusion that London is the only option, there are probably hundreds of independent companies nearer you with more personable attitudes and more challenging job roles with less competition. So, in actual fact, you could get nearer your dream job by staying further away from London.

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