DigiTales Blog - Mel Carson

Microsoft Advertising's Mel Carson collects stories and insight from the digital media space and brings them back down to earth...
Escape To The Country? – Thinking About It!   

While in Devon this weekend visiting the folks, we went to watch some friends in the Commando Challenge run by the Royal Marines. We assumed there’d just be forty or fifty gluttons for punishment covered in mud, gasping for air and littering the assault course.

But how wrong we were!

There were hundreds of people from all over the south west gathered to run this three mile gauntlet for charity. All these people were young, fit and, dare I, say happy! – even after being sheep-dipped!

Where did they all come from I thought? Why are they not in London with us cool cats? Do they not know the streets of the big smoke are paved with gold?

If I’m honest I felt a little green with envy. At 36 I feel a little old to be going out and painting the town red three times a week! The area around Victoria Station where I work is lacking in character but not lacking in noise, pollution and all round nastiness!

Don’t get me wrong! The office is nice and the people great but I want to wake up and walk to work or even cycle without the threat of death around every corner.

There are a load of businesses in digital advertising that have done very well without having to hit London with their office space budget.

Agencies have established themselves in Manchester, Yorkshire, Cornwall, Sussex, Warrington, Telford, Milton Keynes, Norfolk, Cardiff and Edinburgh to name but a few.

So even though there’s apparently some economic crisis at the moment, in a couple of weeks time I’ll be going down to Sussex with the girlfriend and a film crew in tow to check out some houses with the help of the BBC’s “Escape To The Country” show.

We emailed them on a whim a few months back and they said yes! So we’re off to the green and pleasant land to find a gaff to commute from.

I know Media Week readers are established far and wide so I ask you:

What are the advantages of working away from London? Do you get more done? Better way of life so better quality of work? Any advice for someone about to set up home in the country?

BTW – I’m not leaving Microsoft – just moving out of London!

Published Oct 14 2008, 10:07 AM by Mel Carson
 

All Comments

Ed Richardson
  October 16, 2008

Mel,

I left the big lights, bright city coming up to three years ago. With one tender year on you, I'm 35, I took the leap and moved back North and now work in Manchester.

I'd been in London for coming on 12 years, working in a number of media agencies and now work for a small digital agency in Manchester.

Moving out of London was the best thing we could have done, but it's not all smooth sailing.

We miss the usual things of London's vast variety, but there are other factors such as the job market isn't as fluid as in London. But that's not necessarily a problem.

Sadly, also, there is a degree within in some sectors that companies in the North/"out of London" just can't do as good as job as London based companies. The reality I've found is quite the opposite, while there is plenty of talent that exists outside of London the companies don't swagger with the sometimes unjustified arrogance, people are more honest and often work more efficiently due to the generally easier pace of life outside of work.

I don't regret leaving London for a moment and still visit the city on a reasonably regular basis to see clients and friends.

In return, we have a better quality of life and I, like your friends, have regained my fitness and feel younger than I have done for over a decade.

Leaving behind too many boozy nights and late night curries (which I all enjoyed at the time I might hasten to add) that are all part of the culture of the London work scene.

But as the saying goes, "one man's meat is another man's poison".

Enjoy and be happy in what ever you choose that's the best bet.

Ed

Mel Carson
  October 16, 2008

Thanks Ed - Grindleford sounds idyllic! I was at a4uExpo.com yesterday and two of the "super affiliates" on the panel were from Newcastle so you're not wrong!

Cheers Mel

DigiTales Blog - Mel Carson
  October 16, 2008

Hoping someone can explain how product placement advertising works? What's the process and how much

DigiTales Blog - Mel Carson
  November 3, 2008

Been a bit quiet recently as I was filming Escape To The Country last week. It was a fascinating experience

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