To want to move to the UK? And if not, what part to move to?

[Applecrumble9]

I am needing a little help at the moment trying to decide what to do. We are from Ireland, but really want/need a change. We don't have jobs where we can work remotely, we don't have a particularly "saught after" skillset etc but we think England may be a good choice for us, not "too" far. We absolutely love the English countryside, we find the people so friendly and helpful, we have never lived in England but have visited and always found there was so much more "on" for families etc.
We are also very unsure of where to look to move too? Somewhere relatively "safe" and "affordable" in today's standards, we absolutely love the outdoors and the sea but somewhere near the sea may be totally out of budget, we love the countryside but not sure if that would limit work opportunities?
Any information or tips would be so greatly appreciated.

Background info : married couple, in late 30's, moving towards early 40's, we will have 1 dc by the time we make the move (planning late 2026 for the move) we do not own our home, we are renting in Ireland (more by choice as we do have a deposit and mortgage approval but houses are so overpriced in Ireland and we don't feel "settled" here so buying seemed stupid unless we wanted to stay here for sure)

I work in disability suppport which is called "social care" here in Ireland, I have a Bachelor degree in social care but from what I've read I understand in England this may not be recognised quite the same, in Ireland I earn €40,000-€50,000 per year so that's roughly £33700-£42000 but from what I can see online I would only be earning £32000 per year in England in this line of work

My husband works in construction mainly driving diggers (excavators) and that line of work, he is pretty well paid at roughly €48,000 per year in Ireland. He has looked up work in England and a lot of it seems like short term work where maybe there is a job local for a couple of weeks/months and then you are out of work again (or maybe that is just how it is advertised) he would prefer a job where he could be home every evening so he wouldn't mind a change in sector, hes very hardworking and the type who can throw his hand to anything really, in terms of yearly salary its looking like about £35000 for him.

We would have about £60,000 in savings moving over which we would use to eventually put a deposit on a house.

So all in all we would have a combined salary of roughly £67,000 and we would need full time childcare for 1 young child, and to rent a 2 bed flat, probably need 2 cars, and we would like to get a yearly holiday in...

Is this do-able? Or are we totally mad? We need a change so desperately, we love so much about Ireland but it is wearing us down and sometimes a fresh start is needed. It looks like we would be taking a big hit in salary but the cost of living seems a lot cheaper in England.

I’m Irish and moved back to Ireland after 25 years in England a few years ago. I think you’d be crazy.

Well I’m no expert but we seem to be desperate for construction workers so please come!
Would be wise to get jobs first then choose area. Your budget to buy would be around £300k I guess which doesn’t get much in the SE.
So a small town with lots of construction work in the north maybe?
Do you have ANY ideas on where?

Your remit is quite wide. What do you consider affordable? Places that spring to mind include Norwich, Worthing, Broadstairs, Milton Keynes etc.

Why would you think the cost of living would be cheaper in England?

Try Leeds.

I’d look at the coastal towns around Newcastle, there are still affordable properties in Whitley Bay, North Shields, Seaton Delaval etc You would definitely get work but you would need to research what was around for your husband. Your salaries in the south would not go far but those salaries in the north will be fine.

Newcastle-Upon-Tyne?

You could get a good 3 bed house for £300k, quick journey by Metro to the sea, easy access to miles of fabulous coast to the North, wonderful countryside in Northumberland, great city!

I grew up on Tyneside and was about to suggest it. Cost is living is lower, and they’re a friendly bunch.

Leeds is probably a good shout, lots of construction going on withing commuting distance, big city opportunities but more affordable than the south.

On He has looked up work in England and a lot of it seems like short term work where maybe there is a job local for a couple of weeks/months and then you are out of work again (or maybe that is just how it is advertised) he would prefer a job where he could be home every evening so he wouldn't mind a change in sector yes that's how it is these days here unfortunately.

DP drives machines in another sector but did it in construction for a few years. He was never short of work and didn't need to work away. It can be a little tricky getting a foot in the door but if he has references and experience and signs up with the agencies, he should be OK once he's proved himself.

Lytham

By the sea. Safe, pretty, easy to get to Manchester, Liverpool and the Lake District.

But other large northern cities would also be good and if you’re near Liverpool or Heysham, good for getting the ferry back to Ireland if you want to visit friends and family.

Are you even allowed to just move here since Brexit?

Construction can be tricky.

many jobs require you to move about - friend of mine does big civil engineering projects and he’s away Monday to Friday most weeks or if not has long drives.

lot of house building going on in some areas though.

north east is pretty affordable.

Yes. That’s unchanged.

The Common Travel Area agreement should still protect your right to move to the UK.

I would pick a likely area and ring the social services on the local council website to find out more about how portable your qualifications are. I doubt there would be a problem, but there might be some hoops to jump through - maybe they would help you though. They might bite your hand off.

Im not an expert on the area but there’s three places I love and would look - around Llandudno in north Wales, around Southport in the North West or around Tynemouth in the Northeast. Tynemouth itself is probably too pricy but around there.

The common travel area between the UK and ROI wasn't affected by Brexit.

I live in Somerset so I can vouch for the countryside and parts are still reasonably affordable (unlike south east england imho). Hinkley Point C has loads of construction going on at the moment and I think social care roles are hard to fill so maybe check out jobs on Indeed, google the local area (Taunton/Bridgwater/Highbridge and surrounding areas) and see if it fits the bill. Good luck on your search.

Good god. Who in their right mind would move from Ireland to England in this day and age? The UK is a shit-heap and getting worse by the month. The economy is fucked, there is zero social cohesion, rising crime, immigration is out of control, etc etc.

I have lots of family in Ireland who have a far better quality of life overall. Admittedly, healthcare is expensive there, but that’s the only negative I can really think of. I think you’d be crazy to do this.

Fulltime childcare for one child. That is going to be very expensive so brace yourself.

I think renting a 2-bed flat or house, owning 2 cars (do you own cars now?) + bills and taxes is easily in your budget. Holiday - I mean, that's a very vague financial goal as they can cost a lot or a little.

When you say you like the English countryside, what sort/where do you mean? What appealed to you? What do you want from England that isn't available in Ireland?

Renting credit process may need you to pay 6 months up front

Renting credit process may need you to pay 6 months up front How to rent - GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent

If you can put up with this kind of blinkered claptrap @Applecrumble9 then I say go for it! I moved here 18 years ago, moved home again in 2015 but missed it so came back 2 years later. Love it. Yes it has its problems but so does everywhere, there's really no such thing as a greener grass.

I work in disability suppport which is called "social care" here in Ireland, I have a Bachelor degree in social care but from what I've read I understand in England this may not be recognised quite the same, in Ireland I earn €40,000-€50,000 per year so that's roughly £33700-£42000 but from what I can see online I would only be earning £32000 per year in England in this line of work
My husband works in construction mainly driving diggers (excavators) and that line of work, he is pretty well paid at roughly €48,000 per year in Ireland. He has looked up work in England and a lot of it seems like short term work where maybe there is a job local for a couple of weeks/months and then you are out of work again (or maybe that is just how it is advertised) he would prefer a job where he could be home every evening so he wouldn't mind a change in sector, hes very hardworking and the type who can throw his hand to anything really, in terms of yearly salary its looking like about £35000 for him.

You would have difficulty finding a job as a disability support worker paying anywhere near €50,000 (£44,000) here. Your best chance of finding a job paying in excess of £32,000 would be in the SE.

If your DH would like sociable hours and no longer wants to work in construction, he would struggle to find secure employment paying £35,000 when he does not have any qualifications or experience.

(For context, in this thread, a company offered a “competitive salary” of £27,500 a year to a solicitor - https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/amibeingunreasonable/5433616-to-think-this-salary-is-an-insult?postsby=FlyingSolo16 )

If you are struggling to live in Ireland on a combined salary of nearly €100,000, you will it an even bigger struggle here when you are earning not much more than half this amount.

I think social workers are in demand everywhere in England. I am a big city girl but if I was not then Chester is a town I love. Also outside of Leeds. Leeds is a great city and seems affordable. And the suburbs / neighbouring towns seem lovely (I only have experience of Wakefield.)

This!! It’s all personal.