Considering moving to Bristol but nervous about job market

[Kitkat369]

DH and I thinking about leaving London selling our one bed flat and moving to my hometown. I work as a Senior PA and earn reasonably well whilst hubby is in part time work. I’ve been looking at jobs and there isn’t much there and salary is around £22K if I’m lucky! The house market in Bristol seems to be quite expensive Versus salary I would get. Is it possible earning potential is more and good job market?

Schools are impossible in Bristol - massively oversubscribed, not enough spaces. Have you considered where exactly you'd live? Commuting costs might be less than London if you are quite central.

I'd recommend not doing anything for the minute. Many businesses are likely to struggle or fail over the next year or two. If you've been employed for less than 2 years it is easier to get rid of you (or it used to be the case).

To be earning a decent salary as a PA you must be working for a large organisation. Do your research and see which big companies are commutable from Bristol and target them. The big accountancy firms will have offices in Bristol I'd have thought.

While you're looking see what salary you'd need to be able to buy a home and see if it's possible.

As you've said Bristol is great but houses in a nice area are very expensive - more than where we are in a footballer belt area of Manchester.

If you're planning on having a family I can definitely recommend being near parents so in the longer term it'd be a good idea. Just plan carefully!

I live in Bristol and work in portishead at the police HQ, i always recommend having a look at the job roles available. Theres some really good positions on there based all over the force, and pay grade is very good for most roles.

Whilst husband is keen to move very soon I’m thinking maybe in couple years but tbh I’ve been in London over 20ys and have been fortunate to work for large financials which have helped and concerned whilst there are few in Bristol nowhere as near. It’s food for thought. I did think try negotiate London role to try remote work couple of days then commute into London though not sure what would be possible. I was thinking maybe bishopston in Bristol as it has loads of amenities on door steps plus parks. I’ve been looking online and tbh netherworld isn’t much but see how things are in year or so. I’m grateful to my work for giving us the flexibility to work from home during this time and boss is ok too so that helps.

My daughter went to uni in Bristol and after living in Clifton for a couple of years she went into a house share in Bishopston. It was a really nice area and I felt she was safe there. There were lots of families. The rent a terraced house about 10 minutes walk from the shops, cafes and restaurants. There was a community allotment which had a brilliant set up and they held open days and events. She loved living in Bristol and there is a really good vibe. I live rurally but if I had to live in a city then Bristol would be my choice. There was lots of parks and with the waterways there is a lovely relaxed feel. We went a few times a year and I always enjoyed it. She eventually had to move further out because she couldn’t afford the rent other than student accommodation. After further study she moved to Clevedon and cycled in to work. She said a lot of people were moving out of London to Bristol. Hope this helps.

This info might be a bit outdated but when I looked at moving to Bristol the main thing that put me off was the issues was state schooling. As I wouldn't have been in a position to educate privately with the lower wages in Bristol compared to where I live I discounted the move and I'm glad I did. It's a nice city but the issues with schooling need to be considered if that's a factor for you OP. Hope I'm not being rude to anyone who lives there. It isn't intentional.

We’d also love to move to Brizzol but the salaries are lower than Cornwall for my job sector. About £10k per year lower!

And their house prices don’t reflect that

Such a shame!

Would you consider not living in the main city itself? There are some lovely surrounding areas from which Bristol is easily comfortable. Maybe places like Rangeworthy, Frampton Cotterell, Winterbourne, Iron Acton etc? The prices and schools are better and there's a bit more open space, but obviously you'd have to travel into Bristol.

You won't get anything like London wages in Bristol and house prices have gone through the roof, far beyond what anyone actually working here can manage.

Bristol is a lovely city, but in my eyes it is over priced. At least in London you get access to well paying jobs and other cultural amenities.

I would only really consider living in Bristol if I could live in Clifton Village or maybe Sneyd Park/Redland. I have friends who live in Clifton Village, and they are all childless, and have opted for stunning 2/3 bed georgian apartments following a good few years working in the city of London...

Agree that house prices aren’t the best really plus work wise not ass much there but bit more quiet