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Original poster

Moving to Whitehaven what work could I do

74 replies

Quadri · 02/10/2022 07:37

Hello everyone I am soon moving to Whitehaven from GCC currently doing an exceutive job here not sure I wil find similar nearby? alternatively I will be considering some business any good ideas what sells there or nearby places?

OP posts:
Talkingtocamels · 02/10/2022 07:44

What’s GCC? And do you mean whitehaven uk?

Quveas · 02/10/2022 07:48

Unless you work at Sellafield then there are very few jobs and Whitehaven is one of the most deprived places in the country. There really isn't a "nearby" to Whitehaven - west Cumbria is quite an isolated area with poor road connections. And unless it has changed a lot (which I doubt) like much of Cumbria it is, shall we say, rather "curious" in the way that outsiders are treated. Cumbria is one of the few places that still has two words for "strangers" - one for those that have comes from other towns and villages nearby, and another one for everyone else.

Original poster
Quadri · 02/10/2022 07:51

@Talkingtocamels GCC (The Gulf Cooperation Council)/Mideast, yes Whitehaven UK

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FlounderingFruitcake · 02/10/2022 07:51

GCC = Gulf Cooperation Council??? Do you mean that you’re moving from somewhere in the middle east to Whitehaven in the UK? That is quite the change! What do you do now because ‘executive’ is very very vague and why Whitehaven? It’s difficult given how little information you’d given but if your company has a London office you could transfer to on paper then could you do your existing job remotely?

Talkingtocamels · 02/10/2022 07:54

There is a hospital and a power station. If you are really executive level I’m surprised you are asking on MN for what you could do. Surely you’d start on Linkdin?

Original poster
Quadri · 02/10/2022 08:00

@Talkingtocamels but wanted to hear from locals who are much more knowledgeable.

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Original poster
Quadri · 02/10/2022 08:03

@FlounderingFruitcake moving as dependent under my wife, Directing the Finance and Operations function in a diversified Group here, I am Asian.

OP posts:
declutteringmymind · 02/10/2022 08:06

Remote working.

KittyCatsby · 02/10/2022 08:10

Have you been to the area and looked around ? Are you planning to rent / buy a home in the area or commute from further away ? If you have children will they be schooled locally ?

OutDamnedSpot · 02/10/2022 08:11

It’s a beautiful part of the world, but there’s really not much there. The main employers will be the schools, hospital or sellafield, and wages are generally low. If you do an ‘executive’ role (in what industry?) in a Gulf state, you’re going to struggle to find a comparable job locally. You might be better searching for WFH roles?

Tessasanderson · 02/10/2022 08:21

What sells? 6 fingered gloves

user1471462115 · 02/10/2022 08:22

I love that part of the world, so much I go most years for a holiday. There is no way on earth I would move to Whitehaven. It is so isolated and so hard to get to.
There is no tourist work, as holiday makers just don’t go there, so apart from the hospital, the nuclear electric plant at Sellafield and teaching there are no jobs .

good luck with whatever you decide

Quveas · 02/10/2022 08:24

Quadri · 02/10/2022 08:03

@FlounderingFruitcake moving as dependent under my wife, Directing the Finance and Operations function in a diversified Group here, I am Asian.

I am not entirely sure how to say this politely but - have you given this any thought at all, and do you know anything at all about this area. Let's just say that "diversity" is not a particular strong point in that area??? I would strongly recommend that if you really intend to do this then you get a lot more familiar with the area and make no financial commitments until you are certain you would be able to put down roots there.

People may not believe this, but it's absolutely true. I have a friend who lived in West Cumbria, not far from Whitehaven (he no longer lives there) and he came home from work to find his two young children covering themselves in talcuum powder, to try to look more white. I doubt I need to explain why. He was black / African descent.

Copeland has 1% of its population from an Asian background. I doubt anyone from that area will be happy with me saying this, but my personal experience (I lived in Cumbria for 4 years) is that they are not kind to outsiders.

Rapidtango · 02/10/2022 08:30

Are you moving to the area because your wife has a role locally? Is it a role that is commensurate with you giving up your role?

Directing finance and operations for GCC should obviously give you huge scope job wise but you'll probably need to commute or work remotely.

Original poster
Quadri · 02/10/2022 08:32

@KittyCatsby we have three children in grade 8 6 and 1 so they will be going school, to start the new life we will be renting at first, as I seen not too many homes are easily available on rent so limited choices, I dont mind travelling some miles away from home daily for my work

OP posts:
Original poster
Quadri · 02/10/2022 08:34

@OutDamnedSpot I am supporting the strategic finance and operations of a diversified business group here, I am also concerned if some good job I can find so I already made a mind that I will start some business there

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Original poster
Quadri · 02/10/2022 08:37

@user1471462115 thanks, sellafield looks to have all technical roles my background is Finance and Management, basically hold double masters in Economics and Finance. Plus some process related certifications.

OP posts:
confused162 · 02/10/2022 08:41

@Quadri I would advise finding a similar role to the you have now and working from home, if you are ok with travelling then going into the office/meeting clients etc if needed monthly etc

KittyCatsby · 02/10/2022 08:48

We as a family live in Cumbria ( yes we moved here to work in the nuclear industry )
I would 100% not live in Whitehaven .
I agree with @Quveas that there is no cultural diversity in West Cumbria .
We have lived here 10+ years and seen as off commers ( people not from the area so not totally accepted )
If you love the ' great outdoors ' lifestyle of walking the fells and canoeing on the lakes then yes it could be for you . But there is not much to do other than that and most people find it hard to make friends with locals and find it hard to ' fit in ' and settle.

kitcat15 · 02/10/2022 08:49

No offence to anyone living there...but I think you are mad to actually choose to live there....its a nothing town....in the middle of nowhere....and very unattractive....OK you can get to the lakes easily....but very poor road links to anywhere else or airports or big shops.....I mean if you had the whole of the UK to live...why Whitehaven??🙄.

ploed · 02/10/2022 09:00

You need to visit before you decide to move to Whitehaven!! It's a small town (23,000), predominantly white, high deprivation area, and has poor transport links. You'd need a bloody good reason to relocate there!

Hoppinggreen · 02/10/2022 09:02

Quadri · 02/10/2022 08:03

@FlounderingFruitcake moving as dependent under my wife, Directing the Finance and Operations function in a diversified Group here, I am Asian.

Unless you get fully Remote work then you are basically screwed.
Whitehaven isn’t exactly the most culturally diverse area either

Shgytfgtf111 · 02/10/2022 09:08

Op I know Whitehaven very well, send me a pmif you like

WhitehavenBorn · 02/10/2022 09:08

I’m sorry to be negative but as someone who grew up in Whitehaven, I agree with other posters. It’s an extremely insular town, people are set in their ways and the general mindset is v backwards (people outwardly voice opinions that haven’t been acceptable since the 1970s / 80s and aren’t challenged for it).

I think it would be particularly hard for you and your children to build a life as outsiders to the area, and being Asian. Unfortunately a lot of people in this area aren’t welcoming of people from diverse backgrounds. Obviously I’m generalising as some good people do exist, but most people with anything about them leave and don’t go back.

Job wise there is Sellafield and not much else. The wages there are inflated and it seems to be fairly easy to work your way up if that’s what you want. I’m not sure it’s a place for a new business to flourish - it’s pretty rundown.

In terms of things to do, you have the lakes in driving distance but nothing in terms of culture or activities and opportunities for children. It’s fairly cut-off, a couple of hours from any decent-sized city and a lot of the way of life is still reliant on word of mouth and cash transactions.

Other than the harbour area, the town is run down, and some of the estates you wouldn’t want to set foot on. If you’re determined to move to the area, look at some of the nicer towns in driving distance like Cockermouth, Keswick, or further afield to Windermere. Having said that, those places are prettier but still aren’t particularly welcoming to outsiders.