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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Paul McNulty on November 3, 2011 at 11:13

Where in the South? There's a massive difference between Central London and Penzance!

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Permalink Reply by Paving & Landscape Company Ltd on November 3, 2011 at 12:14

Sorry Paul,  Surrey area covering Hampshire, London and surrounding areas.

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Permalink Reply by John Cooke on November 3, 2011 at 13:05

If you produce quality work, as your pictures suggest, I would think there is always work in and around London.  Especialy if you are prepared to subcontract whilst you settle back in.

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Paul McNulty on November 3, 2011 at 16:16

I'm in the Chilterns, and good landscapers are hard to find, and expensive. I used to be in Pinner (west London), and it was very different there with masses of cheap immigrant labourers keeping prices low. Not a criticism, so long as they do a good job that's fine by me, just an observation.

 

I suspect that anywhere in the home counties will be fine, there's certainly no shortage of money around the expensive towns. With the need for new housing over coming years there's going to plenty of construction going on.

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Permalink Reply by Paving & Landscape Company Ltd on November 3, 2011 at 18:35

Well that's encouraging to see thank you. 

 

I've already contacted my brother in Chobham and started the ball rolling :-))

 

Thanks again.

 

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Graeme @ BGS on November 4, 2011 at 9:30

 

I cover Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire and have a very large diverse client base. Whilst I don’t offer hard landscaping I am always passing on leads. I would say that yes this area is very fortunate compared to others but I am beginning to see a slowdown in the middle class bracket for the larger projects. Whilst these haven’t all been shelved some have been scaled down or just put on a back burner. However I must stress again, hard landscaping is not my thing so I don’t have my finger on the pulse and may be not the best person to comment.

 

I have a number of clients who work in the financial and High Tech businesses around this area and quite a few have mentioned the instability (or fear) in the job market which always appear to happen after a recession but perhaps a sign of things to come?

 

A contact of mine does fitting out of kitchens and bathrooms and he has reported a major drop off on business particularly with the two income type families. Whilst I appreciate that this is a different trade again it may be a sign that the cash rich / time poor are beginning to tighten their belts with spending?

 

If relocating a business, it would be better to head South but you will need to get yourself established and seriously think of how you will advertise your services. There are a lot of great designers on LJN and quite a few are based in this area so networking could be key to a successful move.

 

To summarise, it’s not all doom - There is plenty of potential clients in this area and work is out there and will be won on quality of workmanship and value for money (but don’t read cheap). Projects are across all the price brackets but don’t be tempted to just aim for the high value end of the market which will be a tougher nut to crack and doesn’t always offer the best returns.

 

Just on a slightly different note, a good friend of mine does contract plastering and he lives just outside the M25 and 80% of his work is now Midlands based so signs that maybe the North is moving quicker for the new builds?

 

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Permalink Reply by Paving & Landscape Company Ltd on November 4, 2011 at 16:55

Thanks Graeme for your input, much appreciated.

 

The Midlands doesn't offer much in the way of hard landscaping, design and build. Here you have concrete imprint drives..I've never seen so much to be honest. There's very little interest in design and build I've found.

 

So yes, the South will be the best place for my skills no doubt.

 

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