For decades, moving to London has been seen as the next step for young professionals. But for some young people from the North, London is no longer the obvious route to career success.
When Ben Copeland, 28, moved to London in 2023, it seemed like an obvious choice. Originally from Yorkshire, he had first moved to the capital in 2018 when he had the opportunity to intern at a record label for the summer. “Trying to get a [full-time] job was impossible,” he said, so he moved back to York when the internship ended. Despite not having a paid role, he loved the city. Back then, Copeland says, living in London felt like a long holiday. He met new people, loved the nightlife, and had financial help from his grandparents. “The second time, I definitely regret going down; it wasn’t the same,” he says.
The company he worked for was opening a restaurant in London and offered Copeland the role of manager, which he gladly accepted. He moved into a flat in Crouch End with his then-partner and best friend. Living in London was not such a carefree experience the second time round and money soon became a problem.
“The flat was run-down, but it was enough. It was £2,350 a month in total for the three of us just for rent, and I was paying for my ex, so it was a stupid amount. After rent, I was left with very little,” he says. “It affected a few aspects of my life, like the relationship ended, I ended up getting very poorly from not looking after myself living there, I was skint.”
