Putting finger in the air (As Usual)
I am wondering if there is actually many qualified engineers in 4/5 banding, who are actively seeking employment, or is it a dying trend in East Anglia.
Are they queuing up to work for the NHS?
I would be interested to see how many at this moment in time would apply for a job.

Sorry Mate, but this is a bit too vague!

Do you mean techs already in post who are looking to move up a band by moving elsewhere?

Or techs who have an overwhelming desire to move to East Anglia?

Or people from outside the NHS looking to come in at Band 4/5?

Or do you mean Engineers (as in, degree qualified)?

Do you imagine that people are going to come on here and admit to any of those things (why should they)?

If you are thinking of advertising a position, why not just do it and see who responds? Then you’ll know!

Or are you thinking of applying for a position yourself, and just want to suss out the competition?

You certainly know how to tie people in knots
Just dreaming as I normally do
How many engineers are out there ,who are qualified, and would come to work for the NHS, i.e. someone could be qualified, but actually works down the local B&Q, just wondered would they wander back into the profession, or stay out of it.
I personally, love my job, I have no competition.

Could not afford the cut in wages

Myself, I still haven't fathomed out Skippy's question!

Is he saying "how many ex-NHS techs are thinking of returning to the NHS"?

Or "how many Band 4/5 techs would consider relocating in order to gain promotion to Band 6"? ... or what?

Neil,
It's a bit off topic but how do wages over in Saudi compare with back home? When I worked in the middle east ('88/90) the going rate for a biomed was between £15K and £18K, compared to £7K to £8K in the UK at that time.

Bill
When I was last in Saudi ( 2000-2001 ) my salary was 14,000 SR per month, around £26k - £28k depending on Exchange Rates.
This was quite good and I believe salaries have gone down somewhat since then, so will be interested to hear Niel,s reply.
By Comparison at that time American Biomeds got 20,000 SR per month and were above us in the " Pecking Order " !!

Ain't that always the way? The Americans seem to be able to do better than us.
I remember the difference bewteen the American and the British Embassy clubs in Amman. The American club had a massive outdoor area with 25m pool and floodlit tennis courts, the British club had a dusty area with what might be referred to as a large bath and two tired looking tennis courts.

Was that the British Club out at the 5th Circle ?? If it was I played for the Darts Team in 84/85, Beer was pretty good too Amstel, as I recall actually brewed in Jordan. !!

Yep, we got involved with the darts team (88/89). A good excuse for a cultural exchange (hic.). If you got fed up with the Amstel, the Yanks had Bud on tap! Their club was near 2nd circle (I think). Happy days!

Were they Band 4 or Band 5?

I don't know but we were ban(ne)d from the Intercon, Marriott and Plaza for a while.

Off Topic we know, SR16,000 plus I have consultancy work that pays quite well. exchange rate today 5.3, but I am not comparing my salary to UK salaries as my base now is Thailand. Beautiful wife and cute son to boot.

Talking of salaries, why are Biomed salaries below average of the industry, Multi-skilled engineers in the food industry are usually advertised at 35-40, biomeds at 28-35, and if it is London, where there are jobs on offer how can you live on anything below 50k

Times really have changed as there are not that many Brits here, and I don't know any Americans, I do know that there are a lot of (TCN) "Americans" here, change of nationality = a change of salary but it does not change the mentality.

Hi Neil,

Well as the real Americans would say " Thats not too Shabby "
especially at 5.3. Enjoy it mate, Jeddahs not a bad posting either. T.

Dream on, Mate. Dream on.

Hospital biomeds will never sit at the top table, simply because they work in hospitals. Surely by now you must have noticed that hospitals have a pecking order that cannot be breached?

In my experience, it is only in (what we may call) unusual situations like hospitals managed by O&M contractors (as is common in Saudi Arabia) where the biomed may have some sort of standing. That is, influence, status ... and a salary to match ... especially if (as once happened to Yours Truly) he also happens to be Deputy Project Manager or some such thing.

In the UK, NHS biomeds are regarded (if, indeed, they are even noticed at all) as minions, or at best support staff (which is, of course, what they are). In the UK, anyone who thinks he (she) is in biomed for the money will be sadly disappointed, for sure.