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General Information
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Located almost halfway between the capital and the coast Crawley has grown far beyond the design parameters laid down in the late ‘40’s (that’s
the late 1940’s). Mostly due to the massive expansion of Gatwick Airport but also with a lot of encouragement from the Crawley Council.
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Over the years the character of the town seems to have been eroded as the quest for more and more development is encouraged to support the ever
demanding requirements of the councillors.
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The major employment type in Crawley has moved from a light industrial base to an airport service base. In the 60’s many 1000’s trained in various
engineering skills and office skills. Now there are very few trainee engineering posts and few reasonable office training positions available to school leavers. Local companies, encouraged by the various
governments and shareholder desire for immediate profits, have stripped costs to the bone. Now they require trained staff (trained by others at another’s expense) and reduced jobs to the lowest possible
level to keep wages at a minimum.
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The ‘Temp’ employment agencies in the town are cleaning up as employers shun all responsibility for their worker’s futures - no holiday pay, no
sick pay and no pension - in short NO FUTURE!
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There is strong evidence to show that employers are recruiting foreign staff and paying what might appear to be reasonable wages via their foreign
agencies to further reduce staff costs. However they do not mention that Crawley is possibly the most expensive place (outside London) in which to live. £18,000 a year might sound a lot to attract the
impressionable foreign staff BUT, after the normal stoppages, it won’t cover the everyday living expenses in the town,. Be warned, the streets of Crawley ARE NOT paved with gold, only fool’s gold.
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There are lots of openings for shop staff, fast food catering staff and hotel cleaning staff, on a temp basis.
Check out the adverts in the local papers if you do not believe me!
Local schools and the college, reflect this shortage of required technical skills in the subjects offered.
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Health in Crawley would appear to have moved into the ‘please book your illness in advance’ mode. My son was recently told that he could have an appointment ‘in 2 weeks
time’ when he was unwell.
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Getting a dentist on the National Health is virtually impossible as dentists fight for the lucrative private market. I was told very recently that “there is no more room’
but if you want to join our private list I can see you tomorrow!”
Gatwick is very close by AND continues to expand offering more menial jobs (specialists seldom live in Crawley).
Crawley is well situated for travel - into London, to the coast and abroad, which is nice!
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There is loads to do in Crawley provided you only want to get drunk or fit, both at considerable expense. At the last count there was about 14 drinking establishments in
the High Street alone - and that is only a couple of hundred yards long!
This is Crawley at the beginning of the 21st century!
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Welcome to Crawley!
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