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London Bicycle Messenger Association: Foreigners working in London as bike messenger (Im a yank)

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      CommentAuthorFragem
    • CommentTimeMar 7th 2009
     
    I have several years of NYC bike messenger experience and I am wondering whether it is impossible for someone with no English back ground to get a job working in London for a courier company.

    I seriously need a change of scenery.

    I am a German born native citizen of the USA.
  2.  
    Are you EU legal?
    • CommentAuthorakeley
    • CommentTimeMar 7th 2009
     
    There are no-questions-asked companies if you can`t work legally...but times tend to be tough in these.
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      CommentAuthorGertie
    • CommentTimeMar 8th 2009
     
    To expand on Bill's comment, if you have dual nationality then as an EU citizen you can work anywhere within the EU including Britain, If however you are 'only' a US citizen then you'll have the number of companies limited. If you come across now then your main problem will be that no companies are recruiting because work is VERY quiet and they have no need for new riders regardless of their provenance.
  5.  
    It is tough out there at the minute. Bad news is that it doesn't look like picking up any time soon. I'm gobsmacked at some of the wage packets that riders I know are picking-up, even at decent companies (Including Creative, Bill!) Averaging £30 for a day's work isn't uncommon at usually semi-respectable firms. I can't even make a living pedalling at the minute.....and you all know how incredibly popular I am in the industry. (Ahem!)
    After a couple of recent weeks of scraping £240, I've switched to a powered machine - something I only usually contemplate if it's really quiet in the summer. (I'm not so desperate that I'd contemplate going back to City Sprint. Yet. But I might be forced to try them if things don't pick-up soon.)

    Companies usually inform their Fleet Managers and Recruitment Supremos to check ID and entitlement to work.....however, the bozos don't always do so.
    If you go in for the interview late on and then persuade the buggers to let you start early the next day, the a.m. bozo will often assume that you showed the ID and relevant docs the night before.
    In the last few years, I've started at Pink, Post Haste and CDS on motorbikes and not been asked for any ID at all.
    A bit of a shame that I lasted a combined total of about three months at them.

    "Provenance", Gertie?
    You're getting a bit loquash....er...lokw....er.....flowery with the prose, aren't you? Anyone would think you've been out there since the days when intelligent people used to do the job.
  6.  
    sam
  7.  
    sam?
    •  
      CommentAuthorpornomike
    • CommentTimeSep 1st 2009 edited
     
    "Are you EU legal? "
    Like you care. How many Portland Oregon San Fransisco New York messengers have "Creative" used over the years?
  9.  
    It would appear that it is much easier for a San Franciscan to get a job at Creative than a Londoner to get a job in San Francisco............
    •  
      CommentAuthoroverdrive
    • CommentTimeOct 12th 2009
     
    Yeah,dunno what it is with Creative and the yanks.I think Bill wishes he was American hence the constant use of the word "messenger".:bigsmile:
  11.  
    ha ha well said john
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      CommentAuthorxjuho
    • CommentTimeJun 15th 2010
     
    Is it hard to get cycle courier jobs from London for foreigns? I mean... I don't have former experience from cycle courier stuff but I love cycling and it has been my dreamjob for ages (yea, really) and it's kind of hard in Finland to get cycle courier jobs, maybe cause we don't have so big cities or big traffics. :/ Just asking. Thanks.
    •  
      CommentAuthor24tee
    • CommentTimeJun 15th 2010 edited
     

    I know of an Irishman who got a job with Fillarilähetit in Helsinki… speaking a respectably workable mess of Finglish —- and you know what Finns are like about foreign workers not speaking the language (or maybe you don’t). Kebab? No. Kepappi.

    Anyway. If you’re looking for a job in London and need a hand give me a shout.

    Terveisin T Turusta.

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      CommentAuthorxjuho
    • CommentTimeJun 17th 2010
     
    Fillarilähetit? Bring express nowadays? How's he doing there? :D This is a bit off topic but how well do finnish courier companies pay? I know that messengers paychecks ain't that glamoureous, but I would just wanna know that how well I would survive with it. :>
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      CommentAuthor24tee
    • CommentTimeJun 17th 2010 edited
     

    Box Delivery, nowadays. That was 2004/5. He had enough of the ice and snow and left, but as far as I know he made a living while there.

    edit: Ah yes Bring Express they are called, copyright Norge Post… Box it is though, yet another McDonalds.

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      CommentAuthorPuavo
    • CommentTimeJun 21st 2010
     
    Helsinki is good for the few of us on the road. Way less of us out here than just a few years ago. Bad time to be looking for work, but I guess that's the same everywhere.

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