About Us

 

‘To escape the city’ – verb

Definition: ‘the act of leaving a job that doesn’t fulfill you in order to find an occupation that will.’

The Concept

The fact is that not everybody enjoys their jobs.

Despite all the perceived benefits of working for big corporate companies, increasing numbers of young people are struggling to find genuine fulfilment working in ‘The City’.

Some people solve this problem by changing companies within their current industry – a relatively straightforward process.

For others, however, this challenge requires a more fundamental change of direction.

Escape the City was started when we realised that there are hundreds if not thousands of young people in very similar situations, all trying to solve the same problem.

We want to be the antidote to this problem.

As we have discovered ourselves, a career change requires a lot of thought and a whole lot of soul-searching.

We are convinced that all these people, all these skills and all these hours working in the city can be put to really good use elsewhere.

There are thousands of amazing opportunities for young professionals to go and use their skills in effective ways. In ways that inspire, excite and fulfill them.

But there’s one problem. It’s hard to know where to start looking. And the best opportunities and potential directions aren’t immediately obvious.

So we decided we would take on the challenge and build something genuinely useful, something that doesn’t yet exist, to help people through their own escapes.

Our Story

Escape the City was started by the two of us: Dom Jackman and Rob Symington.

We worked as management consultants at a large London-based professional services firm. We were both frustrated and unfulfilled by the work that we were doing.

Escape the City was born when we realised that we were definitely not alone and that there are masses of young people who could benefit from a platform like Escape the City. Something that provides the opportunities, encouragement and advice that they’re looking for.

We’ll publish a full profile about ourselves shortly. In the meantime, come over to the blog to read a bit more about us.

Why have we started Escape the City?

• Because we want to help the thousands of young professionals who are feeling (like we did) stuck in their jobs, trying to work out what they should and could be doing with their lives

• Because we believe that many people who have worked in the city are extremely well-qualified, highly motivated and – if given an exciting, inspiring and fulfilling opportunity – could make a tremendous impact on any organisation

• Because we want to create something that genuinely helps people improve their lives and the lives of others – something that we can be proud of

• Because what better way could there to escape the city than by building a platform to help the many people who want to do the same thing?!

What are we trying to achieve?

• Help young professionals who are unfulfilled and frustrated with their jobs and their careers

• Find unique and interesting job opportunities that will excite, inspire and fulfill them

• Provide them with ideas, information and inspiration to help them make the moves to find occupations that suit them

• Connect people to help them achieve great things together

• Build it with our members’ input and feedback