Here are a few of our early success stories...

Little Dish

"We advertised on a few different websites and thought we were going to have to resort to expensive recruitment consultants to fill two commercial roles. We then found the Escape the City website, and in just a couple of weeks we've managed to fill two roles with just one advert. The best thing being the candidates are available to start in the next couple of weeks."

Tom Benton, Head of Commercial - Little Dish

Pulp Fruits

"We just want to say a big thank you to Escape the City for spreading the word about a position going at Pulp Fruits.  We got loads of responses from really fun, interesting and good quality candidates, and as a result are thrilled that we have found a excellent person to add to the Pulp Team. Thank you Escape the City!"

Annabel Lee, Pulp Team - Pulp Fruits

The Halo Trust

"I'm writing to you from Cambodia, having spent the day learning about how to clear minefields... Having been told about your project through various friends of friends , I signed up to the emails. One of the earliest ones, maybe January time, had a link for the HALO Trust saying they were recruiting.

All I can say is that because of you guys, I'm doing my dream job. Thank you so much, I'm not sure if you get told it but what are you doing does work, I feel I'm a little bit of the proof. I won't be back in London for a little while, but when I get back there I need to buy both you guys a drink to say thanks. Keep up the good work!"

Tom Georgi, Cambodia - HALO mine-clearing Trust

Right to Dream

"We were looking for development manager for our sports academy and school in Ghana. As soon as we mentioned it at Escape the City we received immediate interest from exactly the kind of applicants we were looking for and found a great person for the position. If only all recruitment were this easy."

Nurturing sporting talent in Africa - Right to Dream

Keystone Tutors - Moscow

"Two weeks ago Escape the City was recommended to me. I poured through job ideas and prospects and found something that appealed to my adventurous spirit and would also give me the best possible preparation for Teach First – a job tutoring in Moscow.

Esc left the application details: one e-mail and one week later I was in an office with two Russians under interview! Today, one week on, I’m busy buying fur hats and preparing for a ‘Russian’ winter – I’m off in a couple of weeks… Well done with Esc it's a brilliant idea and looks like it is really taking off. Obviously it has really helped me as I have got the job!"

Freddie Douglas, Private Tutor, Moscow - Keystone Tutors

Social Enterprise - Tanzania

"Thanks to you guys I had the guts to quit my job and get on with things, so I’m the one in your debt – honestly! Also, I’ve been reading some of the books you recommended, and they’ve been fantastic…"

Jennifer - ex-KPMG, founding a social enterprise - Tanzania

Tanzania Odyssey

Ted Archdale, ex-Morgan McKinlay - Tanzania Odyssey

blur Group

"I just wanted to let you know that we hired an intern yesterday called Fred who came to us from escapethecity and wants to break into digital marketing. He is also fascinated by Crowdsourcing. He no longer wants to be stuck in large, traditional agencies. I guess quite a case study for you. Hoping you can keep plugging us and our internship programme - it seems to work."

Philip Letts, Founder - blur Group

Ivy Lettings

"Escape The City have captured the professional zeitgeist. Highly effective sorters of the wheat... Esc found us the right candidate within one week... thank you"

Guy van der Westhuizen - Ivy Lettings

Here are some nice things that people have said about Esc...

Last Great Challenge

"Escape the City and the things that you’re all aiming to achieve is one of the most exciting and inspiring projects that I have ever come across. I am proud to have been associated with you guys from the very start and honoured to have been listed as your “Esc hero 1’. Although I won’t be there this evening, you can be assured of my continued support for everything that you’re doing and will do my very best to help in any way that I can."

Justin Miles

AlastairHumphreys.com

"At corporate speaking events I often speak to young professionals who claim that they wish they could do what I do. They often don't know what is preventing them from leading the life of their choice. It is sad to see so many people feeling like they don't have options. At a time where young people are increasingly pressurised to conform, Escape the City is a fantastic initiative in that it provides lots of exciting and unconventional opportunities. Anything that helps people get out there and do amazing things is a great idea in my book."

Al Humphreys

Open Society

"I came across Escape The City recently and was really impressed by the work it does. Your mission to link people with the work and experiences they want is a great one, particularly now when people are thinking hard about what they really want to do when facing difficulties in finding work.

Not only does 'Escape the City' give you a good insight into the state of the job market in the UK today, but it is a successful example of what can be achieved with an innovative approach and a dynamic attitude."

Tom Rendell

Tribewanted

"We're told everyday that we can 'escape' to the work/life we really want, but rarely are we told just how to go about doing it. Now there are no excuses - for here is a platform and community of likeminded escapees actually doing it."

Ben Keene

Keystone Tutors

“We are defined by the jobs we choose. Escape the City have successfully diagnosed that, for a host of reasons (parental pressure, status anxiety, the feeling of time at one’s back), many people choose jobs that leave them dramatically under-fulfilled and under-stimulated. “The City” is thus defined not in geographical or occupational terms – but as a state-of-mind; and Rob and Dom are keen to argue that the symptoms of this state-of-mind (powerlessness, a sense of entrapment) can haunt the rock-star as easily as it can the shipbroker.

Their posted Opportunities; their invitations to connect with like-minded people; more than that, the whole camaraderie of perceiving that there are others who feel as you do all help to facilitate and lubricate City escape routes. I think it’s absolutely fantastic.”

Will Orr-Ewing

Skills Venture

"Escape the City is a fantastic initiative that fills a much-needed hole in the lives of many young professionals in London and beyond. It's an imaginative response to the desire that so many people have to do something different, whether in the short term or as a lifelong career. I look forward to watching as it continues to inspire more and more people!"

Will Snell

Less Ordinary Living

"If you are stuck at your desk thinking "there must be more to work than this", Escape the City is the place for you.  A brilliant resource to reboot your career journey.  Packed with great opportunities and adventures."

Phil Bolton

Here is what some of our members think...

This website has a great vibe with amazing information. It really focuses on a niche and, for our generation, I believe this niche is growing.

Brett

I left the UK and transferred abroad and love it so much but the move has also shown me that it's not London that suffocated me. It's this company that is sucking out my energy. I hate the thought of being in this environment in the next few. As a result, I've done a bit of soul-searching and on Friday, I nailed it. I will go and work for NGOs and work on issues that truly matter to me - human rights, climate change etc.

In parallel, I came across your website this weekend and the inspiration, strength and courage that I have gained from the stories and the content you two have produced, is enormous. I am starting to plan my exit strategy and hopefully in two/three years time, I will be there. Thanks a lot. Your work is truly impacting the lives of others like me.

Alex

Esc, I just had to take a moment before heading off to bed to thank you. I discovered your site in the Evening Standard on my way home from Canary Wharf and this is the first night for some time that i will fall asleep excited about tomorrow. I usually dread the mundane schlep across town and am frustrated by my inability to walk away. I had no idea that there were so many of us out there.

The adventure starts here and tomorrow will be spent exploring every avenue. A truly fantastic site, well done guys. I'll keep you posted!

Kathryn

I want to congratulate you on your brilliant website - it's a great business idea and incredibly well executed. I've been working in finance for several years and like many others had been looking for an exit strategy but was finding it exceedingly difficult through traditional methods. I ended deciding to take an MBA to facilitate a career switch. But in future I hope that lots of others in similar situations will be able to use Escape the City to more quickly and easily find something they actually want to do with their lives. Keep up the great work!

Raoul

When I came down to breakfast this morning I noticed a newspaper article on the table. As my husband dashed out of the house to catch the 7.05 to London I asked him if it was something he wanted me to read. ‘No, not really it just has a website I want to look up’ and with that he was gone. Fascinated, I immediately read the article and then, having bought myself some time by supplying my 3 year old with colouring pens and paper, I went to the laptop, pulled up your site and breathed a small sigh of relief. At last there is someone out there responding to the ‘silent cry’.

I wish you both every success – you’re doing a great thing.

Jane

I heard about you guys through a friend and have been inspired ever since! I think what you are doing is fantastic and I can’t wait to hear more.

Kate

Will definitely check out the next event you hold, keep us posted on the website. Oh, and please keep doing what you're doing - you're giving us all some hope in this bleak era of job-hunting!

Georgina

Desperate to escape my corporate position, unfortunately I quite like having a decent salary…If you come across any cool jobs which you also get money from, let me know!

Jade

It's very refreshing to see you 20 something's thinking about your options. As a 41 year who escaped the City 6 years ago and has a very good quality of life, I was really happy to read about you in The Standard online.

I hear all too often that horrible phrase from City workers who are 'still there' , that's my words by the way, that immortal line of 'but I need the money'. Rubbish! You don't you know because you can make it elsewhere. I quit my 10 year IT career in banking in the City and grew my property portfolio and am now a teacher. I ski for 5 weeks a year and spend about 12 weeks on holiday with my kids abroad. It's perfect and it works. Everyone is happy and benefits. Nothing I have is any less than I would have had had I stayed in the rat race.

Susie

I will let you know what happens with the interview and in the meantime I will remain an avid fan of your website!

Nina

First time I’ve ever seen the website and in the 3 minutes I’ve just spent reading it, it is one of the best things I have ever seen! BRILLIANT! Absolutely fantastic idea and so obvious. Right, time to drop whatever else I was doing for the rest of the day and read the entire website and have a think about it.

Ed

I just spent many minutes looking thru your site. While at 60 I am clearly old enough to be your mother, as you mentioned you are never too old to find your passion. I am really delighted that we are on your site. Your comments are well thought out and resonate with at least this older person from across the pond.

Rebecca

You guys have obviously built up a solid reputation and list of direct line contacts already. Thanks again - I will follow Esc with interest - I really think the tribal mentality will catch on in a big way ... and for prospective 'leftfield' employers seeking high calibre candidates, your growing database will be hugely enticing.

Jim

After stumbling upon your site whilst doing some research for one of my many aspiring start up companies, I found myself still perusing the site 2 hours later! Realising what a monumental find your site was, I felt compelled to get in touch!

I fit the bill of people you describe on your site perfectly, straight A student, First and prize for best student in Politics, expectations to follow a standard career path i.e. law, civil service or something of the sort. However, I knew before I even left university that the corporate career path wasn't for me.

I have been passing the site onto everyone I know who has reached the point where they are starting to get it. It is amazing though how many of them resign themselves to the misery of the corporate career ladder as they think they just have no choice!

Jaime

You guys have created a great website! Congratulations on the move away from the city and on having that special energy to do something like this!

Very inspired to see there are more people like us than we thought! And completely share your view about being passionate in doing something you like and believe in and working hard at it.. Just looking for that little something myself!

Laura

I just discovered your website after a friend sent me the link - AMAZING! After about 18 months of constant daydreaming of my own company, I have just made the decision last week to quit my horrendous job (hedge fund) and start my own company! I could not have discovered your website at a better time and I am going to spend the weekend finalising my business plan and doing research, research, research!

Louisa

Guys, your idea is *AWESOME*! I can't wait to escape the City and now I know how to go about it. Stunning, stellar initiative, well done.

Kate

Just a quick note of encouragement in that I am getting to the stage when i am looking for jobs again, so spending quite a bit of time looking around job sites, and without doubt yours provides the most interesting and most attractive opportunities - how do you find them? I swear I've spent the last few hours looking at environmental job websites, but they are dominated by the most mundane jobs as I have ever encountered, a noise auditor being one of my faves. I was on the verge of tears.

Inigo

It's nice to know someone out there is supporting individuals who want change for themselves, I read your article in the Metro and that's how I found out about you guys. Doing an awesome job...

Stacey

Immediately I saw your site, I loved your ideas! I quit my job at Deloitte at the end of December 2009, having passed all those ACA exams and qualified in Jan 2009. I love going onto your website and seeing people realising their dreams and thinking - that could be me one day! You've done a great thing for the City of London!

Krish

Just wanted to give some positive feedback about your site. I think its a fantastic idea and the way you have set it up is really excellent - you're a definitely filling a massive hole in the market. I am keeping my eyes out for interesting opportunities that fit my skillset. I truly hope that you stick to your guns and continue promotion interesting, different roles that value city experience and don't succumb to the pressures of having to advertise "normal" jobs.

Michael

I just wanted to drop you a quick line to say that I think what you are doing is an outstanding idea!  I have just spent about an hour browsing your site and can definitely relate to a lot of the sentiments expressed there! I really hope it gains momentum - it really is a superb concept. There are far too many people (myself included!) who end up in the City without any real understanding of how or why they got there and just get sucked in to the daily grind - anything that could encourage these folks back in to the real world I think is hugely commendable!

I just felt I had to drop you a quick note - I feel genuinely energised at the thought of a mass exodus of talent from the City in to more rewarding lifestyles! Outstanding stuff.

Sam

Think you guys are doing something truly awesome with Esc... great to have discovered you, and hope I'll be able to come to more of your events in the future / follow what you're up to online. Just love the idea of getting all those creative minds and inspiration and ideas together! The city is just packed with it, but often it's all kind of lost.. but you guys are bringing it together, it's amazing :)

Amanda

I’ve been a member of your site for a few months now after a friend recommended it and I am finding myself logging on nearly every day! I really admire your business idea and think the website is excellent, with loads of inspirational testimonials and lots of very interesting job opportunities. It’s so inspiring to see opportunities that are unique and not the usual corporate stuff….

Lucy

What a great site you've got there.  It's exactly what I've been looking for. 

David