How the recession is affecting Londoners

THE GRADUATE

I'm on the dole despite having masters degree'

Masters graduate Mark Hughes signed on for the first time after he failed to find enough work to cover his rent, despite his qualifications.

Since graduating from a radio journalism course at Goldsmiths college in September the 23-year-old has found some part-time work as a DJ and roadie, but he was forced to sign on because it was not enough to cover the cost of his north London flat.

But he insisted it was only a temporary measure. "I'm not a sponger. I'm not using the Government. It's only a transition thing until I find something more permanent. I don't plan to be on it by the new year," he said.

Mr Hughes recently started a part-time law course at Birkbeck College, which he hopes will increase his chances of finding employment.

THE BUTCHER

I have had to stop taking on school-leavers'

The 56-year-old said he had stopped taking on school-leavers and students at his 120-year-old butcher's shop in Northcote Road because his business could not afford the extra cost.

"No one in the retail sector is employing school-leavers because we don't have work for them any more," he said.

Mr Dove has stopped hiring new staff and reduced his workforce from eight to five because the recession and the growing popularity of supermarkets have significantly dented his profits. He said: "We haven't sacked anyone, because I don't like doing that — I've known these people for years. If we go down, we'll all go down together. I can't see unemployment improving, because if you take out all the small businesses it's not going to help."

With business rates set to rise by 130 per cent, Mr Dove said: "If my shop goes, it will become another jigsaw, because no small business will be able to afford it."

THE LAWYER

I am prepared to take a 50% pay cut but no one is hiring'

The 28-year-old has signed up with 35 consultants and applied for more than 100 jobs.

"It's tough if you work very hard at law school and during your training contract and then get a job and enjoy the fruits of that, but then find there are no jobs for junior corporate lawyers" said Miss Marr, who lives in Battersea.

"I've written to corporate heads of department and they've written back and been very kind — one said their daughter was in the same position — but if they're not hiring, they're not hiring," she added.

So far Miss Marr said she had been for eight interviews — mainly for in-house commercial positions. But even though the jobs paid half her former salary, Miss Marr said she was up against stiff competition.

She added: "If you go for an in-house job, you're really bending your mergers and acquisitions training because it's commercial rather than corporate law. When I started out I didn't realise how difficult it would be to retrain into another area of law.

"I would be happy to do that, but it would mean starting at the bottom again and there is even less work for newly-qualified lawyers."

Although a generous redundancy package has allowed her to go travelling, Miss Marr has had to forgo buying a flat in South Kensington. She said: "The money won't last for ever, but I am hoping I can obtain a job by then."