WHEN it comes to pay and perks in Yorkshire and the North-east size matters.

A new database shows that employees in Yorkshire and the North-east, who are looking for better pay and perks, should choose a larger company rather than move south.

These findings come from the newly-launched Croner's Pay Database, a regularly-updated, searchable database on pay and benefits. Launched by Croner.CCH, the provider of subscription management information, the database is regularly updated and comes with a monthly newsletter and Business Support Helpline.

Designed to help companies attract and keep their staff, the database gives them a wide range of information about pay and benefits within their region and across industry sectors nationwide.

A search of the database for Yorkshire and the North-east of England shows that salaries do differ from those in the South-east, but company size is more significant.

A finance manager in a large company in Yorkshire/North-east would expect to earn an average of £31,793, whereas their equivalent in Inner London would be paid £36,996, a difference of £5,203. However, a finance manager in a small Yorkshire/North-east company could expect a salary of £25,409, which is £6,384 less than their counterpart in the large firm.

Similarly, perks are better for employees of large companies.

More than half the finance managers in large companies (57 per cent) get company cars or car allowances, compared to only 38 per cent in small businesses. In the large firms, 71 per cent get private medical insurance and 95 per cent get a company pension scheme, compared to 47 per cent and 76 per cent in small businesses.

Other occupations reflect the same story. A skilled technician in a small company in Yorkshire and the North-east would earn £15,430 on average, compared to £17,643 in Inner London. However, the same job in a large company pays £17,719 in the North, and £20,261 in London.

Overall, the lowest-paid employee in the survey is an unskilled worker in catering, security, clerical or labouring, working for a small company in Scotland on a full-time salary of £6,892.

The highest-paid job is a commercial director working for a large company in Inner London, on £97,928. This level of employee automatically gets a company car, nine out of ten get private medical insurance and 95 per cent, a company pension scheme. However, unlike the lowest-paid worker, they never get paid overtime.

Croner's Pay Database is offered on a subscription basis with a 50 per cent discount for organisations prepared to participate in the pay survey by completing a questionnaire.

A year's subscription to the database, monthly newsletter, and helpline, is £450.00 plus VAT and £9.95 postage, packing and administration. Participating organisations get the product for half price.