Any idea how to go about getting those contracts? Is it all about connections or do you go through recruiters? Also how long do they usually last before you have to find a new one?
.net is my day job, there is quite a lot of work in this space. Google .net contracts north west and find the recruitment consultants that get contract work and you're away. Once you've got few of them you'll be inundated with emails. They usually last between 3 months and 2 years really, any longer and there a few tax issues, but still possible. Always good to have a couple of clients on to help protect you from the IR35 Police. I'm not based in London but Manchester is catching up :)
Honestly a good recruiter can get you good contracts. Then you build up contacts via the contracts you've taken.
Eventually you won't need a recruiter
In 5 years of contracting, I was never out of work involuntarily.