A recent study has revealed that, to the surprise of many, Glasgow is the premier city for technology professionals in the UK. This comes from analysis conducted by SEO agency Startup Voyager. Their research analysed the 100 most populated UK cities to determine which locations offer the most advantageous conditions for those working in the tech industry.
The study assessed cities based on four key metrics related to software developer jobs: current average salary, salary increase over the past year, available vacancies per 100,000 people, and the increase in vacancies over the past year.
Table: Top 10 UK Cities for Tech Professionals
| Rank | City | Total Index Score |
| 1. | Glasgow | 10.00 |
| 2. | Cheltenham | 9.72 |
| 3. | Cambridge | 9.69 |
| 4. | Portsmouth | 9.57 |
| 5. | Northampton | 9.49 |
| 6. | Belfast | 9.40 |
| 7. | Lincoln | 9.17 |
| 8. | High Wycombe | 8.99 |
| 9. | Bedford | 8.90 |
| 10. | Manchester | 8.53 |
Top 10 UK Cities for Tech Professionals
Glasgow
Glasgow secured the top spot with an index score of 10. The city scored highly across all metrics, particularly in available vacancies per 100,000 people (8.77) and vacancy increase over the past year (7.53). Glasgow’s strong performance indicates a thriving tech job market with increasing opportunities for professionals.
Cheltenham
Cheltenham ranked second with an index score of 9.72. The city boasts the highest score in salary index (10), reflecting competitive pay for tech professionals. Cheltenham also showed strong figures in salary increase over the past year (6.21) and vacancies per 100,000 people (8.03).
Cambridge
Cambridge placed third with an index score of 9.69. The city achieved the highest score in vacancies per 100,000 people (10), indicating abundant job opportunities in the tech sector. Cambridge also scored well in salary index (7.43) and vacancy increase over the past year (6.14).
Portsmouth
With an index score of 9.57, Portsmouth ranks fourth. The city performed strongly in salary increase over the past year (7.89) and vacancy increase (8.03), suggesting significant growth in the tech job market.
Northampton
Northampton secured fifth place with a score of 9.49. The city showed notable increases in salary (8.77) and vacancies (8.35) over the past year, highlighting its rising prominence in the tech industry.
Belfast
Ranking sixth with a score of 9.40, Belfast excelled in salary increase over the past year (9.42) and salary index (7.53). Despite a slightly lower vacancy increase score (4.04), the city remains a strong contender for tech professionals seeking competitive salaries.
Lincoln
Lincoln achieved an index score of 9.17, placing seventh. The city scored highly in salary increase over the past year (8.54) and salary index (9.42), indicating lucrative opportunities for tech workers.
High Wycombe
With a score of 8.99, High Wycombe ranks eighth. The city demonstrated solid performance in salary index (7.89) and vacancy increase over the past year (7.33), suggesting steady growth in the tech sector.
Bedford
Bedford comes in ninth with an index score of 8.90. The city showed consistent scores across salary increase (8.18), vacancies per 100,000 people (6.90), and vacancy growth (6.60).
Manchester
Manchester rounds out the top ten with a score of 8.53. The city excelled in vacancies per 100,000 people (8.35) and maintained solid scores in salary index (6.90) and vacancy increase (6.27), highlighting its status as a major tech hub outside London.
Emerging Tech Hubs Across the UK
The study highlights the rise of cities beyond London as thriving centers for tech employment. Cities like Portsmouth, Northampton, and Belfast demonstrate significant growth in tech salaries and job vacancies, indicating expanding opportunities for professionals in these regions.
For instance, Portsmouth showed a substantial vacancy increase over the past year (8.03), while Northampton exhibited impressive salary growth (8.77) and vacancy increase (8.35). Belfast’s noteworthy salary increase score of 9.42 reflects the city’s growing appeal to tech talent seeking competitive compensation.
Speaking on the findings, Peter Banerjea, CEO and Co-founder of Startup Voyager said: “This study does a great job at showing how the different areas in the UK are adapting to the digital climate, not only are the biggest capital cities doing well, smaller cities like Lincoln, which has a population of around 100,000, are also excelling.”
Banerjea adds: “Vacancies paint a real-world picture, but the tech initiatives run deeper than that. Take Glasgow for example, it’s making consistent strides in the tech world. Glasgow has 99% LoRa coverage, which means smart devices like sensors and trackers can send small bits of data over long distances using very little power. With nearly the entire city connected to this network, it’s already one of the best in the UK for smart technology.”
