Glasgow has been ranked as the best city for tech professionals in the UK based on key employment metrics. After this, Cheltenham and Cambridge secure second and third places in the nationwide tech city rankings. Many of these locales are excelling due to technological innovation.
The associated study highlights significant salary increases and job growth in emerging tech hubs outside London. This comes from a survey conducted by SEO agency Startup Voyager.
The survey analysed the 100 most populated UK cities to determine which locations offer the most advantageous conditions for those working in the tech industry. For this, the company 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.
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 |
Based on the above table, the top five cities show some interesting characteristics and variances.
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.
The study highlights the rise of cities beyond London as thriving bases 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. The study also demonstrates how 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 showing progress.
