Introduction
The UK’s IT industry is prospering, adding an average of 7% to the country’s GDP annually since 2016.
Companies are optimistic about technology, with 60% anticipating a rise in their reliance on highly developed digital capabilities over the following five years.
While looking for a technology career, localities should be taken into account according to the UK CompTIA Tech Town Index.
With London having the highest median tech pay at £49,685 and Belfast taking first place in the affordability category based on average property prices, Bristol will lead the way for the expansion of tech employment in 2022.
Reading and Bath dropped off the ranking this year, but Nottingham and Newcastle rose higher in their positions.
A broad perspective of places where innovation thrives, ideas are produced, talent is created, and talent is valued provided by tech towns.
So here’s a list for all the techies out there to help them pick the best British city for the future of their careers—
1. Bristol
The CompTIA UK has Bristol at the top once more, with 33,895 technology jobs anticipated in 2023.
Between August 2021 and July 2022, IT businesses listed 37,272 jobs, 13,879 of which were at least partially remote roles.
Bristol’s typical tech pay is £39,864, 46% more than the city’s average salary for all occupations.
IT support professionals, software developers, architects, IT project managers, systems engineers, and web developers are in demand in the Bristol metropolitan region.
Home prices in the region are, on average, £342,432, up about £45,000 from 2020.
The largest business investment for Q2 of this year, Pax8 EMEA, is relocating into its new premises at The Distillery.
They’ll keep making chances for the IT industry and promoting the city abroad.
2. London
In 2022, London was rising, taking the top spot for IT job posts with 308,882 listings and an expected 9.5 million residents.
Nevertheless, with just 485 net new employment anticipated in 2023, it now ranks ninth in yearly growth.
The median tech compensation in London, at £49,685, is 82% more than the average wage for all occupations, making up for the city’s lack of development.
London is the city with the highest salary jobs but it has the lowest cost of living.
London is a centre for technology in the UK and the rest of the globe, and organisations with offices there provide remote employment to citizens of the entire nation.
This year, IT project managers, software developers, IT support professionals, systems engineers, and web developers had the most positions listed.
Companies from the U.S. and Europe are also considering London.
3. Cambridge
The National Health Service and the AstraZeneca University of Cambridge are a few of Cambridge’s biggest employers, making it one of the top employers in the Tech Town Index.
In the last year, the region added 28,433 tech jobs; in 2023, 323 net new positions will be added. The median tech wage in Cambridge for IT professionals is £41,625.
Given that the University of Cambridge routinely ranks among the top five universities globally, having locally produced talent gives Cambridge a significant competitive edge.
The Golden Triangle, which also includes Oxford and London, includes Cambridge and is known for having a thriving life science tech environment.
Meanwhile, the high expense of living in Cambridge could make it harder to keep top talent. In 2022, Cambridge will be ranked third, a region to be taken seriously.
4. Birmingham
The largest city in the West Midlands, Birmingham, has dropped from second to fourth on the Tech Town Index since reaching its high in 2020.
Fintech and emerging technologies are becoming more well-known. The UK’s Innovation Plan discusses the role cities like Birmingham must play in maximising the nation’s potential for research and innovation.
One of the top 15 universities for computer science is Birmingham University, which also offers programming, robotics, and artificial intelligence degrees.
Birmingham was identified as one of 10 UK clusters with “below potential, with higher upside to come” in a government-commissioned study of the fintech industry.
According to experts, Birmingham can enter a positive feedback loop with new firms moving in and enough decent employment.
5. Nottingham
This year’s Tech Town Index includes Nottingham for the first time, a city with a competent workforce and deep fintech traditions.
Its £182,415 average property price is 36% less than the national average.
In 2023, there are expected to be 22,130 tech positions, with software developer/engineer, IT support expert, web developer, systems engineer/architect, and IT project manager as the most in-demand job titles.
Nottingham’s median tech pay is 34% greater than the city’s overall median earnings, while the cost of living there is 36% cheaper than the national average.
The city has a solid fintech base, and the ecosystem is developing rapidly to offer the best business support systems.
A little over an hour from London, it is situated in the centre of the UK and has a unique sense of community.
6. Manchester
Due to its professional opportunities, accessibility to prestigious colleges, and supportive corporate culture, Manchester is the UK’s “best digital tech city.”
There were 63,163 open technology jobs in the last year, and in 2023, there will likely be 442 more added.
Manchester’s typical tech income is £38,685, 42% more than the city’s average pay for all jobs. Microsoft developer tools, SQL, tech support, software development, JavaScript, and cooperation and communication are among the most often desired abilities.
In Greater Manchester, a Digital Tech Cluster is expected to generate 1,000 new jobs, while expansions at Accenture and PWC will result in more employment.
A consortium is also introducing a fresh breakthrough in digital security, and CMC Markets intends to create a tech cluster in the area.
Manchester’s IT sector is fueled by an attractive creative skill that might help other places.
7. Leeds
Leeds’ position on the Tech Town Index declined in 2022 as a result of a number of factors, including the cost of living and employment growth.
The average property in the neighbourhood cost £197,026 in 2020, but it now costs £229,139.
In addition, living expenses have gone up; the typical home in the region is now worth £229,139.
Also, a 2.1% increase in employment is anticipated between 2020 and 2021, and just 138 new tech positions are expected to be added in the region in 2019.
Nonetheless, the city is known for producing the knowledgeable personnel and substantial financial resources required to support start-ups and innovation.
The growth is particularly observed in the healthcare sector and more conventional industries like banking, legal services, manufacturing, and retail.