Harlow, Slough, & Bracknell named UK’s top tech hubs

A recent study has identified the leading tech hubs in the UK, emphasising locations that combine high salaries with affordable living for technology professionals.

Conducted by TalkTalk Business, the research considered various factors such as salaries, job opportunities, and cost of living to determine the ideal locations for tech talent. According to the study, Harlow, Slough, and Bracknell topped the list, surpassing even London in certain salary benchmarks. These towns feature flourishing tech ecosystems with dedicated innovation hubs and a lower cost of living compared to the capital.

Sunderland was highlighted as a noteworthy Northern powerhouse, offering competitive salaries and an affordable lifestyle. According to the study, the top ten tech hubs are Harlow, Slough, Bracknell, London, Southampton, Luton, Sunderland, Chatham, Basildon, and St Albans.

Ian Cairns, Sales Director at TalkTalk Business, offered insights on what to seek when choosing a tech hub for a business start-up. He said, "The best tech hubs understand it's a two-way street. They offer competitive salaries and opportunities, but also a high quality of life that attracts and retains top talent. A genuinely great tech hub isn't built on just code, it's built on community. You need that mix of talent, investment, and a dash of creative chaos to really ignite innovation."

The methodology for identifying these tech hubs was based on a list of built-up towns and cities compiled after the 2021 Census by the Office for National Statistics. These locations were assessed against three main criteria: salary, affordability, and opportunity.

Six typical tech roles were taken into account: software engineer, data engineer, front and back-end developer, IT project manager, cloud engineer, and data analyst. The average salary of these roles in each location was determined. The study also reviewed nine cost-of-living factors, including food and drink, property, fitness, childcare expenses, and job opportunities available on Indeed. Each of these factors was scored, and the averaged results contributed to a final score to determine the leading tech hubs.

The findings from the TalkTalk Business study highlight the evolving landscape of tech hubs in the UK, where affordability and quality of life increasingly influence where technology professionals choose to live and work. By identifying Harlow, Slough, and Bracknell as key locations that provide competitive salaries alongside lower living costs, the research underscores the importance of a balanced approach to attracting and retaining talent in the tech industry. This data serves as a valuable resource for professionals seeking optimal work environments and offers insights for businesses looking to establish themselves in thriving ecosystems that support innovation and growth.