A study by Startup Voyage, an SEO agency, found that Glasgow has been ranked the best city in the UK for tech professionals. The research looked at the 100 most populated cities in the country and looked at aspects such as salaries, job openings, vacancy growth, and general conditions for software developers.
Glasgow came out on top with a perfect index score of 10. The city had 8.77 job vacancies per 100,000 people and a vacancy growth score of 7.53 over the past year. This shows a strong local tech scene that continues to attract both talent and employers.
Cheltenham came second, with a total score of 9.72. It scored 10 for average salary and showed healthy numbers for salary growth at 6.21 and vacancy availability at 8.03. Cambridge followed closely with a score of 9.69 and had the highest job vacancies per 100,000 people, scoring 10 in that area.
Portsmouth and Northampton also made the top five. Portsmouth earned a total score of 9.57, helped by 7.89 in salary growth and 8.03 for vacancy increase. Northampton got a 9.49 score, with salary growth reaching 8.77 and vacancy growth at 8.35.
Glasgow may have taken the crown, but a lot of cities across the UK are catching up.These are the top 10 UK cities for tech professionals, based on Startup Voyager’s index scores…
- Glasgow – index score 10.00
- Cheltenham – 9.72
- Cambridge – 9.69
- Portsmouth – 9.57
- Northampton – 9.49
- Belfast – 9.40
- Lincoln – 9.17
- High Wycombe – 8.99
- Bedford – 8.90
- Manchester – 8.53
Belfast came with a salary growth score of 9.42 and a salary index of 7.53. Lincoln scored 8.54 for salary growth and 9.42 on salary index, showing that earnings are rising fast there too. High Wycombe also did well on salary and vacancy growth.
London, often seen as the go-to city for tech, did not feature in the top 10. The capital still has the highest number of total jobs but struggled with slower growth and high living costs. These findings are showing an increase towards regional cities that seem to have better affordability and work-life balance.
Peter Banerjea, CEO at Startup Voyager, said, “Vacancies paint a real-world picture, but the tech initiatives run deeper than that. Glasgow is making consistent strides in the tech world.
“With 99% LoRa coverage — a network allowing smart devices to communicate over long distances using minimal power — Glasgow is already one of the best-connected cities in the UK for smart technology.”
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What Tech Jobs Are Growing In the UK?
According to a 2025 tech report from Nucamp, 60% of UK tech companies expect improved conditions this year. Growth is being driven by AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity and data services. These are the top jobs…
1. AI Engineers– £90,000 to £130,000.
2. Cloud Architects– £80,000 to £120,000
3. Data Scientists– £75,000 to £110,000
4. Cybersecurity professionals– £50,000 to £100,000
5. DevOps Engineers– £70,000 to £100,000
6. Software Developers– £40,000 to £100,000 depending on skill and experience
These areas are growing fast and attracting employers who want workers with technical skill and at the same time can maintain hands-on thinking.
People with 3-5 years of experience are in especially high demand. Nucamp mentions that these workers are high in confidence and adaptability, which companies often prefer over junior or overly specialised candidates. Employers are also interested in candidates who can speak clearly about their work over and above just coding.
What Skills Do UK Employers Want Most In 2025?
Nucamp’s report also broke down the most sought-after skills in the UK tech job market. Python continues to lead as the most requested language, especially in data and AI projects. Java and JavaScript also remain popular, while Kotlin and Swift are becoming more common in mobile development.
Soft skills are more important than ever. Nucamp found that 68% of UK employers are looking for workers who can communicate clearly and work well in a team. Another 57% said problem-solving ability is one of the most important traits they look for. The ability to explain technical work to non-technical colleagues is especially valuable.
Certifications also make a real difference. AWS Certified Solutions Architects are now earning over £75,000, and people with Google Cloud certifications are seeing salary increases of about 12%. Full-stack skills that cover both front-end and back-end tools are in demand, especially in companies that want flexible developers.
Is London Still Worth Considering?
London has more tech jobs overall than any other UK city, but its share of attention is dropping. According to the Startup Voyager report, slower job growth and tough affordability are pushing workers and businesses towards regional cities where wages stretch further.
Cities like Portsmouth, Lincoln and High Wycombe are seeing more activity in hiring and salary growth. Belfast and Northampton are also becoming strong picks, thanks to high scores in job availability and wage increases.
For tech workers looking to start or grow their careers in 2025, the best chances may no longer be in the capital.
