When applying to jobs, most applicants typically look at factors like industry, salary, benefits, and work-life balance, among others. After the pandemic, however, a growing number of job seekers are also considering location as part of their employment opportunities.
Relocating for a job has many benefits: first, it offers the unique chance to ‘try on’ a new city, see the UK in a different light, and/or receive increased compensation as part of a relocation package.
If you’re thinking of branching out and looking at your next job opportunity in a different city (or region), our guide will help you do just that. We’ve virtually travelled all across the United Kingdom to find regional market trends, emerging industries, and ideas for your next move.
Once you’ve found a place or two that pique your interest, don’t forget to update your qualifications (these professional CV examples will help you get started), seek out job opportunities on recruitment sites, and go for it!
London: Service Industry
As the capital of England and the United Kingdom, London is undoubtedly a global hub that boasts a dynamic and diverse job market — and it would be quite tough trying to narrow it down to just one industry!
In fact, the services sector accounts for about 85% of London’s economic activity, with the most popular subsets being financial services, professional services, and tourism.
In 2017, London was ranked as the most competitive financial centre in the world, with banks like HSBC, Barclays, Citigroup, Lloyds, and Standard Chartered having their headquarters in the city. Getting a finance-related job in London is sure to make a positive impact on your CV, as it’s seen as the crème de la crème location for the industry.
Similarly, the professional services industry is also seeing an uptick in jobs, as the city is constantly looking for accountants, managers, and workers in the legal industry (i.e. solicitors and barristers).
Lastly, tourism in London on a noticeable rebound, especially after the devastating effects of the pandemic. The number of overseas tourists to London has almost returned to pre-pandemic levels, and is expected to grow even further in the next few years — which means plenty of opportunities in hospitality and tourism.
Manchester: Fashion and Textiles
If there was ever a city that could give London a run for its money as the UK’s fashion capital, it would be Manchester. The latter quote, from online fashion news network FashionUnited, is a perfect representation of Manchester’s rising role in the fashion industry.
Once known as Cottonopolis thanks to its role as the centre of the UK’s cotton industry, Manchester has come a long way since the 19th century. The city has hundreds of stores which cover every niche and interest, from high fashion boutiques to vintage stores, grunge indie shops, and much more.
However, it doesn’t stop there: Manchester has leaned so much into its history that it even offers higher education opportunities in fashion, including four BScs at The University of Manchester (such as Fashion Management and Fashion Marketing), BA Hons at Manchester Metropolitan University, and a Foundation Degree in Fashion at The Manchester College.
Those looking to pursue a career in fashion and style will feel right on trend in Manchester, as some of the world’s top retail companies, including Boohoo.com, Henri Lloyd, and Debenhams are headquartered in the city.
Bristol & West of England: Aerospace
Bristol is historically (and currently) renowned for its aerospace industry, which started around the early 1900s after the Bristol Aeroplane Company was established. Nowadays, more than 10 aerospace companies are based around the West of England region (including Bristol) and have contributed to more than 50,000 jobs in the industry.
Major aerospace companies around the area include Airbus, Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and GKN Aerospace. The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) even states that if the aerospace industry continues to grow along the same trajectory as now, the UK can potentially secure an additional 95,000 jobs by 2035.
Edinburgh: Innovation and Technology
According to a recent study, Scotland is home to two of the United Kingdom’s most lucrative tech cities — Edinburgh and Glasgow — and saw a total of £705 million in venture capital being invested into local start-ups in 2022.
Many of the world’s most famous technology and blue-chip companies are headquartered in Edinburgh, including Apple, Microsoft, Adobe, IBM, and Amazon, among others. Of course, there are also thousands of smaller companies and start-ups that have made the city their home — including two unicorns (companies worth more than $1 billion in valuation): flight search site Skyscanner and mobile gaming company FanDuel.
Besides world-class workplaces, Edinburgh also has the highest average regional salary for tech roles (at nearly £50,000 per year). That’s not all: according to government statistics, in 2021 30% of available vacancies in Edinburgh were in the tech sector, while Scotland as a whole is expected to see 34,000 new jobs open up in the industry. If you’re thinking of making the leap and work in IT, technology, or at a start-up, Edinburgh is the perfect opportunity!
