- A new study by Adobe Express reveals the UK’s best cities for employees.
- Swindon ranks first, followed by Milton Keynes and Stoke-on-Trent in second and third.
As of September 2024, 13% of workers in Great Britain worked exclusively from home, while 23% adopted a hybrid approach1. Employees in the UK have said that amongst several factors, lack of commute and savings on costs are some the main benefits of working from home2, but what if the city you lived in catered to all your needs as an employee?
Adobe Express have delved into all the aspects of working life to reveal the best cities for employees in the UK.
To generate the employee-friendly cities list, Adobe Express compared 30 UK cities, looking into factors including but not limited to; average annual salary, the price of a cappuccino, the cost of public transport and access to green space.
These are the UK’s top employee-friendly cities:
| Rank | City | Salary (£) | Unemployment (%) | Green Space (%) | Public Transport Ticket (£) | Coffee (£) | Total Score |
| 1 | Swindon | 35,605 | 2.4 | 27.15 | 2.40 | 2.98 | 6.541 |
| 2 | Milton Keynes | 39,623 | 3.6 | 31.11 | 2.90 | 3.25 | 6.309 |
| 3 | Stoke-on-Trent | 30,657 | 4 | 46.09 | 2.10 | 2.97 | 6.234 |
| 4 | Reading | 40,570 | 3.7 | 42.04 | 2.20 | 3.52 | 6.151 |
| 5 | Plymouth | 33,004 | 3.7 | 24.53 | 2.30 | 3.33 | 6.089 |
| 6 | Sheffield | 32,603 | 3.9 | 33.98 | 2 | 3.56 | 6.048 |
| 7 | Leeds | 34,354 | 4.1 | 41.9 | 2 | 3.29 | 5.996 |
| 8 | Peterborough | 33,425 | 5 | 32.71 | 2 | 2.83 | 5.991 |
| 9 | Kingston upon Hull | 30,966 | 2.9 | 18.71 | 2 | 2.87 | 5.958 |
| 10 | Brighton and Hove | 34,876 | 4.4 | 27.27 | 2.10 | 3.32 | 5.791 |
Swindon ranks as the UK’s most employee friendly city
Swindon comes out on top when it comes to employee havens scoring 6.541 overall, so it’s no surprise that Swindon’s employment rate was higher than across the South West as a whole in the year ending December 20233 and has one of the best scores for unemployment in Adobe’s rankings.
The Swindon and Wiltshire area has an above average number of large companies, including brands like BMW, Ministry of Defence and Nationwide Building Society. Swindon also ranks seventh in Britain when it comes to the rate of productivity per worker4.
Milton Keynes is one of the best employee friendly cities
In close second, Milton Keynes ranks as one of the best employee friendly cities in the UK, scoring highly for average annual salary.
According to Milton Keynes council, Milton Keynes has one of the highest rates of private sector opportunities5.
The private sector brings variety in businesses and competition between companies means that businesses will offer different set ups, and benefits to attract more workers – making it an ideal place for an employee to build a career.
Stoke-on-Tent takes third in employee friendly city rankings
Scoring highly for percentage of green space areas, Stoke-on-Trent ranks third overall with a score of 6.234.
Known as “The Potteries,” Stoke-on-Trent has a rich cultural history, particularly in the ceramics industry, which still plays a significant role in the local economy. For employees interested in heritage and arts, there are many museums, galleries, and events celebrating this legacy.
Stoke-on-Trent is centrally located in the UK with excellent transport links, including a direct rail link to major cities like Birmingham, Manchester, and London. This makes commuting and business travel convenient for employees working in or out of the city.
Whether you’re on the job hunt in one of Adobe’s employee friendly cities or fancy a bit of a career change, the experts at Adobe Express have shared some of their top tips when it comes to building a CV:
Make it tailored to the reader
Your CV should be a targeted document highlighting the skills and experiences most relevant to the specific job you are applying for. Research the company and the job description carefully, then customize your CV to showcase how your qualifications align with their requirements.
A great way to demonstrate that you’re meeting the person requirements and to ensure that your CV will pass through any applicant tracking systems is to reference specific keywords and skills that are listed in the job description.
Be specific
Instead of simply listing your job responsibilities, focus on quantifiable achievements. Use metrics to demonstrate your impact, such as “Increased sales by 20%” or “Reduced operational costs by 15%.” This approach helps employers quickly understand your value and contributions and conveys your understanding of the importance of these on the business.
Use clear and concise language
Avoid using jargon and overly complex language. Write in a clear and concise manner that is easy to read and understand. Use strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments, such as “achieved,” “developed,” and “implemented.”
Don’t overlook the format
A poorly formatted CV may distract employers from your relevant skills and experience so it’s important that you take the time to ensure your submit a well-formatted CV. It should be visually appealing, easy to navigate and consistent.
Use a clean and simple layout, with clear headings and bullet points, using a template will help to maintain consistency throughout your CV. If you’re using Adobe Express, choose a CV template, settle on a consistent colour scheme and let it flow through your design – you can also explore some of the Adobe Express font recommendations to see what works best. Don’t forget to proofread carefully to eliminate any errors in grammar or spelling.
The importance of relevancy and keeping it up-to-date
Strong CVs showcase relevant professional and personal skills and experiences so only include information that is relevant to the job you’re applying for. Avoid listing every single job or skill you’ve ever had.
It’s crucial that you regularly update your CV to reflect your latest experiences and accomplishments. If an employer spots a sign that your CV hasn’t been updated in a while, that will reflect poorly on your application. Whenever your work experience evolves, or you add training to your toolbelt of skills, you can go back anytime and swiftly update your CV design on Adobe Express.
For further information, data and expert insights, visit: https://www.adobe.com/uk/express/learn/blog/most-employee-friendly-uk-cities