The Best UK Cities to Locate Your Business

The team at Flexioffices used six metrics to determine which cities and towns outside of London balance the cost of office space for the employer and the potential workforce.  

These game changing stats are based on commute times, public transport links, quantity of workstations, cost per workstation, the talent pool available for the employer, and how productive a city is. The data is sourced from Flexioffices own insight and statistics from Gov.UK.

Michael Dubicki, MD of Flexioffices, says: “When considering the future success of your business, never underestimate the profound impact of choosing the right office location. It’s not just about bricks and mortar; it’s about cultivating a workplace that inspires your team and fosters productivity.”

1. Access to Talent Pool

One of the primary reasons businesses select specific cities for their offices is the availability of a skilled workforce. The talent pool in a city can significantly impact recruitment and the long-term growth potential of a company. Cities like Nottingham, Newcastle and Manchester have a high percentage of students about to enter the workforce, most of whom will have roots in those cities and will be searching for jobs in the area.

2. Commute Times

Commute times can have a huge effect on employee morale and productivity. A lengthy and stressful daily commute can lead to burnout and decreased job satisfaction. Milton Keynes came out on top, being the only UK city to average a commute time of under 20 minutes, followed by Peterborough and Sunderland with commute times of under 24 minutes. This is 10 minutes faster than Nottingham, which had the longest commute times out of all cities outside London.

3. Accessibility

Nearly two million Brits (1.8 million) use some form of public transport to get to and from work every day. Having multiple stages on their journey or waiting a long time between services can make the workday far longer than it needs to be. Choosing to situate an office in Birmingham, Sheffield or Glasgow means that those commuting via public transport have plenty of choice on how they get to work every day.

4. Cost Considerations

The cost of office space can vary significantly from one city to another. While major cities like Edinburgh offer workstations at £600 per month, there are more affordable options. Cities like Coventry and York offer workstations at half the price and are just as high a quality as larger cities.

5. Business Ecosystem

Cities often have their unique business ecosystems and industry clusters. Being part of a thriving business community can open doors to partnerships, collaborations, and networking opportunities that can fuel a company’s growth. For instance, cities like Leeds and Birmingham have well-established business communities, making them ideal for specific industries.

6. Future Growth and Expansion

Consider the long-term business goals when selecting a location. A city that offers room for expansion and a supportive business environment can be a strategic choice, or cities with strong infrastructure and a history of accommodating business growth. If you need a high number of offices to grow your business, then look no further than Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham. All of whom have over 50 available office locations now.

The table below shows the number of points given to each city and town based on how it ranked out of the original 40 cities and towns across the UK.

The fewer points received, the higher the city or town ranked and the better it is overall.