Revealed: 22 of the Best UK Cities for Freelancers
With the option of flexible hours, working from home and being your own boss, it’s no surprise that many are turning to freelancing instead of the traditional nine to five for income. To help those looking to start out on their own, leading price comparison website MoneySuperMarket has conducted a study looking at the best locations in the UK to freelance, with Manchester top of the 23 city list.
The research looked into the number of existing freelancers in the area, the average rates they charge and the number of start-ups looking to utilise local freelancers. To assess the work-life balance of freelancers, the research also looked into local property costs, the number of Wi-Fi hotspots and coffee shops, as well as the general quality of life in the area.
The best locations for freelancers to establish themselves are:
Manchester – The North West city offers the most active freelance economy outside London, with a high number of freelancers advertising and an average hourly rate equal to that in the capital (£30.00). Reasonable housing costs and plenty of Wi-Fi hotspots go towards making Manchester an ideal home for freelancers.
Brighton & Hove – Brighton & Hove is a centre for workers who like their independence, with the highest number of start-ups per capita after London (5,105), giving freelancers plenty of companies to get involved with.
Edinburgh – The Scottish capital offers a chance for freelancers to thrive, with a high average hourly rate of £29.50 and a high life satisfaction score of 7.59 indicating the great quality of life Edinburgh has to offer.
Belfast – Belfast’s strongest selling point is its high life satisfaction scores. Housing prices are also relatively low (£129,950) and the availability of Wi-Fi hotspots is high.
London – The UK capital still ranked within the top five cities, pulled down only by high local average property costs (£635,000) and a surprisingly low number of Wi-Fi hotspots in relation to the size of the population.
