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November 18, 2023
If you’re interested in starting or growing your career in marketing and you’re flexible about where you start your job hunt, you’ll be pleased to know you don’t have to resign yourself to living in London to find a job.
While the majority of employers might be based in London, so are the majority of job hunters. If you want to stand out in your job hunt, you might be better off choosing a less populated city to start your search. The advantage of looking outside of London will also mean that your cost of living will be considerably lower, or you’ll have a much shorter commute.
In this guide, we’ll look at some of the most popular places in the UK for marketing roles, including average salaries in the region.
We couldn’t have a list of the best cities in the UK to find a marketing job without including London. The capital city is the obvious choice, as it’s the home to so many companies. Wages will be higher, as you’ll get to enjoy London Weighting. You’ll also have access to a wide range of multinational companies that have chosen London as their headquarters.
The downside is that it is very expensive to live in London and competition for jobs is also very fierce. If you’re moving there without a job offer in place, you’ll also feel the pressure to find a job much more intensely, as the cost of living is very high.
If you want to enjoy London living without the price tag, why not head North to Manchester? Manchester has a thriving cultural scene and plenty to keep you entertained outside of work. With so many employers flocking to the region to make the most of lower costs and an extensive talent pool, there are plenty of marketing roles to be found in the Greater Manchester area.
You can find marketing roles in media, sport, finance and FMCG dotted all over the city. Head to MediaCityUK to find marketing roles across various media organisations including ITV and the BBC. There are also fast fashion brands like BooHoo located in the centre of the city.
This beautiful city is home to more than just a very famous university (although you may be able to find marketing roles there, too). With its close transport links to London, you can find plenty of companies in this area in need of marketers.
Some of the biggest employers include BMW, The University of Oxford and Oxford University Press. You can expect your living costs to be slightly lower than living in central London, but the standard of living is thought to be much higher thanks to the shorter commutes and beautiful surroundings. Wages are also comparable to London wages, so your monthly pay cheque will go a lot further.
When companies need to be close to the capital but need more space, they will typically look to cheaper suburbs to expand. This is one reason that Slough is such a popular spot for companies. If you’re located in this region, you’ll also have excellent international links thanks to Heathrow Airport. This is why it is a popular choice for multinational companies such as Procter & Gamble and Cisco.
Another stop on the Northern Powerhouse line, head to the other side of the Pennines to find a thriving city. Leeds is home to a wide range of organisations looking for marketing professionals, including a wide range of digital marketing agencies. Other big employers include Asda, First Direct, Centrica, Ventura, BT, Direct Line Group and Yorkshire Bank.
If you’re keen to build your experience across a wide range of clients, working for an agency will benefit you greatly. This is often a great way to start your career in marketing, as it will give you experience across a wide range of industries and marketing challenges. Once you’ve discovered a sector or industry that you enjoy, you can then start your search for an in-house role.
According to Indeed, there are currently over 700 marketing roles available in Reading. This vibrant town in Berkshire, England, offers exciting opportunities for professionals in the field. Reading’s strategic location, just 40 miles west of London, makes it an attractive hub for businesses and marketers alike.
Reading is home to a diverse range of industries, including technology, finance, pharmaceuticals, and telecommunications. This diversity creates a wide array of marketing opportunities, from promoting cutting-edge tech products to financial services and healthcare solutions. The cost of living in Reading is also more reasonable than in places like London.
Graduates from Bristol University are often keen to stick around in this city to continue enjoying the vibrant cultural scene. There are also plenty of jobs in marketing to be found within the city. According to Indeed, there are over 270 roles currently available in the Bristol area. This includes a wide range of companies, both big and small.
Although the cost of living can be quite high, you’ll likely enjoy a higher standard of living as the wages are high to match. You can find big companies like KPMG, PwC and Network Rail in the area. There are also slightly more unusual employers, such as the Bristol Aquarium.
While London might offer the most opportunities, you might be better off expanding your search to a more diverse set of locations if you want to find a higher standard of living for a lower price. If you’re ready to start your search, get in touch with our team today.
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