Career Advice
12 Unexpected Locations You Should Consider Working In
Glassdoor Team
Glassdoor Team | Author & Career Expert at Glassdoor | 18 Apr 2017
Are you tired of overpriced rent, properties you can’t afford to buy and people who don't have time to at least give you a smile or look you in the eye on your morning commute? Well, perhaps a job outside some of the UK’s major cities could be the thing for you.
The UK’s provincial towns and cities are much maligned in terms of job opportunities, with people tending to leave rather than arrive for work. There’s a common misconception that the only good places for jobs are in the powerhouse employment districts of London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. This simply isn't true. We’ve scoured tens of thousands of jobs across all of Britain's towns and cities to identify 12 top locations that (perhaps) you’d previously written off, but now have a wide array of open jobs to choose from.
1. Where: Hull
Hiring For: Equity Analyst, Recruitment Consultant, Auditor, Comms Exec, Project Manager and more
Why: Well, for a start, it’s the UK’s City of Culture for 2017. And going by what has happened to previous host cities, the future is very bright for this stunning part of the Yorkshire coast. All of the city’s museums and galleries are free to enter and the gorgeous market town of Beverley should become a regular weekend treat for any local resident.
2. Where: Wolverhampton
Hiring For: Greenlight Hub Expert, Project Engineer, Registered Nurse, Care Assistant and more
Why: Based in the heart of England and within easy reach of some of Britain's best countryside, Wolverhampton now has a vibrant mix of culture and leisure for many to enjoy. It’s road and rail networks are excellent, and, if sport is your thing, you can go and support local team Wolverhampton Wanderers at the famous Molineux football stadium.
See Open Jobs in Wolverhampton
3. Where: Nottingham Hiring For: Data Scientist, Business Analyst, Electric Vehicle Drive System Engineer, Financial Accountant and more Why: Reputedly home to the oldest pub in the world (Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem), is always a good place to start. The city itself is steeped in history and heritage, from Nottingham Castle to Sherwood Forest, but the beautiful Newstead Abbey (ancestral home of poet Lord Byron) is an absolute must for any local resident to experience. 4. Where: Swansea Hiring For: Junior Trader, Banker, Bar Manager, Account Manager, Chef and more Why: Swansea is the second largest city in Wales and located on the beautiful Gower Peninsula, the United Kingdom’s first designated ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. It’s also home to Dylan Thomas and of course Swansea City Football Club, a club with fans synonymous for being some of the most passionate football supporters in the country. 5. Where: Ayr Hiring For: MIG Welder, IT Support Engineer, Head Chef, Retail Sales and many more Why: Ayr is a delightful seaside resort located about 37 miles south west of Glasgow. It’s a popular holiday location with long sandy beaches and a racecourse which dates back to the 16th century. Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, was also born in Alloway which is on the outskirts of the town. 6. Where: Blackpool Hiring For: Floor staff, Golf Operations Team Leader, Science Teacher, Assistant Restaurant Manager and many more Why: Blackpool has been a holiday resort for centuries. It has a little bit of everything in terms of seaside experience. Climb the famous tower for amazing views, enjoy the raucous nightlife and superb number of restaurants. For this reason, many seasonal jobs are available, which, although can be temporary, have a rather low barrier of entry. 7. Where: Croydon Hiring For: Travel Sales Specialist, IT Support Engineer, Finance Administrator, Media Trader and many more Why: Trains from Croydon to Victoria and London Bridge never take more than 20 minutes, so this location has great access...but without the London price tag. Large companies are moving to Croydon in their hoards in order to take advantage of more space at cheaper prices, and people are starting to follow. Croydon is now home to one of the most exciting Box Parks south of the river with a multitude of food and drink options as well as over 200 events planned each year within the site. 8. Where: Worthing Hiring For: Maintenance Engineer, Business Operations Lead, EMEA Optimisation Manager, E-Commerce Manager and many more Why: A truly all-year-round location. This classic British seaside and vibrant town centre is the ideal place to be based for access to much of the surrounding coastal areas of natural beauty. You’ll even have the South Downs National Park right on your doorstep. 9. Where: Middlesborough Hiring For: Optometrist, Nurse, Web Developer, Community Banker and more Why: Middlesbrough is in the heart of North Yorkshire and home to current Premier League side ‘The Boro’ at The Riverside Stadium. The Dorman Museum and Captain Cook Museum are certainly worth a visit, while the Institute of Modern Art gallery is simply stunning. Modern culture mixed with a vast amount of history and heritage for all to enjoy.See Open Jobs in Middlesbrough
10. Where: Inverness Hiring For: Pharmacist, Store Manager, Window Fitter, Quantity Surveyor, Site Engineer and more Why: If you’re tired of finding a new job in this beautiful part of the world then why not try and find the loch ness monster instead!? Positioned at the northern end of the Great Glen you can take amazing strolls around the Glen and enjoy some of the most picturesque places the world has to offer, let alone Britain. The foodies amongst you will be spoilt for choice with some of the best chefs in the world working in the region in recent years. 11. Where: Wigan Hiring For: Copywriter, Retail Assistant, Field Service Engineer, Digital Field Sales and more Why: Wigan is a town based in the Greater Manchester area only 25 miles away from Manchester Airport, handy for all those business trips. It’s traditionally a Rugby League town with lots of culture, heritage and pride for their local team, Wigan Warriors. The main attraction (in terms of nightlife) is the well known area of King Street with a myriad of pubs and clubs stretching farther than the eye can see! 12. Where: Stoke-on-Trent Hiring For: Kitchen Staff, Night Support Worker, Management Trainee, Care Assistant and more Why: The capital of Brexit Britain, but affectionately known as The Potteries, this town is steeped in rich industrial heritage and history and has claimed the title of ‘World of Ceramics’. If you’re a thrill seeker, then Alton Towers Theme Park is up the road, and the area is even competing for the title of City of Culture 2021. The future could be very bright.See Open Jobs in Stoke-On-Trent
None of these places take your fancy? Why not check out our Best UK Towns & Cities To Work In based on hiring opportunity, cost of living and job satisfaction from last year. Editor's Note: These jobs are open on Glassdoor as of 06/4/17. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and editorial staff of Glassdoor. The companies and jobs highlighted in this article are curated by the editorial staff, listed in no particular order, and do not necessarily reflect the official methodology of Glassdoor’s official awards or honours. For more details about how companies and specific roles are considered for editorial coverage, please visit Glassdoor for Employers.Glassdoor Team
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