• Home
  • Courses by Subject
    • Accounting
      • Accounting
      • Bookkeeping
      • Payroll
      • Xero
    • Administration
      • Administration
      • Business Administration
      • Medical Secretary
      • Personal Assistant
      • Secretarial
    • Animal Health & Wellbeing
      • Animal Care
      • Dog Grooming
      • Vet Assistant
      • Zoology
    • Building & Construction
      • Construction
      • Landscaping
    • Business & Finance
      • Banking
      • Business
      • Business Communication
      • Business Management
      • Consultancy
      • Excel
      • Finance
      • Logistics
      • Sales
      • Supply Chain Management
      • Trading
    • Design
      • Gardening
      • Graphic Design
      • Interior Design
      • Web Design
    • Digital Skills
      • Analytics
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing
      • CompTIA
      • CompTIA A+
      • Computer Science
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Cyber Security
      • Data Science
      • Ethical Hacking
      • IT
      • IT Support
      • Networking
      • Penetration Testing
    • Ecology
      • Sustainability
    • Education
      • A-Level
      • GCSE
      • Teaching
      • Teaching Assistant
    • Fashion & Beauty
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Massage
      • Nail Technician
    • Health & Safety
      • Construction Health & Safety
      • Work Health & Safety
    • Healthcare
      • Care
      • Childcare
      • Counselling
      • Criminal Psychology
      • Disability
      • Health
      • Healthcare Management
      • Mental Health
      • Nursing
      • Nutrition
      • Personal Training
      • Psychology
      • Public Health
      • Social Care
    • Hospitality & Events
      • Event Management
      • Floristry
      • Hospitality
      • Wedding Planner
    • HR
      • CIPD
      • Human Resources
      • Learning & Development
    • Law & Justice
      • Criminology
      • Forensic Science
      • Governance
      • Law
      • Legal
    • Management & Leadership
      • Agile
      • Change Management
      • Leadership
      • Lean Six Sigma
      • Management
      • Operations Management
      • Personal Development
      • PRINCE2
      • Project Management
      • Quality Management
      • Real Estate
    • Marketing & Communication
      • Digital Marketing
      • Marketing
      • Media
      • Music
      • Public Relations
      • Social Media Marketing
    • Microsoft
      • Microsoft
      • Microsoft Azure
    • Programming
      • App Development
      • Cisco
      • Cisco CCNA
      • Coding
      • Programming
      • Python
      • Software Development
      • SQL
      • Web Development
    • Tourism
      • Travel & Tourism
    • University
      • Business Management
      • Business
      • Criminal Psychology
      • Criminology
      • Finance
      • IT
      • Law
      • Marketing
      • Psychology
    • Blended
    • In-class
    • Online
    • A-Level
    • Advanced Certificate
    • Advanced Diploma
    • Award
    • Bachelors
    • CertHE
    • Certificate
    • Certified
    • CPD
    • Diploma
    • ELCAS
    • Extended Diploma
    • Foundation
    • GCSE
    • Level 1
    • Level 2
    • Level 3
    • Level 4
    • Level 5
    • Level 6
    • Level 7
    • Level 8
    • LLB
    • LLM
    • Masters
    • MBA
    • MSc
    • Postgraduate
    • Practitioner
    • Short
    • Undergraduate
    • University
  • Courses by Providers
    • Acudemy
    • Avado
    • BARBRI
    • Brunel University London
    • CIPP
    • Course2Career
    • DLC Training
    • DPG
    • Hudson
    • ICS Learn
    • Institute of Supply Chain Mana
    • International Career Institute
    • ITonlinelearning
    • Learning People
    • London Academy of Trading
    • London College of Contemporary Music
    • London Governance & Compliance Academy
    • London School of Business and Finance Online
    • Next Level Impact
    • Online Courses Learning
    • Open Study College
    • Samuel & Co
    • The Career Academy
    • TPT Consultancy & Training
    • University College of Estate Management
    • University of Essex Online
    • University of Liverpool Online
    • University of Roehampton Online
    • Walbrook Institute London
    • How To Become
    • The Workforce Training Hub
    • Career Advice
    • Study Tips
    • Quizzes
    • Resources
    • Industry Insider
  • Top Courses
  • Become a Partner
  • Contact us
 
Published 24 Feb 2019

It’s Official! The Best Places to Work in the UK Have Been Decided

by CoursesOnline Contributors

Browse Courses

Slough is the best place to work in the UK, according to recruitment site Glassdoor. The company’s report ranks 25 towns and cities according to four factors: job satisfaction, the number of job openings, the average salary and the value of the average home.

Tempted to relocate this year? Whether you’re looking for your first job, a new job or a complete change of career, don’t make any decisions until you’ve read our guide to the five best places to work.

5. Guildford



Guildford applied for city status in 2002 but was turned down, despite the fact that it has a cathedral.

 

Population: 77,050

Average House Price: £593,761


£0K

Average Salary

Job Satisfaction

0,500

Job Openings


Guildford can trace its origins back to Roman times, so the town boasts plenty of historical architecture and some impressive buildings. These include a Norman castle, a museum and a cathedral that was built in 1926. Often called “the heart of Surrey”, this attractive town is just five minutes drive from the Surrey Hills, a designated area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which is excellent for hiking and cycling. London is also a forty minute train ride away, offering commuters the best of both worlds.

If you enjoy shopping head to Guildford, as an Experian survey recently named it “the luxury shopping capital of the UK.” Walk along the historic cobbled high street and you’ll discover a range of boutique shops, high fashion outlets and specialist jewellers. There are also several well established galleries and antique dealers.

Because of its proximity to the countryside, Guildford is ideal for professionals wanting to improve their work life balance. However, it also appeals to London based families who are looking to up-size, as there’s an abundance of large properties and a number of Ofsted outstanding rated schools.

On the jobs front, Guildford is certainly one of the UK’s best places to work, as Surrey Research park is home to 140 mainly tech focused companies including BAE Systems,  Surrey Satellite Technology and BOC. Between them, these employ over 4000 people! The local business park is home to Ericsson and Philips and other companies hiring in Guildford include Waitrose, Epic Games, Bupa, Xceptor, Jack Wills, Royal Mail and Allianz Insurance.

Have any of Glassdoor‘s top five towns and cities inspired you to consider relocating? If not, we recommend checking out the full report, where you’ll find plenty of other options.

  • Sales Executive
  • Administrator
  • Chef

4. Reading



Reading is the UK’s largest town that doesn’t have city status.

Population: 218,705

Average House Price: £432,241


£0K

Average Salary

Job Satisfaction

0,600

Job Openings


Reading is home to 318,000 people, making it one of the biggest towns in England.  Set in the Thames Valley where the River Thames and the River Kennet meet, it’s known for its riverside restaurants, its medieval abbey and its annual music festival.

Situated Just 37 miles from London, this affluent town has excellent transport links. The Great Western Main Line Railway and the M4 provide easy access to the capital city, while the Crossrail link takes passengers to St. Pancras station and on to the Eurostar.

Reading’s infrastructure has received regular funding over recent years and the town has a large number of business parks. It’s often referred to as the UK’s Silicon Valley due to the area’s successful tech economy, which has attracted some of the computing industry best companies. These include Microsoft, Compaq, Symantec, Cisco and The Oracle Corporation.

According to Glassdoor, many other major businesses including Honda, the Prudential and British Gas have also chosen to base themselves in Reading, along with top accounting firms KPMG, Ernst and Young, Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

  • Recruitment Consultant
  • Site Manager
  • Delivery Driver

3. Cambridge



Reading is the UK’s largest town that doesn’t have city status.

Population: 123,900

Average House Price: £464,852


£0K

Average Salary

Job Satisfaction

0,145

Job Openings


Home to one of the UK’s most prestigious universities, Cambridge was recently named as one of Country Life magazine’s best places to live. Visit this atmospheric town and you’ll probably recognise some of its beautiful landmarks, including the iconic Mathematical Bridge and King’s College.

But this historic town also has a modern side. Due to the science and engineering talent emerging from Cambridge University, the city has become a technology, science and engineering hub, which attracts many young graduates and entrepreneurs. In fact, over 4000 knowledge based companies are now based there, including AstraZeneca, Apple, HP, Micro Focus and Software AG. These companies employ a grand total of 60,000 people!

Cambridge is also a great place to be self-employed, as it boasts an 80% success rate for new businesses after three years. Fast trains to Kings Cross take just 47 minutes, making it super accessible.

  • Software Engineer
  • Electronic Engineer
  • Maintenance Engineer

2. Gloucester



Population: 128,488

Average House Price: £239,054


£0K

Average Salary

Job Satisfaction

0,626

Job Openings


Glassdoor ranks this historical cathedral city more highly than any other town or city in the South West, including Bristol. Nestled between the Cotswold Hills and the Forest of Dean, it’s close to the M5 motorway, which make it easy to access from the midlands and the southwest. London is also fairly accessible via the M4 corridor.

Gloucester is a great place to work, as it’s experiencing extremely strong business growth due to its Regeneration and Economic Development Strategy. This will see over £700 million pumped into the city by 2021. The council is also offering grants to new startups, growing business and businesses wanting to relocate.

While Gloucester’s Roman roots and 11th century cathedral make it attractive to history loving tourists, it’s also a great place for career growth, as it’s home to a number of high tech companies such as BAE, Boeing, and Horizon Nuclear Power. Other employers based in Gloucester include Hilary’s Blinds, Holland and Barrett, Great Western Railway and Idex Consulting.

  • Software Engineer
  • Quality Surveyor
  • Account Manager

1. Slough



Snooker, the Mars Bar and the zebra crossing were all invented in Slough.

Population: 149,400

Average House Price: £391,218


£0K

Average Salary

Job Satisfaction

0,626

Job Openings


Ever since it became the setting for Ricky Gervais’ sitcom The Office, this Berkshire town has been perceived as a soulless and drab place. However, according to Glassdoor‘s report, Slough is a prime spot in terms of jobs, cost of living and employee satisfaction.

Situated on the western edges of Greater London, Slough’s employment levels and average salaries are consistently high, making it great place to work. There are also plenty of career opportunities, as it’s home to one of Europe’s biggest trading estates. This houses over 400 companies, including several large multinational businesses such as Mars, Nintendo, Microsoft and Nando’s.

With three Ofsted rated outstanding schools and an average house price that’s almost £100,000 less than the London average, it’s no surprise that there’s been an increase in the number of people moving from London to Slough. Slough’s excellent transport links will be even better after the opening of Crossrail in 2019 and the town offers easy access to London and Heathrow by road. A £1 billion regeneration project is also transforming Slough’s town centre, which already boasts 42 parks and green spaces.

  • Project Manager
  • Customer Service Advisor
  • Recruitment Consultant
Browse Courses

Enjoy this article?

Subscribe now to receive articles like these straight to your inbox
CoursesOnline Contributors

Navigator Illustration
Not sure which course to choose? Let us recommend the best courses to suit you!
gator tooltip icon
Our course navigator helps refine thousands of courses into a personalised list that suits you. Click to answer each question, so we can provide you with the best possible courses, tailored to your preferences.
Not sure which course to choose? Let us recommend the best courses to suit you!

Try our navigator tool and find the right course.

Start Here
Navigator Illustration

Related Articles


The Secret to Finding a Job in the UK: Upskilling

The UK is facing one of its toughest periods of unemployment...

wpengine
Jul 9, 2024
Read More

5 ‘Future Proof’ Careers in the UK (Updated)

In this rapidly evolving employment landscape, some of the m...

Claudia Reiners
Jul 11, 2018
Read More

5 of the Best Creative Jobs in London (New Guide)

London is known for its many different types of art, from th...

Claudia Reiners
Jul 11, 2018
Read More

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get expert advice, insights, and explainers on tricky topics — designed to help you navigate your learning journey with confidence.

By submitting this enquiry I accept the "Privacy Policy" and "Terms of Use"
  • Popular Subjects
  • Qualification Type
  • How to Become
  • Bookkeeping
  • Computer Science
  • Counselling
  • Hair & Beauty
  • Human Resources
  • IT
  • Networking
  • Payroll
  • Psychology
  • University
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Web Development
  • View More
  • Advanced Diploma
  • Bachelors
  • Certificate
  • Diploma
  • ELCAS
  • Foundation
  • Level 2
  • Level 3
  • Level 4
  • Level 5
  • Level 6
  • Level 7
  • Masters
  • MBA
  • MSc
  • Postgraduate
  • Short
  • Undergraduate
  • A-Level
  • Award
  • University
  • View More
  • How to Begin a Career in IT
  • How to Become a Bookkeeper
  • How to Begin a Career in Trading
  • How to Become a Change Management Consultant
  • How to Become a Cloud Architect
  • How to Become a Construction Health & Safety Officer
  • How to Become a Cryptocurrency Expert
  • How to Become a Forensic Scientist
  • How to Become a Financial Modeller
  • How to Become Java Certified
  • How to Become a Leadership Coach
  • How to Become a Manager
  • How to Become a Mentor
  • How to Become Microsoft Certified
  • How to Become a Psychologist
  • How to Become a Public Health Consultant
  • How to Become a Software Developer
  • How to Become a Software Tester
  • How to Start Your Career in Human Resources
  • How to Become Xero Certified
  • View More

Newsletter sign up

We'll email you updates on job trends, career advice, study tips, news and more.
Courses
  • All Courses
  • Online Courses
Education Providers
  • Our Providers
Resources
  • Our Blog
  • How to Become
About us
  • About CoursesOnline
  • FAQs
Contact us
  • Advertise your course
  • Become an Affiliate
Privacy Policy Terms of Use
Certified B Corporation
Tafecourses Facebook Tafecourses LinkedIn Tafecourses Instagram
Certified B Corporation
Copyright © 2025 Coursesonline.co.uk
All Rights Reserved.
Back to Top

Newsletter Sign Up

We’ll email you updates on job trends, career advice, study tips, news and more.

By submitting this enquiry I accept the "Privacy Policy" and "Terms of Use"

Coursesonline.co.uk uses cookies. By continuing you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn more.

GDPR - Logo
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Additional Cookies

This website uses additional cookies to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Cookie Policy

More information about our Cookie Policy