Complete guide

How to find software developers in London

London
March 1, 2023
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London is the capital of the United Kingdom and is one of the most populous cities in the world. It is a major global financial center and a hub for culture, entertainment, education, tourism, and transportation. London is home to a variety of world-renowned museums, galleries, parks, and monuments, as well as iconic landmarks like Big Ben, the London Eye, and the Tower of London. It is a multicultural city, offering plenty to do and see for all visitors. London is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in London are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in London you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in London, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why London is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in London

• According to the 2019 Tech Nation report, London is home to 662,000 tech workers, making it the largest tech hub in Europe.• The tech industry in London is worth an estimated £35.8 billion in GVA (Gross Value Added) to the UK economy in 2017, a 7.7% increase from 2016.• The number of tech jobs in London increased by 4% in 2018, with 33,000 new positions created.• London is the top destination for tech talent in Europe, with 45% of the UK’s total tech workforce based in the capital.• London is home to over 300 venture capital-backed tech ‘unicorns’ (start-ups worth more than $1 billion).• London is the most attractive city for tech talent in Europe, according to 2019 research by CBRE.

The tech ecosystem in London

The London tech ecosystem is one of the most vibrant and exciting in the world. It is home to a variety of tech startups, incubators, and venture capital firms, as well as educational institutions and government initiatives, all of which are working to foster innovation and growth in the tech sector. The city also has a thriving network of co-working spaces, accelerators, and other resources designed to help entrepreneurs and established companies alike to succeed. Moreover, London's tech ecosystem is constantly evolving and adapting to new trends, enabling it to remain competitive in an ever-changing industry.

Best tech meetups in London

Attending local meetups is a great way of getting introduced  to technical talent and getting a better feel for what software developers care about.
These are the best local meetups:

1. London Web Performance
2. London Tech Meetup
3. London DevOps
4. London Big Data Week
5. London UX Meetup
6. London Software Craftsmanship
7. London FinTech Meetup
8. London Machine Learning Meetup
9. London Agile Meetup
10. London JavaScript Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in London

There are many different ways to find and hire developers, some examples are:



1. Attend tech networking events and meetups: Networking events and meetups in London are a great way to meet and connect with software developers. There are many regular events such as Hackathons, CodeFests, and even job fairs that can be great places to meet potential candidates.

2. Make use of job boards: Posting your job on a job board is an effective way to find software developers in London. There are a number of job boards that specialize in IT jobs, such as Indeed and Dice, which can be a great place to start.

3. Use recruitment agencies: There are a number of recruitment agencies in London that specialize in software development talent. They can provide access to a much larger network of potential candidates than you could reach on your own.

4. Leverage your existing network: Don’t underestimate the power of your existing network. Ask around, and you may be surprised to find out how many people in your network know software developers who are looking for a new job.

5. Utilize social media: Social media, such as LinkedIn, can be a great way to find software development talent. You can use it to search for potential candidates, as well as to build brand awareness and promote your job openings.

These are currently the best methods to find and hire developers:

Search LinkedIn, GitHub and Stack Overflow and reach out

The best way to find developer talent in London is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.

Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.

An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.

Best job boards to find developers in London

An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.

These are the best local job boards to post your developer job on:

1. Indeed
2. Reed
3. LinkedIn
4. Glassdoor
5. CV-Library
6. Totaljobs
7. Monster
8. Job Today
9. Gumtree
10. London Jobs Board

Best remote job boards to find developers in London

If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.

These are the best remote job boards to post your developer job on:

1. Upwork
2. FlexJobs
3. Indeed
4. PeoplePerHour
5. Fiverr
6. Freelancer
7. LinkedIn
8. Craigslist
9. AngelList
10. Remote.co

How to hire software developers from any place without a local office

When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.

Average local salaries

Average salary for a junior software developer in London

The average salary for a junior developer in London is £35,000. This salary is typically based on experience and education, but can also vary depending on the employer and the specific role. Generally, a junior developer will have a few years of experience, but may not have any formal qualifications or have completed any specific coursework. The salary will also be influenced by the industry, the company size, and the job location. As a junior developer in London, you may expect to be responsible for tasks such as developing code, debugging, and writing tests. Additionally, you may be tasked with monitoring systems, creating documentation, and deploying applications.

Average salary for a senior software developer in London

Average Senior Developer Salary in London:Salary Range: £60,000 - £90,000Median Salary: £75,000The average salary for a Senior Developer in London is £75,000. This salary range falls between £60,000 and £90,000. A Senior Developer typically has 8+ years of professional development experience and is responsible for leading a team of developers, managing projects, and developing high-quality software solutions. They may also be involved in the design, development, and testing of software applications.

Employing software developers (remotely)

Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in London. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in London. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in London.



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a service provider that acts as an employer on behalf of a company in another country or region. In London, EORs can help companies expand their operations into the region without the need for setting up a local legal entity or going through the costly and time-consuming process of hiring local employees.

Here’s how to use an EOR in London:

1. Choose an EOR: Research and compare different EORs to find the best provider for your needs.

2. Sign an agreement: Sign a contract with the EOR of your choice.

3. Hire employees: The EOR will help you hire employees and manage their onboarding and payroll processes.

4. Remain compliant: The EOR will make sure that your company remains compliant with local employment laws and regulations.

5. Monitor progress: Monitor the progress of your employees through regular progress reports from the EOR.

Using an EOR can help your company to expand into London without the hassle of setting up a local legal entity. However, it is important to do your research and choose the right EOR for your business.

Use a platform to find and hire the best developers:
Best platforms to employ developers worldwide

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