Complete guide

How to find software developers in London, United Kingdom

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London, United Kingdom is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom. It is one of the world's most influential and vibrant cities, with a long and rich history. The city is home to some of the world's most iconic landmarks, including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, and the River Thames. London is a cultural and financial center, with a diverse population and a multitude of activities and attractions to explore. London, United Kingdom is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in London, United Kingdom 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, United Kingdom 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, United Kingdom, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why London, United Kingdom is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in London, United Kingdom

The statistics on tech talent in London, UK show a thriving sector with a rapidly growing base of highly skilled professionals. London has the largest tech-talent pool in Europe, with over 230,000 workers in the sector. The tech industry in London generates over £20 billion a year for the UK economy and is estimated to be worth £6 billion by 2022. London has the highest concentration of tech talent in Europe, with over 10,000 tech-focused businesses. London is home to the largest number of unicorns in Europe, with over 40 tech startups valued at over 1 billion. The city is also a global hub for fintech and artificial intelligence, as well as a vibrant hub for digital media, software development and gaming. London also has a strong entrepreneurial culture, with over 50,000 tech startups in the city.

The tech ecosystem in London, United Kingdom

The tech ecosystem in London is vibrant and diverse. It is home to some of the world's most innovative tech companies, as well as a thriving startup scene. London is the perfect location for tech businesses, offering world-class infrastructure, access to global talent, and a unique mix of cultures. The city also offers generous incentives for tech startups, as well as access to venture capital, angel investors, and government grants. London is home to a range of accelerators and incubators, as well as a strong network of tech meetups, events, and conferences. It is also the home of Europe's biggest tech event, London Tech Week.

Best tech meetups in London, United Kingdom

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 Tech Meetup
2. London Software Craftsmanship
3. London FinTech Meetup
4. London Web Performance
5. London UX & Product Meetup
6. London DevOps Meetup
7. London Mobile & Web Developers Meetup
8. London Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Meetup
9. London Cyber Security Meetup
10. London Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in London, United Kingdom

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



1. Use job boards such as Indeed and Monster to find software developers who are actively seeking work.

2. Use professional networks such as LinkedIn to find software developers who may be open to job opportunities.

3. Contact software development recruitment agencies or headhunters to source specialist software developers.

4. Use technical job sites such as Stack Overflow, Codementor, and Hacker News to find experienced software developers.

5. Attend local software development meetups and events to network with potential developers.

6. Use social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to promote job openings.

7. Ask for referrals from existing software developers.

8. Reach out to local universities and colleges for potential software development interns.

9. Use online coding challenges such as CodinGame to find talented software developers.

10. Utilize online freelance marketplaces such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr to find qualified software developers on a temporary basis.

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, United Kingdom 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, United Kingdom

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. LinkedIn
2. Reed
3. CV-Library
4. Indeed
5. Total Jobs
6. Glassdoor
7. Monster
8. Gumtree
9. The Guardian
10. CV Screen

Best remote job boards to find developers in London, United Kingdom

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. WeWorkRemotely
2. Remoters
3. FlexJobs
4. Working Nomads
5. Jobspresso
6. Jobbatical
7. Upwork
8. Fiverr
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, United Kingdom

The average salary for a junior developer in London, United Kingdom is between £30,000 and £40,000 per annum. This salary range is determined by experience and skill level. Entry-level junior developers can expect to earn between £25,000 and £30,000, whereas those with more experience can earn up to £40,000. Bonuses and additional benefits may also be available depending on the company.

Average salary for a senior software developer in London, United Kingdom

The average salary for a Senior Developer in London, United Kingdom is £59,921 per year. This figure is based on an analysis of salaries from 6,474 sources.The breakdown of the salary is as follows:Base Salary: £50,876 Bonus: £4,669 Company Benefits: £1,979 Overtime: £2,397 Total: £59,921

Employing software developers (remotely)

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



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party service provider that assumes responsibility for hiring and managing employees in another country, such as the United Kingdom. This service can be used by companies who don’t have a physical presence there, but need to hire and manage employees in the country.

1. Determine Your Needs: Before you decide to use an EOR, you need to determine exactly what you need the service to do. This includes deciding what type of employees you need and what duties they will perform. You should also decide if you need the EOR to handle payroll and benefits or if you will take care of that yourself.

2. Find an EOR: Once you know exactly what you need, you can start looking for an EOR that can meet your needs. You should research different providers, read reviews, and compare rates.

3. Sign a Contract: Once you have chosen an EOR, you need to sign a contract that outlines the services you will receive and the fees you will be charged. Make sure you read and understand the contract before signing it.

4. Manage Your Employees: Once the EOR has hired the employees you need, you will need to manage them. This includes communicating with them, setting performance goals, and providing feedback and support.

Using an EOR can be a great way to hire and manage employees in London, United Kingdom, without having a physical presence there. Make sure you take the time to research and compare different providers before signing a contract with one.

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

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