Harlow Named Best Tech Hub Location

A new study has crowned Harlow as the number one tech hub in the country, offering the ultimate combination of high salaries and affordable living for tech professionals.

The TalkTalk Business report places Harlow ahead of Slough and Bracknell in the top three UK locations for dedicated innovation hubs that help grow and nurture tech businesses while providing tech employment opportunities locally.

With Harlow & Gilston Garden Town aiming for 1000 new jobs a year over the next two decades, the report references Harlow Innovation Park as a dedicated hub and the town offering potential for IT Project Managers to earn a higher salary than their London based counterparts alongside a great quality of life.

Harlow also sits within the UK Innovation Corridor which not only has the capacity to increase GVA from £189bn to £350bn by 2050 but become the go-to global hub for life data sciences, medical tech and advanced manufacturing.

Harlow Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Councillor Michael Hardware, has welcomed the study results: “We are on a mission to secure investment for Harlow’s future and that means working hard with our partners to bring even more investment into the town.

“Our town has a strong track record of innovation, fibre optics were invented here, and that spirit of invention and discovery is playing a part in our reinvention of Harlow.

“That spirit is alive and thriving at places like Harlow Innovation Park and the nearby Kao Park and Kao Data.

“This study puts Harlow way ahead of other areas for tech hubs, which shows that our hard work is paying off.

“Harlow is an attractive place for business and as a place of opportunity and a high-quality of life for talented tech professionals who want to work and live in our great town.

“The future is looking very bright for Harlow.”

The TalkTalk Business study analysed key factors like salaries, job opportunities and cost of living to identify the best locations for tech talent.

With Harlow coming out on top, surpassing established tech hubs like London, the report also highlights the town’s family-friendly environment with affordable childcare options.

TalkTalk Business’ Ian Cairns said: “The best tech hubs understand it’s a two-way street.

“They offer competitive salaries and opportunities but also a high quality of life that attracts and retains top talent.

“A genuinely great tech hub isn’t built on just code, it’s built on community.

“You need that mix of talent, investment, and a dash of creative chaos to really ignite innovation.”