• Edinburgh ranks well above London as the best place for start-ups and freelancers
• Manchester tops the list of best cities for freelancers due to thriving freelance industry and a high number of start-ups
• Brighton and Hove named as the least favourable city for coworking

Starting out on your own can be difficult, and it can be hard to know where to begin. As each day passes more and more entrepreneurs seek to carve out their own future, taking on all the challenges and risks that come with following your dreams. To help these entrepreneurs hit the ground running, leading price comparison website MoneySuperMarket has undertaken research to reveal where in the UK is truly the best place for start-ups and freelancers.

To identify the key business hubs within the UK, MoneySuperMarket conducted research analysing a number of factors. These included the average hourly rate for freelancers in each city, the cost of housing, number of co-working spaces in each area, local financing opportunities, broadband speeds and the number of start-ups in each city.

Best Business Hubs in Britain

1. Edinburgh – In the lead as the best city hub in the UK is Edinburgh, which ranks significantly higher than the UK’s Capital. Edinburgh offers many opportunities for freelancers but also for those looking for co-working space. It has 20,260 start-ups and 300 freelance advertisings per capita.
2. Leeds – Leeds, which is ranked second best co-working city, is also ranked sixth in the best cities for freelancers. Leeds has a high amount of start-ups alongside a high hourly rate at £30.00, which makes this city great for freelancers. The bustling northern business hub offers a Business Growth Program, which offers grants up to £50,000.
3. Glasgow – This lively Scottish city places as third best location for entrepreneurs overall, sitting alongside Edinburgh to firmly place Scotland as a prime centre for business. The city is ideal both for freelancers and start-ups, ranking 7th best in our individual rankings for both co-working spaces and freelancers. Glasgow is already home to 20,235 start-ups and, for freelancers, offers a low property rental cost and a reasonable hourly rate of £25.00

Kevin Pratt, consumer affairs expert at MoneySuperMarket commented: “Starting out as an entrepreneur is both daunting and exciting. Whether you are leaving the constraints of the traditional nine to five in favour of a freelance career, or embarking on new adventures and beginning your own business from a co-working office, location is a key decision, as highlighted by our research.

“For those setting up on their own, employee benefits such as life insurance are no longer available, making the purchase of new policy a nailed-on essential for any freelancer or business owner that has dependents. For those starting their own enterprise, business insurance is a crucial consideration. In addition, cover required by law, such as employer’s liability insurance, can cover the business’s other liabilities, its assets and employees.”

To uncover more on the best cities to thrive as a freelancer the full infographic can be viewed here, or to find the best locations to set up shop in a co-working office the full research can be found here.