Top 100+ Web Development Companies in the United Kingdom

The modern business world has become more interconnected than ever. Businesses must comprehend that having a website is an imperative part of the digital landscape. As virtual outlets, websites empower companies, allowing them to market their products or services to a global audience.

A website is essential for various reasons. Brand visibility, attracting new customers, building engagement, and establishing a strong industry position are common objectives. In the United Kingdom, the revenue of the web development and design industry was around £621.3 million in 2023.

Internet use in the United Kingdom has increased over the years, with 60 million users forecasted to rise to 63 million by 2028. Such an increase necessitates that having a website is now essential for businesses in the UK.

Some of the top web development companies in the United Kingdom include Angry Creative (UK) Ltd, WebFX EMEA Ltd, and KD Web Ltd. Let's delve into the details of current trends, technical aspects, educational requirements, salaries, and more!

Web Development Market Overview

The website design and development industry in the United Kingdom has over 2,000 businesses. Services or products offered by these businesses are categorized into three main areas: e-commerce web development, custom platform web development, and other content platform web development.

Some of the top web development companies in the UK must acknowledge that various factors fuel demand for such services. Increased use of the internet, reaching out to new customers, and creating new revenue streams are common examples of this approach.

Within the industry, competition generally prevails based on price and quality. Where the former can be assessed by comparing quotes, the latter is measured by the success of past projects, technologies used, and the vendor's reputation. Companies must comprehend that trends within the industry generally revolve around:

• Progressive web apps.
• Website responsiveness.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbots.
• Website security.
• Voice search optimization.
• Cloud development.
• Accessibility.

One trend worth noting is that custom development is not a favored option due to the high costs associated with it. Companies that create websites for other businesses must acknowledge that they aren't eager to spend huge amounts on custom website development.

Such firms, on the contrary, opt for WordPress development instead. Additionally, the industry is highly fragmented, with no major players involved. Four of the top web development companies in the United Kingdom generate less than 40% of the industry's revenue.

That said, the fragmented nature of the industry makes it easier for freelancers and sole proprietors to offer their services remotely. It's worth mentioning that service-providing contributors in the industry must adhere to data protection laws. Doing so not only helps avoid legal consequences but also fosters the development of user trust.

Technical Expertise of the United Kingdom-based Developers

When businesses consider hiring a web development company, they consider various factors, including price, delivery time, and after-sales services. However, a factor of paramount importance that must be considered is the technical expertise possessed by the web developers they plan on working with.

Regarding technical expertise, the United Kingdom ranks sixth globally for having the best developers. Such a ranking indicates that those seeking to hire some of the best web development companies in the UK can expect high-quality results.

More minute technical expertise for professionals includes proficiency in different coding and programming languages such as CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. Additionally, some of the top web development companies in the United Kingdom employ professionals with expertise in design and content management systems, such as WordPress and Joomla.

Popular Technologies and Frameworks

Regarding the technologies and frameworks used to develop websites, businesses must comprehend that such choices may vary based on specific projects and requirements. Companies must know that the sector is crowded with several existing and emerging frameworks. Some of them include:

1. Ruby on Rails is a server-side framework used to build database-driven web applications, equipped with various tools and libraries. It can often be used to simplify repetitive tasks and create minimum viable products.
2. Laravel is a PHP-based web development framework used to develop functions such as caching, authentication, and integrations. It's often used to develop web-based e-commerce or social media applications.
3. Express is a Node.js framework used because it's scalable and can run code directly in the browser. This framework can be ideal for real-time streaming, payment gateways, or e-commerce web development.
4. React.js is a JavaScript library that enables developers to create user-friendly interfaces for web applications based on a single page. The framework is often used when developing online apps that take a native approach across all platforms.
5. Django is a Python-based framework used for rapidly developing APIs, known for its speed, security, and scalability. It can often be used for web projects with expected traffic or transactions.

Successful Web Project Case Studies

Let's examine some case studies to gain a deeper understanding of how some of the UK web development companies operate. The case studies mentioned below provide information about the website-related challenges businesses face and how web development companies address those challenges.

1. National Grid and Edge of the Web

National Grid is a British multinational energy company that caters to the needs of residential and commercial customers. The utility provider sought to establish an online community centered on gas data. They envisioned the community as a platform that allowed customers to share their feedback and opinions.

They also wanted to ensure that their in-house teams could easily manage the platform. It's worth noting that the fundamental requirements of in-house management were frequent video and content updates. Edge of the Web used an agile management approach, breaking the workload into sprints.

This allowed them to ensure the project could be scaled based on changing user requirements and feedback. They created a custom CMS and integrated the YouTube API to ensure streamlined video uploads. Such an approach has now ensured that National Grid can update its content as needed.

2. IPC and LWDA

Invest Property Chic (IPC) provides value-added services to high-net-worth individuals worldwide. Before working with the London Web Design Agency, IPC required websites that were easier for administrators and buyers to use. In addition to usability, improving the visual appearance was paramount.

Upon their initial consultation, changes pertaining to the design, search tools, search engine optimization (SEO), CMS, and call-to-action (CTAs) were identified. It's worth mentioning that the CMS provided updated property listings and educational resources such as blogs and guides.

After working with LWDA, IPC had a more visually appealing website with better functionality. LWDA streamlined the website by reducing the number of CTAs and ensuring that all necessary content was included. This, alongside other branding changes, ensured that users could easily find and inquire about properties.

Education and Talent Pool

Those looking to pursue a career or business venture in the United Kingdom's web development industry must ensure that there are tons of feasible educational opportunities available. With some of the best educational institutes in the entire world, top web development companies have access to a diverse talent pool.

Education

The United Kingdom is renowned for its exceptional reputation as home to some of the world's best universities and colleges. This reputation extends to the field of computer science and niche disciplines like web development that fall within it. Some of the best universities in the United Kingdom for website development are mentioned below.

1. University of Manchester – This educational institution offers various opportunities in computer science, including web development. It's ranked number one in the United Kingdom and Europe for its web development education.
2. University of Southampton – This institute, similar to all others, also has various academic disciplines within computer science. It's ranked second in the United Kingdom and fourth in Europe for web development.
3. University of Oxford – this institute's reputation precedes what it has to offer. It offers numerous tech-related educational opportunities, and web development ranks third in the United Kingdom and eleventh in Europe.
4. Imperial College London is one of the most prestigious institutions, offering opportunities in a wide range of academic disciplines. For web development, it ranks fourth in the United Kingdom and twentieth in Europe.
5. University of Wolverhampton – This institute also has diverse educational opportunities in computer science. In the United Kingdom, it has the fifth spot for web development and ranks thirty-third in Europe.

Talent Pool

Regarding the talent pool, a skilled workforce is readily available in the United Kingdom. As mentioned, the nation's website design and development industry is fragmented. For businesses seeking design and development services, this means that working with a sole proprietor or freelancer is a more likely scenario.

However, such a possibility should not be associated with the quality of the service being provided or the developer's competency. Given the increased use of the internet and the demand for websites, it's likely that website development may become one of the most popular career choices in the United Kingdom.

In addition, job roles within the United Kingdom's web development industry offer market-competitive compensation. Such compensation acts as a motivator, urging professionals to pursue web development as a popular career choice. These factors, when coupled with the available educational opportunities, make it easier to pursue this career path.

Given these factors, it can be stated that skilled labor for web development in the United Kingdom is and will continue to be available. However, with the interconnectedness of businesses worldwide, the dependency on or preference for local talent may decrease in favor of across-the-border services at lower prices.

Salaries and Compensation

When examining salaries and compensation, it is essential to understand that they are influenced by several factors. Common examples include the organization where the person is employed, their skills, capabilities, experience, workload, and the results they generate. In the United Kingdom, web developers earn around £52,500 per year.

The minimum and maximum salary ranges for this position are £32,500 to £82,500 per year. Salaries for web developers in the United Kingdom can also vary based on their seniority level within their respective field. Junior web developers in the United Kingdom can earn a median salary below the range mentioned above.

Professionals at this stage of their careers will likely earn a median salary of £30,000. However, as these professionals progress to a position with mid-level seniority, their compensation will likely increase. Professionals might earn a median salary of £47,500 per year at this stage of their careers.

At the top level of their careers, someone working as a web developer in the United Kingdom could earn a median salary of £60,000. However, it's worth noting that the top 10% of senior web developers in the United Kingdom could earn up to £85,000 annually.

It's worth noting that professionals working for some of the top web development companies in the United Kingdom can earn more. Such professionals also earn other forms of compensation, such as a company car or accommodation, in addition to their yearly salary.

Cost of Living in the United Kingdom

For a web developer working in the United Kingdom, the average monthly income is around £4,375. The average cost of living in the United Kingdom is £2,726. However, this cost does not account for expenses incurred for accommodation. It's worth mentioning that the cost of different items can vary significantly from one region to another.

Such variations can also prevail based on different factors, such as features or the quality of what's being bought. Regarding accommodation, a one-bedroom apartment in the city would be rented for around £1,132, whereas the rent for one outside the city would be around £898.

However, the rent for a three-bedroom apartment in the city would be £1,816 per month, and for one outside the city, it would be £1,377. Based on these rents, alongside the average cost of living, someone earning an average salary as a web developer in the United Kingdom would be better off living in a one-bedroom apartment, either within or outside the city.

Having such accommodation would mean that the individual is either spending £ 3,624 or £ 3,858 per month. Such expenses would include housing, transportation, and other necessities. After accounting for these expenses, the individual would have approximately £634 in monthly savings, which would translate to a yearly savings amount of £7,604.

Businesses seeking to hire some of the top web development companies in the UK should be aware of these costs. As the cost of living increases, employees working at such companies will seek higher wages. Companies would have to increase the charge for their services to retain talent and pass the impact on to their customers.

Why Choose the United Kingdom for Web Development?

Businesses can choose the United Kingdom for several reasons. A primary reason is the increasing use of the internet. This essentially means that as more people start to use the internet, companies will need to establish and optimize their online presence. Such business requirements will demand website development and other related services.

Additionally, choosing the United Kingdom for web development is also feasible, given the technical expertise of its talent pool. The United Kingdom has some of the best web development education opportunities in the world. This means that professionals with such an education will likely have unmatched competence and skills.

Working with such professionals would allow companies to ensure that their web development requirements are understood and met. Additionally, it will also help them achieve results, enabling them to outperform others in the industry.

Conclusion

The United Kingdom is a prime location for web development, as demand for such services is likely to increase. Additionally, the United Kingdom ranks sixth in the world for technical expertise, ensuring that companies can expect exceptional results from their professionals. Lastly, it offers some of the best web development educational opportunities, meaning that developers and their results are expected to be on par with the latest technologies.