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Anyone who’s spent time here knows that Norwich has a charm and character all its own.

A stroll through the castle grounds or a wander around the market shows how Norwich blends heritage with an active, evolving business scene.

From local start-ups to well-established national brands, Norwich offers a healthy mix that gives the community both variety and stability.

Atkinson Moss, a local recruitment agency in Norwich, shared their thoughts with us through this blog, about how they view the landscape as professionals in the industry.

For people who want the pace of a city without losing the calm of rural life, Norwich offers a rare balance.

It’s lively enough to stay interesting, yet compact enough that life still feels manageable.

Norwich is often praised as a great city to live, but what truly makes it a strong place to build a career?

Credit: Atkinson Moss
Richard Jarmy

A Closer Look at Norwich’s Job Market

One concern sometimes raised about working in Norwich is the assumption that its job market is limited. It’s true that the city is smaller than places like Bristol or Leeds, but the quality of roles available here is consistently strong.

The level of competition is also noticeably lighter, which often means individuals can progress more quickly and build meaningful professional connections.

Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics highlight the strength of the region:

  • 82.7%

    Norwich

  • 76.1%

    Bristol

  • 74.7%

    Leeds

  • 65.9%

    Birmingham

For a compact city, Norwich performs impressively. With fewer people chasing the same opportunities, skilled professionals often find themselves moving up faster and gaining exposure to responsibilities that can be more challenging to access in larger cities.

Read the State of the City 2025 report

Understanding the Local Employment Landscape

Because Norwich is such a close-knit business community, local knowledge plays an important role for people who move to the area or begin exploring new opportunities.

Recruitment agencies with a long-standing presence in the city often have deep insight into company cultures, typical salary expectations, and how different organisations operate.

Atkinson Moss, based at St George’s Works, has been part of the local employment landscape for nearly a decade.

With a team that has lived and worked in the region for years, they’ve developed a clear understanding of the area’s businesses – many of which have been part of Norwich for generations.

This familiarity helps candidates get a realistic view of what working here looks like, especially if they’re comparing it with experience from bigger cities.

Credit: Atkinson Moss

Case Study: Stuart- from Bedfordshire to Norwich

My wife and I moved to Norwich to be closer to family, and I took an interim role at a local horticultural group. That opportunity really helped me get my foot in the door and make connections within the Norwich business community.

  • What were the differences you noticed from working in Norwich in comparison with Bedfordshire?

It’s an exciting hub for startups, especially in the tech sector.

With institutions like the University of East Anglia offering so many learning opportunities, there are plenty of ways to develop your career and build new skills. There’s also a real warmth here, everyone is genuinely friendly, and there’s a great sense of community. In larger cities, it’s easy to feel invisible in your company, but Norwich feels like the complete opposite.

  • What about living in Norwich? (in comparison with Bedfordshire)

Norwich has so many beautiful spots, both in the city centre and around the outskirts. It’s easy to transition from work to relaxation, with the beach and countryside practically on your doorstep.

That close connection to nature really helps with unwinding after a busy day, it does wonders for wellbeing and mental health.

Of course, Norwich’s rich heritage also adds a unique charm to the area. Milton Keynes, where I used to live, is a relatively new town, so it doesn’t have that same historical character.As a family, we love shopping in Norwich. There’s a high amount of independent stores, from Jarrolds to the gems in the lanes, you’re always finding something different and special. It’s a fantastic place to live.

Local insight

Working in Norwich offers something distinctive: a mix of opportunity, community, and a pace of life that many people find refreshing.

It’s a city where careers can grow quickly, where relationships matter, and where the surrounding landscape adds something special to daily life.

For anyone thinking about making Norwich their professional home, tapping into the insight of people who know the area – whether that’s friends, local networks, employers, or long-established recruiters – can make the transition smoother.

Considering moving to Norwich? Find out more here.

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