Ryan FowlerA new study has revealed that London is home to the UK’s best-rated bosses, with employees in the capital awarding their managers the highest satisfaction scores nationwide.
The research, conducted by HR services provider Avensure, analysed Glassdoor reviews from employees across 59 UK cities to determine where workers are most content with their management. London topped the rankings with a boss satisfaction score of 88.97 out of 100. This was based on an average rating of 3.79 out of 5 stars, with 30.49% of all reviews giving the highest possible 5-star rating.
Lincoln followed in second place with a score of 87.42 and the lowest proportion of negative reviews at just 3.24% awarding one star. Northampton secured third place with a score of 83.12, boasting the highest share of 5-star ratings at 32.24%.
Cambridge and Aberdeen completed the top five, both scoring strongly across all metrics. The analysis showed that cities with higher satisfaction scores often benefit from more engaged employees and lower staff turnover.
Chris Garner, managing director at Avensure, said: “These findings highlight significant regional variations in management quality across the UK. The data shows that employees in London and Lincoln are particularly satisfied with their bosses, which creates more productive and positive working environments. Good management makes a substantial difference to workplace culture and employee retention. Cities with higher boss ratings typically see lower staff turnover rates and better overall company performance.”
In contrast, Basildon was named the lowest-ranked city with a satisfaction score of just 7.36, including the highest proportion of 1-star reviews at 13.65%. Stockport (7.42), Swansea (17.32), Warrington (18.89) and Bradford (20.86) made up the remainder of the bottom five.
The data shows a stark contrast between the best and worst-rated cities, with more than an 80-point difference between London and Basildon. The south of England dominated the top 10, with seven cities from the region making the list — a trend that may suggest stronger management practices in the south compared with other parts of the UK.
Garner added: “The research shows clear patterns in workplace satisfaction across the UK. Cities with better-rated bosses tend to create more supportive environments where employees feel valued and heard. For employees looking to change jobs, these rankings might offer valuable insights into where they might find more positive management experiences. Equally, companies in lower-ranked cities should consider what improvements could be made to management training and workplace culture.”
