The state of remote work in the UK (2025 edition)
Remote work in the UK has come a long way since the sudden shift during the pandemic. What began as a temporary necessity has now evolved into a permanent feature of the British workforce. It was also the inspiration for Remote Work Europe, as Maya saw so many people struggling with the transition. Now in 2025, remote and hybrid work models continue to shape how people across the UK live, work, and connect, with flexibility becoming the new normal.
The evolution of remote work
Before 2020, only a small fraction of UK employees worked remotely on a regular basis. Fast forward to 2025, and the landscape looks very different. According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), over 40% of UK workers now spend at least part of their week working remotely. Hybrid setups are the most common, with employees splitting their time between home and the office. Our aim is to change that, and make fully remote the most popular option.
Sectors like technology, finance, marketing, and education continue to lead the charge, while even traditional industries, from legal services to healthcare administration, are adopting flexible work models. Employers have realised that productivity doesn’t depend on being in an office five days a week.
Government and policy support for flexible working
The UK government has recognised the growing demand for flexibility. Since April 2024, new legislation has made “the right to request flexible working” available from day one of employment. This means workers no longer have to wait 26 weeks before negotiating a remote or hybrid arrangement.
While employers can still refuse on business grounds, this shift in law represents a cultural turning point. Remote work is no longer seen as a perk, it’s becoming a standard option in the modern British workplace.
Remote work culture and productivity
The early challenges of working from home, such as isolation and blurred boundaries, have given way to more structured systems and mature company cultures. Many UK firms have invested in digital tools, mental health support, and training for remote management.
A 2025 survey by CIPD found that 73% of UK managers believe remote workers are just as productive as their office-based counterparts. In fact, flexible arrangements often result in lower turnover and higher job satisfaction. The key, however, lies in balance, most employees report preferring a hybrid setup to full-time remote work.
Regional differences in the UK
Remote work isn’t evenly distributed across the country. London and the South East remain the most flexible regions, where digital infrastructure and office-based industries dominate. However, smaller cities like Bristol, Manchester, and Edinburgh are catching up fast, supported by strong coworking communities and better broadband access.
Rural areas still face connectivity challenges, but government initiatives to expand full-fibre broadband aim to close that gap. This could open new opportunities for remote professionals seeking a lower cost of living and more space outside major cities.
Remote work and the cost of living
The cost-of-living crisis has influenced how and where people choose to work. Many UK professionals are relocating to more affordable areas, sometimes even abroad, while keeping their UK jobs. Working remotely for a UK company while living elsewhere in Europe, such as Spain or Portugal, has become increasingly popular among digital nomads.
This trend reflects a broader shift toward “location independence,” where work follows people, not the other way around. For employers, this also expands the talent pool, enabling recruitment from across the UK or even globally.
Challenges still ahead
Despite progress, remote work in the UK still faces obstacles. Some employers remain cautious, fearing reduced collaboration or cultural cohesion. Others struggle to manage compliance issues for staff working internationally, especially after Brexit.
For employees, loneliness and burnout remain concerns. While hybrid working has alleviated some of these issues, companies need to continue investing in community-building, fair policies, and clear communication to sustain long-term engagement.
Is there a Digital Nomad visa for the UK?
No, the United Kingdom does not currently offer a dedicated “Digital Nomad Visa” for remote workers wanting to live and work there independently. If you visit the UK on a Visitor Visa (or other visit-permission) you may be allowed to do some remote work for an employer outside the UK, provided that’s not the main reason you’re there.
There are alternatives, which are standard work visa routes (e.g., the Skilled Worker Visa) for people taking up employment or being sponsored by a UK employer. You cannot apply for a visa simply for the purpose of moving to the UK and working remotely for a non-UK employer if you don’t meet the employment/sponsorship criteria.
Keep an eye on policy changes: it’s possible the UK may introduce something targeted at digital nomads in the future, but as of now (2025) there is no such visa.
The future of remote work in the UK
Looking ahead, remote work in the UK will continue to evolve, not as a temporary experiment, but as a defining feature of the future workplace. Emerging technologies such as AI-powered collaboration tools and virtual reality meetings are already enhancing how teams interact across borders.
The UK’s flexible working policies, combined with an increasingly digital economy, position it as one of Europe’s most adaptive remote work environments. For businesses, embracing flexibility isn’t just about keeping employees happy, it’s about staying competitive. And for workers, it means more freedom to design their careers and lifestyles on their own terms.
