Sheffield used to be synonymous with steel (hence its name, Steel City), but its biggest areas of employment are now the health, education and retail sectors. The creative and digital industry has grown too – offering 25,000 jobs in the city.
With a population of over half a million, Sheffield is the gateway to the picturesque Pennines, and is also home to some great shopping (hello, Meadowhall!).
If you’re looking to achieve work-life balance, with a good cost of living, then look no further than Sheffield.
Working in Sheffield
With an economy worth £55 billion, there are plenty of digital marketing opportunities both in-house, and at agencies, where you can specialise in social media, PR, content, SEO, PPC and more.
To get you started on your job hunt, take a look at our list of top 10 agencies in Sheffield below.
Top 10 agencies in Sheffield
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If you want a career that will challenge you and develop your knowledge in the field, I would recommend searching for a role within a marketing agency. The wide range of clients you’ll work with, and the experience of the team you have to work alongside is an experience I believe you’ll get in no other organisation. When you are starting in a role, I would argue that initially the broader the better. This will expose you to different areas (PPC, SEO, social media etc) within teams, so you have an understanding of the best practices in each area, and this will also help you discover which area you have more interest in and where you would like to progress your career.
Matt Sellars, Converted
My advice to any new graduates trying to take their first steps in the industry is simple: get your foot in the door. Research agencies local to where you live, or where you want to live and find a handful with a personal development culture. Reach out to these agencies and put yourself on their radar – request work experience and show willingness. The best way to learn and improve within the digital marketing industry is to be in it; so, spending time at a digital agency is the best thing for you.
Aaron Watts, Converted
I achieved my first graduate job from an originally failed attempt at a university placement. After making the final two, I marginally lost out on the original position. The company contacted me two years later just before I graduated, about a position they thought my skills would suit. A week after my final exam, I started. It goes to prove that making a good first impression and trying to gain some work experience whilst at uni can make the difference. My advice to any new graduates trying to get into the industry is to have a go at everything when you graduate. Find something you like. Go and specialise in it!
James Bellamy, SEO Works
Does degree subject matter?*
0%
Have degrees
0%
Have marketing degrees
0%
Have business degrees
Other
Degrees include product design and media technology
*stats from included agency owners/managers
Career-building opportunities
If you’d like to spend some time brushing up on your digital marketing knowledge whilst meeting with like-minded professionals, then why not attend these events?
If you’re looking to save as much money as possible, then Sheffield is an ideal option – it’s the second cheapest city on our list, after Nottingham.
182% cheaper than London, 26% cheaper than Edinburgh, and 12% cheaper than Manchester; you don’t need to feel guilty spending your hard-earned cash on all the things Sheffield has to offer!
Living Costs*
Average cost of a one bed flat (monthly rent)
£584.76 (city centre)
£445 (outside city centre)
Average monthly commuting costs
£58.70
Monthly gym membership
£25.62
Average cost of a meal at an inexpensive restaurant
This climbing centre is award-winning, with National Performance Centre status. It’s not hard to see why when you go inside, as they have so much on offer.
Here, you will find the biggest climbing walls with a constant flow of new routes and angles for even the most experienced climbers.
They also have a very experienced and friendly team, who can help beginners in a safe and welcoming environment.
Bringing the Hawaiian feel to the heart of the city, Bamboo Door is Sheffield’s first tiki bar.
The cocktail menu is bursting with interesting flavours, such as Bakewell Fizz and Smashed Physalis.
The bamboo walls, flowers and funky music make it the perfect place to hang out with your friends. Try one of the private booths, or enjoy the outdoor seating in the summer evenings.
Pretend you’re in a Jane Eyre novel as you explore the stunning gardens and stately home of Chatsworth House.
Since 1549, through 16 generations, it has belonged to the Cavendish family. With over 30 rooms decorated with fine art on the walls and magnificent sculptures on display, it is a place of regal decor.
The gardens are just as stunning, covering 105 acres around the house. The water features and the Victorian maze are some highlights of the gardens that you should try and see.
Have a go at this adrenaline pumping afternoon of paintballing, complete with props from movie sets.
You will feel like an action hero in all the equipment, as you immerse yourself in your chosen world.
Choose from chasing zombies in a graveyard, to entering a political war zone – be prepared to lose yourself in a world of action.
Here, you will get the latest gear, including a full combat suit, lense and the latest semi-automatic paintball gun for the ultimate paintballing experience.
Challenge yourself and your friends against one of Sheffield’s four escape rooms, all varying in themes.
Uncover the secrets of an espionage, discover the vaccine for a deadly disease, battle against Sherlock Holmes himself, or enter the world of witchcraft and wizardry.
You only get an hour to escape, so you will have to work fast and put your heads together to beat the game. Will you rise to the challenge?
Where? 33 High Street, Sheffield, S1 2GA Cost: £15-£20 (depending on number of people) Website:escape-sheffield.co.uk
This is the place to go for some of Sheffield’s top art and design. It’s full of history too, as it explores Sheffield’s heritage in metalwork, which is what made the city world-famous.
Exhibitions vary from nature and botanical drawings, to exhibitions exploring the concept of time. Without a doubt, it’s a place that will make you think about the world in an entirely different way.
Keep an eye out for workshops and talks that are hosted frequently to learn more from the experts!
One of the most eco-friendly ice cream shops around, this shop is located on a farm, where they use fresh milk from the cows to make the ice cream they serve.
The flavours are extra rich as they use fresh milk and cream to make it – and there are certainly a lot to choose from! We recommend ferrero rocher or the cherry cheesecake flavour!
Don’t forget to have a look round the farm while you are there to see all the other animals too.
Where? Cliffe House Farm, Hill Top Road, Dungworth, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S6 6GW Cost: Free entry Website:ourcowmolly.co.uk
This is not your average sports centre – here at Ponds Forge there is an Olympic-sized swimming pool complete with seating for an audience of up to 2,600 people!
The scale of the place is its unique feature; and Ponds Forge welcomes people of all abilities to come and be active, whether it’s just for fun, or for some intense training.
So, no matter whether you want to swim, golf, work out at the gym or ice skate, Ponds Forge has it all!
These rare Georgian gardens are absolutely beautiful, and it’s clear why when you discover they were created by the world-leading landscape gardeners Paxton and Marnock.
Wander along the winding paths through a series of different gardens spanning 19 acres; Mediterranean and Himalayan gardens to Victorian Rose and Prairie style areas, you will be surrounded by stunning flowers and lawns.
Listed as a Grade II site of special historic and architectural interest, this place has character and charm you don’t want to miss!
Skip the long plane ride and visit Tamper, where the cafe brings the taste and experience of New Zealand right into the heart of Sheffield.
Every month they hold coffee tasting workshops, each with a different theme. Suited to everyone, whether it’s your first sip of coffee or you drink five cups a day, the friendly staff will be there to guide you, and can answer any questions you may have.
The food is also incredible – both the main menu and the baked goods. Plus, they have loads of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options too.
Where? Sellers Wheel, 149 Arundel St. Sheffield, S1 2NU Cost: Free entry, menu from £2-£10.50 Website:tampercoffee.co.uk
This bar is the best of both worlds: a sunny beer garden and good food in the day, to serving a vast liquor range and a closing time of 3am at night, you’ll want to come back here time and again with your friends.
The food encompasses flavours from all over the world, but is made using local and homemade ingredients – the perfect compliment to one of their cocktails.
Why not try one of their weekend events such as the hip hop brunch? Be served delicious food and bottomless drinks whilst you listen to funky beats.
As the first National Park in England, the Peak District boasts incredible views, and some of the best hiking trails in the country.
There are many trails of varying levels to choose from, or you could have a go at cycling or horse riding through the beautiful moors.
Depending on where you go in the Peak District, you could visit the little villages like Bakewell (and sample a real Bakewell Tart, obviously!), or discover the limestone caves in the valleys.
Visit this unique zoo, where you can encounter snakes, meerkats and lemurs or have free-flying birds of prey around you.
Walk through the lemur enclosure and get up close to some of your favourite animals. Learn all about their personalities from the staff, and if you’re lucky, you could even have one sit upon your shoulder!
If you’d like to help with conservation efforts, you can adopt one of the animals – ask the staff for more information.