Figures from indeed.com state that 20% of HR roles in the capital are at manager level. This is higher than any other region in mainland Britain, where the figure is about 15%. The only region in the UK with a higher proportion of HR management roles is Northern Ireland, with 21%.
Digby Morgan associate director Iain McAdam told HR magazine that the concentration of senior HR jobs in London reflects the wider job market.
"If HR is going to genuinely sit at the top table HR directors need to be based where the senior execs are based, otherwise they cannot influence and contribute to broader commercial decision making," he said.
McAdam said that HR directors are spending at least part of their week in London to exert this influence. Working patterns vary from renting accommodation and working in the City for the whole week to splitting time between central and regional offices.
Increased rent for office space and the rising cost of living will lead to more companies moving out of London in the future, according to McAdam. This will result in some senior HR roles moving elsewhere, but the City will remain at the heart of the industry. A larger availability of talent will ensure that the larger companies will continue to be based in the capital.
Currently a high proportion of HR jobs in regional offices are more junior roles. In the North-East, a quarter of roles were classed either as assistant or administrator. This is due to the increased popularity of the shared services model, low rent in the region and a readily available young workforce.
The figures from indeed.com suggest that average annual salaries for HR directors in London and the South-East are between £75,000 and £100,000.
However, McAdam believes this range is modest. "I think the salary predictions for the South-East are light. We would expect senior HR directors coming in nearer the £120,000 to £150,000 bracket. The figures for SMEs may be lower though," he said.
