Why UK Tech Is Growing Faster with CEE Talent – A 2025 Case Study
The UK tech sector is booming – now worth over $1.2 trillion1 and home to more than 2.1 million professionals2.
But even as investment pours in, one major hurdle remains: finding the right tech talent fast enough.
Hiring locally is hard. The average tech salary now tops £44,000, and finding qualified developers can take 8-12 weeks – far too long when speed is everything.
That’s why more UK companies are tapping into a powerful, proven resource: Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)
Why UK Tech Leaders Are Betting Big on CEE Talent
CEE countries, such as Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria, offer a rare combination: deep technical skills, strong English fluency, and cost-effective hiring.
According to GigsRemote’s 2025 hiring data, UK companies hiring from CEE save 24-50% daily on average versus local rates – but the benefits go far beyond the cost:
CEE developers are not outsourced coders – they’re collaborators, participating in daily standups, contributing to product roadmaps, and delivering long-term impact.
CEE Talent in Action: Inside Ocado and Experian’s Sofia Engineering Hubs
More UK product companies are turning to Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) not just for cost savings, but for deep technical expertise that drives innovation. Two standout examples are Ocado Technology and Experian, both of which have established thriving tech hubs in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Experian – Data Analytics and Decisioning, Powered from Sofia
Experian has built a major global engineering hub in Sofia since the early 2000s. The office now has 1,000+ staff contributing to Experian’s SaaS products in credit scoring, fraud detection, and automated decisioning,
Between 2014 and 2018, Experian Bulgaria saw a 220% increase in headcount and 73% revenue growth. In 2022 alone, the company invested USD 34.4 million in its Bulgarian operations, delivering 28,000+ hours of training and promoting 32% of employees to new roles.5
Ocado Technology – Smart Warehousing Built in Bulgaria
Since 2016, Ocado has grown its Sofia tech centre from an initial 50 engineers to over 200+ today, working on critical components of the Ocado Smart Platform (OSP) – the logistics and automation system behind Kroger, Casino, and other global retailers.6
The Sofia team contributes to real-time data processing, robotics, AI, and embedded systems, helping Ocado reduce release times and scale its global platform.
How GigsRemote Helps UK Companies Tap into CEE Talent
At GigsRemote, we make it simple for UK startups and scaleups to build high-performing remote teams across the CEE region – without setting up overseas entities or delivery centres.
We connect you with pre-vetted engineers from across Central and Eastern Europe – specialists in full-stack development, cloud infrastructure, SDET, AI, QA, and more.
It’s the fastest way to scale your engineering team without compromising quality, delivery, or budget.
Final Word
The UK tech sector doesn’t have a talent problem – it has a talent access problem.
By looking to CEE, companies are unlocking faster hiring, top-tier skills, and delivery models that allow them to move faster, spend smarter, and compete globally.
GigsRemote makes that model accessible – without friction.