Deerfoot is an IT recruitment agency placing permanent and contract technology staff across Leeds and West Yorkshire, from the South Bank to Bradford, Wakefield and Harrogate, since 1997.
The person who takes your brief is the person who speaks to every candidate, with no hand-offs.
The Leeds technology market
Leeds has one of the broadest technology job markets in the North, built on finance, public services and big consumer brands rather than a single industry.
Finance leads it, cited in 9.6% of Leeds permanent technology vacancies in the six months to September 2026, according to IT Jobs Watch. Lloyds Banking Group employs more than 4,000 people at Wellington Place and 3,500 at its refurbished Halifax site, Yorkshire Building Society runs technology teams in Bradford and Leeds, and the National Wealth Fund is headquartered in the city. Alongside them sit Sky's Leeds digital hub, Sky Betting & Gaming, Asda's technology function, Channel 4's national headquarters and several NHS national offices, including NHS England.
The practical consequence for employers: a Leeds software engineer's median is £65,000 against £100,000 in London, but banks, retailers and the NHS are fishing in the same pool, and NHS technology vacancies alone rose from 8 to 86 on a year earlier. Strong candidates rarely have just one option.
86
NHS technology vacancies advertised in Leeds in the six months to September 2026, up from 8 a year earlier
94%
of our permanent placements still in post twelve months later, in our most recent audited period
352
Developer vacancies advertised in Leeds in the six months to September 2026, Leeds' most in-demand technology role
The roles we fill in Leeds
Our Leeds work centres on the skills the city's employers hire for most:
We also recruit across project management, public sector technology and banking and financial services.
How we work
Our process is documented, externally audited and the same every time. See how we recruit.
INDEPENDENTLY ACCREDITED SINCE 1997
Leeds is not a smaller Manchester.
It has its own mix of banks, public bodies and national brands, and they all want the same people. We have been recruiting technology people since 1997.
What Leeds employers are paying
Leeds has the North's busiest market for developers and architects, driven by its financial and digital services employers, with architects averaging £80,000. These medians come from advertised Leeds vacancies, not our own placements.
Leeds IT salaries and day rates
The six most-advertised technology job titles in Leeds, medians from advertised vacancies, six months to September 2026
- Developer
£65,000
Contract: £500/day (104 rates)
Salary up 8.3% · 288 salaries - Architect
£80,000
Contract: £613/day (75 rates)
Salary up 6.7% · 162 salaries - Software Engineer
£65,000
Contract: £413/day (11 rates)
118 salaries - Business Analyst
£60,000
Contract: £550/day (30 rates)
Salary up 18.8% · 95 salaries - Full-Stack Developer
£75,000
Contract: £575/day (13 rates)
77 salaries - Java Developer
£77,500
Contract: £494/day (10 rates)
Median from advertised vacancies
Source: IT Jobs Watch, Leeds medians from advertised vacancies. Day rates shown only where at least 10 contract rates were advertised. Updated quarterly.
Who you will be dealing with
Marie Bundy · Lead IT Recruitment Partner · LinkedIn
Marie joined Deerfoot in 2006 and is one of our most experienced recruiters, working with employers across Leeds and West Yorkshire. Clients tend to remember her for one thing: she does not give up on a tricky hire.
Away from work she is a mum of two, most often found on the touchline at her daughters' football matches or walking the dog.
To talk to Marie, call us on 0161 511 8511 and ask for her, or email hello@deerfoot.co.uk and it will reach her.
Common questions about hiring in Leeds
Do you have an office in Leeds?
No. Deerfoot is a remote-first business and has been for years, so we have no Leeds branch. Most clients are happy with a video or Teams call, and we are glad to come and see you, whether you are in the city centre, on the South Bank or elsewhere in West Yorkshire.
How much does it cost to use a Leeds IT recruiter?
We charge a percentage of first-year salary, which depends on how difficult the role is, and confirm it in writing before you commit to anything. Our standard permanent terms carry a 100% refund for six months if the hire does not work out, and every month we make one placement fee-free for a registered charity or non-profit.
How long does it take to hire in Leeds?
Most mid-level Leeds roles usually reach a shortlist in seven to ten days, with an offer following in four to six weeks. Roles that banks and the public sector are both hiring for, such as data and architecture, need the quickest process.
Can you recruit for NHS and public sector technology roles in Leeds?
Yes. With NHS England and other national bodies based in the city, public sector technology hiring in Leeds has grown sharply, and we recruit for public sector, healthcare and supplier roles alike.
Do Leeds tech employers offer hybrid working?
Many do. Around 37% of live Leeds IT listings on IT Jobs Watch are advertised as hybrid or remote. Leeds station is one of the busiest in the North, with two direct LNER trains an hour to London King's Cross, which helps with roles that need some office time.
Can you provide contractors in Leeds?
Yes. Contractors are engaged compliantly through our FCSA Recruiter Partner status, with IR35 settled before the start date.
Which areas around Leeds do you cover?
Leeds city centre and the South Bank, across West Yorkshire including Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Halifax, and out to Harrogate and York. We recruit across the whole UK too, including IT recruitment in Manchester, Nottingham and London.
What salary should I offer in Leeds?
The medians on this page are a starting point, but pay for in-demand skills has moved quickly. For a free benchmark of your exact role against advertised and placed salaries, just ask.
Why should a Leeds employer care that we are a B Corp™?
Because the certification is checked independently, not self-declared. B Lab looks at how we treat staff, candidates and the environment, and if you hold B Corp status or are working towards it, a certified supplier counts towards your own assessment. You can see it in a fee-free placement every month for registered charities, our Living Wage Employer status and carbon offsetting on each placement.
Talk to us about a Leeds role
Brief us online or ring us, and you will speak to the recruiter who will run the search.
