Just a few years ago, not having a university degree in London could have felt like a dead-end for job seekers. Today, that’s no longer the case. From coding bootcamps to creative freelancing, London employers are placing growing importance on skills, not schooling and this shift is opening doors for thousands.
Degrees Are Losing Their Grip
Why is this happening now? Because the world of work has changed. Employers are facing talent shortages in key sectors like tech, sustainability, logistics, and customer service. Many are realising that insisting on formal degrees is limiting their talent pool. In fact, major London-based companies like PwC and Google have publicly dropped degree requirements from many roles.
Instead, they’re turning to skill-focused hiring evaluating real-life capabilities through hands-on tests, past work, or technical assessments.
Real People, Real Paths
Take Saima, a self-taught UX designer from Croydon. She didn’t go to university. Instead, she learned online, built passion projects, and showcased her portfolio. Now she works for a digital agency in Shoreditch. Or Jake, who left school at 16, joined a coding bootcamp, and is now a software engineer for a fintech firm.
These aren’t outliers they’re part of a growing wave of professionals proving that talent doesn’t always follow a traditional route.
Skills Are the New CV
In a skills-first hiring process, what matters most is evidence of your ability. This could be:
- A portfolio of work (especially in tech, marketing, or design)
- Certifications from platforms like Coursera, Google, or HubSpot
- Projects you’ve completed, even if unpaid
- Relevant experience gained outside of paid work (volunteering, freelancing, side hustles)
The Sectors Making the Biggest Shift
Some London industries are embracing this change faster than others. These include:
- Technology: Bootcamp graduates and self-taught coders are being hired based on GitHub portfolios and coding challenges.
- Green Energy & Sustainability: Employers need practical problem-solvers, not just degree holders.
- Digital Marketing: Content creation, SEO, and social media skills matter more than diplomas.
- Sales and Customer Success: Emotional intelligence and communication trump academic background.
For Employers: Time to Rethink Hiring
If you’re still filtering CVs based on university names, you’re likely missing out. Skills-based hiring allows you to:
- Broaden your talent pipeline
- Increase diversity and inclusion
- Shorten time-to-hire
- Build teams with real-world readiness
At Resource Provider Ltd, we work closely with businesses to help redesign job specs, run practical hiring assessments, and connect with skill-focused candidates ready to make an impact.
For Job Seekers: Focus on Proof, Not Paper
It’s a myth that you need a degree to land a high-paying job in London. What you need is proof of your skill and the confidence to showcase it.
Need help building that? We’ve got your back. From portfolio tips to skills-based CVs, our team at Resource Provider Ltd is here to support your journey degree or no degree.