Jobs market overview in Selkirkshire
The labour market in Selkirkshire is shaped by textiles, manufacturing, care, hospitality, retail, and public services, with many roles clustered around Selkirk, Galashiels, and Tweedbank. Recruiters, staffing agencies, and employment firms help businesses reach a small but skilled workforce, and they guide candidates on right to work checks, references, and quick starts. Local recruiters understand housing rules, shift patterns, and seasonal peaks, which helps retention and reduces false starts for managers who need to hire staff without delay.
Top sectors hiring in Selkirkshire
Textiles and knitwear remain active, with mills and workshops seeking machine operators, finishers, quality techs, and supervisors. Manufacturing and food production ask for production operatives, maintenance engineers, and logistics staff. Health and social care recruit care assistants, nurses, and allied health roles. Hospitality needs chefs, front of house, and housekeeping across hotels and inns, with spikes around school holidays. Office and customer service posts appear in call handling, payroll, and admin, with recruitment consultants steering candidates toward permanent roles and temp agencies covering peaks.
Major employers in Selkirkshire
Well known textile names trade across Selkirk and nearby Hawick and Galashiels, with mills, knitwear brands, and specialist makers drawing on local craft skills. The public sector, education, and healthcare add steady hiring, supported by distribution sites around Tweedbank and the A7. Executive search partners focus on site leads, engineering managers, and senior finance posts, while local recruiters supply supervisors and team leaders for shift operations. This mix gives jobseekers a route into established teams and gives businesses fast access to shortlists that match the plant, the rota, and the culture.
Typical pay and salary ranges in Selkirkshire
Entry admin and payroll roles commonly sit around £22,000 to £26,000, moving to £28,000 to £35,000 for experienced coordinators and office managers. Production operatives often see £11.50 to £14.50 per hour depending on shift and ticketed skills, with line leaders above that. Care assistants tend to run £12 to £15 per hour, and chefs and kitchen leads around £12 to £16 per hour, with overtime at peak times. Skilled maintenance and trades can reach £18 to £25 per hour on contract work. Agencies advise on salaries, pay rates, recruitment fees, and agency costs so employers set the right bracket and candidates can judge offers with confidence.
Licences and checks that may be required
Right to work proof is always needed, with references and background checks for finance, care, and education settings. Care roles often require enhanced checks and up to date training records. Factory and site roles may ask for forklift tickets, IOSH style safety training, and food hygiene where relevant. Clear document lists from recruiters keep offers moving and reduce delays between verbal offer and start date.
Training routes and local course options
College courses in the Borders feed textiles, digital, hospitality, early years, and trades. Employers often back SVQs and short technical courses, with common badges in first aid, food hygiene, and health and safety. For progression, many managers sponsor CIPD, ACCA, or project certificates that fit plant upgrades and service improvements. Recruitment agencies signpost quick refresher training so candidates can register with an agency and step into shifts with the right evidence on file.
Commuting patterns and travel times for Selkirkshire
Most commutes are short across Selkirk, Galashiels, and Melrose, with the A7 linking to Midlothian. The Borders Railway at Galashiels and Tweedbank gives regular trains to Edinburgh in under an hour, which widens candidate reach for early and late shifts. Buses serve the main towns and industrial estates, so temp agencies plan rotas around first and last services to keep attendance on track.
Contract, temporary and permanent work mix
Permanent hiring suits mills, engineering teams, and care providers where knowledge retention matters. Contract roles cover maintenance projects and site upgrades, with clear day rates and milestone goals. Temporary work underpins seasonal retail, hospitality, and production runs, with same week starts and weekly timesheets. Recruitment consultants explain holiday pay, notice, and conversion routes, so high performers move from temp to perm on fair terms that suit both the manager and the jobseeker.
Quick facts and frequently asked questions
Do Selkirkshire recruitment agencies cover the wider Borders towns?
Yes, most recruiters work across Selkirk, Galashiels, Tweedbank, Hawick, and nearby industrial estates.
What recruitment fees should a business expect to pay?
Many permanent fees sit around 12 to 20 percent of starting salary, with executive search using retained terms.
How do temp agencies price staff?
Charge rates include pay, holiday pay, employer costs, and the agency margin, so managers see a single hourly rate and one weekly invoice.
Can candidates register with more than one recruiter?
Yes, many jobseekers register with a few recruiters, though it helps to avoid duplicate CV submissions for the same vacancy.
Where are the busiest hiring areas?
Look to Tweedbank industrial sites, Selkirk Riverside, and town centre retail, with care homes and clinics recruiting year round.
When should hospitality employers start building teams?
Late winter into spring is the usual window, with interviews and trials set early to secure availability before holiday peaks.
What documents should candidates bring to registration?
Photo ID, right to work proof, addresses for checks, certificates, and recent referees keep offers moving without gaps.
If you are comparing Selkirkshire recruitment agencies today, speak with local recruiters who know the mills, the commuter links, and the industrial estates. Employers get fast shortlists and better retention, and candidates get clear steps from application to start date.