The South West of England is often also colloquially known as the 'West Country' and broadly comprises the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. Covering a vast region of the country, the South West is actually only home to about 5 million people, making it one of the least densely populated regions of England. The area is known for it's stunning coastline, rolling hills, cream teas, and beautiful countryside, all of which combines to make it a desirable place to live.
Despite the rolling hills and patchwork fields, agriculture only accounts for 2% of all employment in the region, although dairy farming still remains very important in parts of Devon and Dorset. The region's economy relies heavily on the economic output of the region's largest city of Bristol which accounts for roughly a quarter of the area's economy. Both the universities in the city are large employers, as are local NHS trusts, Airbus UK, Rolls Royce, and BAE Systems all of which are based out of Bristol and are responsible for significant staff numbers.
Elsewhere the Eden Project, GCHQ, HP, Indesit, and the Environment Agency are major employers. As with the rest of the country, service industries dominate employment at 69.9%, but manufacturing also accounts for 9% of all employment. Utilising the expertise of specialist recruitment agencies will increase the likelihood of success in any job search in the South West as, for the most part potential employers will advertise for staff through such recruitment agencies.
AgencyCentral lists 69 popular industries and categorise recruitment agencies based on what they cover, so you can easily and quickly find the ones which are most helpful to you.
First Military Recruitment is a staffing company that has expertise in placing contract and permanent ex-Forces and Technical candidates to a variety of clients from well-known global brands to local SMEs. They also specialise in Engineering, Logistics, and Managerial appointments. The company was founded in 2013 and has offices in Cirencester, Fife and Darlington.
1st Floor 80 Queens Road, Bristol, Avon, BS8 1QU
+ 4 other offices
McGinley Support Services has been an Infrastructure recruitment specialist for more than 40 years. They recruit contingent office and site workers, with trade, professional or technical competencies and qualifications, for contractors, subcontractors, asset managers, and consultants throughout the UK. They have several offices, including in Watford, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, and Rugby.
Genesis Building, 235 Union Street, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 3HN
+ 12 other offices
Morgan McKinley is a global specialist recruitment agency for a variety of sectors from Audit & Advisory to Risk Management. They hire candidates for permanent, contract and interim staffing across the UK. Morgan McKinley was founded in 1988 and hires professionals to take on roles such as Digital Marketing Executive, Finance Analyst and Computer Vision Engineer.
4th Floor, Spectrum Building, Bond Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1 3LG
+ 4 other offices
Juice Recruitment recruits for various disciplines including, but not limited to, Accountancy, Advertising, Construction, Charity, Healthcare and even Recruitment. They started in 1998 and have since worked throughout the South West on permanent, temporary and contract placements with offices in Bath and three other sites. They are a member of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation and qualified by the Achilles Utilities Vendor Database Service.
28 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF11 9LJ
+ 4 other offices
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2 Boutport Street, Barnstaple, Barnstaple, Devon, EX1 1JG
+ 20 other offices
Gap Personnel is an independently owned, local industrial staffing firm providing recruitment solutions for the Technical, Professional and Health Care sectors. The firm was acquired by BeNEXT Yumeshin Group Co in 2017 and they place Warehouse Operatives, Administrators, Stock Controllers, and Hygiene and Cleaning Operatives. Established in 1997, Gap Personnel provides permanent and temporary placements for candidates.
Zenith House, Magdalen Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 4TE
+ 21 other offices
Options Resourcing is a national supplier of staffing services for an array of temporary and permanent assignments. Their operation has been covering employers in the Accounting & Finance, Construction & Property, Commercial, and Technical & Engineering sectors since 2011. They are an accredited member of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, with teams based in six locations, including Bristol, Southampton, and Taunton.
12 Whiteladies Road, Bristol, Avon, BS8 2NN
+ 5 other offices
Frontline Recruitment specialises in the supply of temporary and permanent staff across the East Midlands, East Yorkshire and the South-West. Jobs they have previously recruited for include Warehouse staff, Call Center & Sales Support through to HR & Personnel roles.
Unit 25, Basepoint Business Centre, Jubilee Close, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7BS
+ 6 other offices
Badenoch & Clark is a specialist recruitment agency with over 44 teams across the UK and Europe. They are one of the founding members of the Federation for Recruitment, Search & Selection (FR2S). For 40 years, they have been providing permanent, temporary, and contract workers to a diverse range of sectors including Accounting & Finance, Government / Public Sector, Personnel / HR, IT, Legal, Logistics, Marketing, Sales, and Digital.
101 Victoria Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1 6PU
+ 9 other offices
Thrive Group recruits for permanent and temporary positions in Manufacturing, Warehousing, Logistics, Commercial and Industrial. With offices in Oldham and five other sites, they have been filling vacancies nationwide since 2021.
52 High Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5AS
+ 5 other offices
New Recruits is a recruitment agency deals with the supply of Industrial, Automotive, Catering, Commercial, Transport and Logistics professionals throughout the UK. The agency has branches in Banbury, Bicester, Coventry, Oxford and Swindon, and they recruit for various positions such as Warehouse Operative, Machine Operative, Loader, Administrator, Front of House, Driver, Marquee Erector, Cleaner.
69 Commercial Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 5NX
+ 4 other offices
Venn Group Recruitment is a multi-sector consultancy covering Construction, Finance, Healthcare and more. They also aid the Government and Third Sector, working as HMGovernment, Crown Commercial Service and HealthTrust Europe suppliers. Founded in 2001, they open permanent, interim and short term vacancies in the UK and abroad through offices in London and six other locations. They were also listed in The Sunday Times Profit Track 100.
Prince House 43-51 Prince Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1 4PS
+ 6 other offices
Hays Engineering and Manufacturing is a specialist branch from Hays Recruitment that focuses on placing permanent, temporary and contract placements around the UK.
2nd Floor, 3 Temple Quay, Temple Back East, Bristol, Avon, BS1 6DZ
+ 7 other offices
Class People satisfies schools and other educational settings with Supply Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Tutors, Early Years Practitioners and SEN staff. The agency is a recipient of numerous accolades such as Recruiter Awards - Best Temporary Recruitment Agency 2018 Winner. Founded in 2003 by a former supply teacher, they have 17 employees and 8 locations (Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Avon, Worcestershire, Devon, Dorset and Hampshire)
33 Southernhay East, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1UG
+ 6 other offices
Pertemps is a recruitment consultancy that supplies permanent, contract and temporary staffing solutions to a wide variety of sectors. The firm is a part of the Pertemps Network Group, which has over 250 branches and offices serving the whole of the UK. The agency has an e-service called PAWS that allows clients to order staff using an electronic catalogue. Pertemps offers a 24/7 service.
First Floor, Bickleight House, Park Five Business Centre, Exeter, Devon, EX2 7HU
+ 61 other offices
Hays Legal specialises in supplying the Legal industry with professional talent around the globe. They are part of Hay and cover assignments such as Court of Protection Lawyer, Group Accountant, Legal Advisor, Construction Lawyer, and Industrial Disease Lawyer.
2nd Floor, 3 Temple Quay, Temple Back East, Bristol, Avon, BS1 6DZ
+ 6 other offices
Hays Accountancy and Finance covers the Accountancy and Finance sectors. Examples of jobs they recruit for include Finance Director, Management Accountant, Internal Auditor, Credit Controller, Purchase Ledger, Payroll Clerk, and Finance Analyst. Hays Accountancy and Finance is one of the specialist divisions of Hays, which has 100 offices across the UK and over 6,000 staff worldwide.
1st Floor, 11 - 15 Dix's Field, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1QA
+ 59 other offices
Hays Construction and Property is a specialist agency that provides workforces for the Construction and Property sectors. They offer permanent, temporary, and contract opportunities for roles such as Senior Planning Officer, Senior Quantity Surveyor, Senior Site Manager, Preconstruction Manager, Project Escort, Painter, and Labourer.
1st floor South, Telephone House, 18 Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 3NE
+ 34 other offices
Hays Office & Admin is a worldwide recruitment specialist focusing on supplying the Office & Administration industry with professional workforce solutions. They address permanent, temporary, and contract vacancies for roles such as Office Manager, Receptionist, Team Secretary and Admin Assistant.
1st Floor, 11 - 15 Dix's Field, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1QA
+ 58 other offices
Run by a teaching professional, Apollo Teaching Services started recruiting in 2006. They handle short term through to long term supply roles such as Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Cover Supervisors, Exam Invigilators, and Lunchtime Supervisors. They safeguard pupils by carrying out thorough verifications and compliance checks. They are also holders of the REC Audited Education accreditation and are Disability Confident committed.
Office 34, 127 Bute Street, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF10 5LE
+ 8 other offices
Manpower specialises in recruiting temporary and permanent roles for the Manufacturing; Warehouse and Logistics; Contact Centres; Engineering and Automotive; Office Administration; Marketing and Creative; and Public Sectors nationwide and internationally. The agency has 3,000 offices in 80 countries.
Suites G7, G8, G15 and G16, Capital Court, Bittern Rd, Exeter, Devon, EX2 7FW
+ 19 other offices
Here at the Siamo Group, we take a different approach to providing flexible and permanent workers, with all our directors heavily involved in the day-to-day operation of the business.
The Exchange, Express Park, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4RR
+ 10 other offices
Adecco provides support to candidates and employers on a temporary, permanent or contract basis; they recruit for a multitude of roles across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
20 Cathedral Yard, 1st Floor, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1HB
+ 57 other offices
Five Education is a recruitment agency based in Bristol that specialises in SEND staffing. They work with primary, secondary, special schools, nurseries, residential/care, further education, and more. They recruit and place LSAs/ TAs, HLTAs, Teachers, Cover Supervisors, SENCOs and Senior Leadership positions. The agency offers its services to Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset (BANES), and more.
Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol, Avon, BS1 2NT
Softweb Resourcing is a Software and Web recruitment consultancy. They work with a variety of organisations, spanning from startups to FTSE 250 institutions. This APSCo member covers various development jobs such as .NET, C / C++, Data, Embedded, Front-End, Java, Mobile, and Open Source. Some of the vacancies they will typically fill are Software Developers, Research Engineer, QA Software Tester, and Mobile App Developer.
1.9 Temple Studios, Temple Gate, Bristol, Avon, BS1 6QA
Helping Hand is a recruitment specialist that supplies workforce solutions to companies within the Finance sector. The agency is GLAA licensed and a member of ALP, Stronger Together, and NACFB. Based in Penzance, they provide assistance with invoice financing, invoice insurance, payroll and portal solutions, documentation and compliance, and credit control.
46 Causewayhead, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 2SS
GBRS UK places Construction professionals in various businesses nationwide. With over 20 years of recruitment experience, they recruit full-time, part-time, and temporary candidates. GBRS UK works with a diverse range of clients, from small and medium companies, to sole traders and PLCs.
211 Milton Road, Weston-super-mare, Avon, BS22 8EG
Archers Recruitment handles a wide range of roles within the Industrial, Commercial, Engineering, and Education sectors. Based in Swindon, they recruit for jobs such as Warehouse Administrator, Forklift Driver, Data Entry, Production Team Leader, and Customer Service Associate. Their candidates undergo a number of skills test to ensure proficiency. They are also members of the REC and FSB.
Integer Park North Cricklade, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN6 6HA
Resolve Recruitment Services is a national staffing agency based in Bristol that provides permanent and temporary recruitment solutions to the Sales, Office Support, Driving & Industrial industries. Founded in 2014, the agency covers various roles such as Class 2 Driver, Warehouse Operative, Forklift Operative, Transport Supervisor, Sales Executive, and Administrative Coordinator.
92 Shirehampton Road, Bristol, Avon, BS9 2DR
Platinum Recruitment specialises in providing staffing solutions for the Hospitality Industry. Founded in 2005, they fill permanent and temporary roles such as Head Chef, Hotel Manager and Waiter. With offices in Bournemouth and Southampton, this agency serves clients both in the UK and internationally.
Suite 4, 1st Floor, Ocean 80, Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 8AQ
+ 2 other offices
Bond Williams is a recruitment agency which serves both job seekers and companies in the Accounting & Finance, IT, Office, Commercial, HR, Engineering and Science sectors. Established in 2004, they find professionals that can fill in temporary, interim and permanent roles such as Payroll Administrator, Laboratory Technician and Performance Control Analyst. The agency operates from their offices in Bournemouth, Southampton and Oxford.
203 Oxford Point, 10 Oxford Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH8 8GS
+ 3 other offices
g2 Recruitment Solutions are experts in filling contract, temporary, and permanent roles in a wide range of industries across the UK, USA, and Europe. Since 2004, they have been offering staffing support in the Construction, Energy, Engineering, Life Sciences, Public Sector, and Technology industries. They recruit from their 10 branches located in Bristol, London, and Oslo. g2 Recruitment is included in the The Recruiter Hot 100 list.
2 Kingsway, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF10 3FD
+ 6 other offices
Climate17 helps candidates and clients within the Clean Energy and Sustainability sectors from their office in Poole. With a 100% fill rate on exclusive assignments, they offer multiple recruitment services, such as permanent, contingent and retained search and market intelligence. The agency commenced in 2007 and obtained its name from the UN's climate change mitigation and 17 sustainable development goals.
1-2 Bank Parade, Bryant Road, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5DL
Established in 1993, Bewley Recruitment works alongside clients in the Financial and Legal sectors. Bewley Recruitment hires professionals nationwide from their offices based in London.
49 Park Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1 5NT
Proactive People Recruitment is an independently-owned multi-sector staffing agency that has over 20 years of experience in filling permanent, temporary and contract roles. The agency offers replacements and rebate schemes for permanent placements, and they also provide candidate selection, HR, assessment, training and wellbeing services.
2nd Floor, 33 Portland Square, Bristol, Avon, BS2 8RG
Novo Executive Search and Selection is a recruiting company that provides board and senior executives in the private sector, public sector and not for profit organisations. This includes employers in Aerospace, Energy, Engineering, Financial Services, Legal, Manufacturing, Marketing, Sports & Leisure, Technology, and more. The company has offices in Bristol, Birmingham, London, Manchester, Oxford, and Glasgow.
77 Macrae Road Eden Office Park, Bristol, Avon, BS20 0DD
Founded in 2017, Formula recruitment provides tailored staffing solutions to several markets such as Software Engineering, Architecture, Mobile Engineering, Machine Learning & Data Science, Product & Design, Quality Assurance & Testing, and more. They have worked for companies such as Burberry, Tesco, Chainalysis, IMG, Sky, and Pizza Hut.
123 Buckingham Palace Road, Chelsea, London, SW1W 9SH
+ 2 other offices
Catering Services International provides roles on a temporary, contract or permanent basis to clients and candidates within the Hospitality industry across the UK and overseas. The agency commenced in 1989 and has offices in Bath (HQ), Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Coventry, London, Oxford, Southampton and Swindon.
56 Baldwin Street, Bristol, Avon, BS1 1QW
+ 10 other offices