While still regarded as a centre for manufacturing, Barrow-in-Furness has a varied economy that supports employment in everything from energy to tourism. The town and surrounding borough, based in southern Cumbria, is well served by recruitment agencies - including multi sector services and industry specialists.
Manufacturing is the largest sector for recruiting in Barrow and provides 8,000 jobs - making up more than a quarter of the local working population. The largest manufacturing employer in the area is BAE Systems, who are based at the shipyard. Due to its position on the Furness Peninsula, the shipyard has historically been a key source of jobs and remains the largest shipyard in the UK.
Energy is another important sector for the town, with Rampside Gas Terminal being based here. Four wind farms are situated just off the coast, including West Duddon Wind Farm and Ormonde Wind Farm. Barrow makes up part of ‘Britain's Energy Coast.’
Due to its proximity to the Lake District, Barrow has a strong tourism sector. Around 3 million people visit the town annually, which gives a boost to the leisure and hospitality market. Accommodation and food services account for around 2,000 staff, although this is affected by seasonality.
Barrow recruitment agencies are mainly located in the town centre, within the area between Devonshire Dock and Barrow-in-Furness Railway Station. Slightly away from the centre, employers and candidates can find services close to the A590.
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Wilcock Consultants has 20 years of experience recruiting within the Gas Industry. They cover Corrosion Engineering, Gas Storage, Process Engineering, Buildings & Civils, Renewable Gas, Renewable Energy, Biogas and Machinery sectors.
Unit 9, Trinity Enterprise Centre, Barrow-in-furness, Cumbria, LA14 2PN
Based in Barrow-in-Furness, Teem Recruitment provides temporary and permanent recruitment services to the Education, Engineering, Care, Tradesmen, Admin, and Finance sectors. Some job roles they recruit for are School Caretaker, Maths Teacher, Learning Support Assistant, Finance Manager, Apprentice Business Administrator, Audio Visual Engineer, Full Stack Developer, Marketing Assistant, and more.
Second floor, Cavendish House, 78 Duke Street, Barrow-in-furness, Cumbria, LA14 1RR
Barrow-in-Furness sits on the Furness Peninsula, with a workforce shaped by shipbuilding, engineering and energy. Local employment trends track the wider Westmorland and Furness area, which has posted strong employment rates by UK standards in recent periods. Employers report steady demand for skilled trades, health and social care, catering, cleaning and sales support, with peaks when large builds or refits hit key milestones. Evidence points to a healthy pipeline linked to defence and offshore wind, which keeps order books active and creates knock-on roles in logistics, administration and facilities.
Defence shipbuilding anchors the local job market, with fabrication, welding, pipefitting, mechanical and electrical roles in short supply at times. Offshore wind brings turbine maintenance, marine services and port operations. Healthcare and social care recruit across clinical and support posts at the hospital and community level. Retail, hospitality and cleaning roles rise with seasonal visitor traffic to the wider South Lakes. Construction firms pick up work from housing, estates and industrial upgrades tied to growth.
BAE Systems runs the UK’s largest shipyard at Barrow, delivering Astute and Dreadnought class submarines and preparing for the SSN-AUKUS era. The company drives demand across engineering, manufacturing, quality, IT, finance and site services. Offshore wind assets west of Walney Island add long-term technical and marine jobs across operations and maintenance. Furness General Hospital and local council services round out broad public sector hiring.
Pay varies by trade, clearance and shift pattern. Skilled fabrication and welding roles tied to defence projects tend to command higher rates than many regional averages, with uplifts for nights or rotating shifts. Healthcare bands follow NHS frameworks with allowances for unsocial hours. Entry hospitality and retail roles align with the National Living Wage upward, with premiums for supervisors. Recruiters can brief on current pay rates, agency costs and recruitment fees for permanent, contract and temp hires, and can flag any clearance-related lead times that may affect start dates.
Employers in Barrow-in-Furness use a mix of temporary, contract, and permanent hiring. Temp agencies support surge work on site fit-outs, yard turnarounds and project peaks. Fixed-term or contract engagements suit project stages tied to vessels or wind farm campaigns. Permanent recruitment remains common for safety-critical trades, planners, project controls, and business support where retention matters. Recruitment consultants advise on the most cost-effective route to find employees or register with an agency, based on timelines, security checks, and skills scarcity.
Defence work often needs security vetting at BPSS or higher, with the right to work and background checks completed before start. Site roles may require CCNSG or equivalent safety passports, with confined space, working at height, or offshore survival required for some energy jobs. Driving roles may need CPC or ADR where relevant. Medicals and drug, and alcohol testing are standard for many yard and offshore posts. Local staffing agencies can map the checks to each vacancy and schedule training where needed.
Furness College supports apprenticeships and upskilling across engineering, construction, business and health. Programmes cover fabrication and welding, mechanical fitting, and civil engineering technician pathways, with day-release models that fit employer schedules. Recruiters often partner with the college to source pre-trained candidates and to build talent pipelines for future intakes. Short courses help candidates renew mandatory tickets ahead of assignment.
Most roles are based around the shipyard, business parks and docks on the town’s waterfront. The A590 links Barrow to Ulverston and the M6 corridor, with rail services to Lancaster and Manchester for wider catchment hiring. Offshore wind and marine support staff rotate between the docks and nearby ports, which suits candidates open to varied shift patterns. Recruiters factor travel time, parking and site access when planning interviews and inductions.
Hiring clusters sit around the Devonshire Dock Hall and Central Yard Facility, the docks estate, and health settings, including Furness General Hospital. Retail and hospitality roles group near the town centre and retail parks. Energy roles link to the port and service yards that handle components and crew transfers. Local recruiters know which staffing agencies cover each pocket, which shortens time-to-hire.
Which sectors drive demand in Barrow-in-Furness?
Defence shipbuilding, offshore wind, healthcare, construction, hospitality and cleaning drive consistent demand.
Can recruiters help with candidates who lack specific tickets?
Yes, many agencies line up training routes through local providers and can book medicals and safety passports before starting.
What contract options are common for the shipyard and energy projects?
Perm roles offer stability for core teams, while contract or temp cover peaks coincide with vessel milestones and offshore campaigns.
How do Barrow-in-Furness recruitment agencies charge for permanent hires?
Most work on a success fee, with rates agreed upfront and linked to starting salary, with rebates set out in the terms.
Do I need security clearance for every role near the yard?
No, many business support and non-cleared roles exist; your agency will confirm checks at shortlisting.
Can job seekers register with more than one local recruiter?
Yes, most candidates speak with several recruiters, though it is wise to track applications to avoid duplicates.