Torquay is a large seaside town that lies in the south of the county of Devon. It is situated 22 miles south of Exeter, 38 miles north-east of Plymouth, and is home to over 134,000 people. Thanks to its pleasant summer temperatures and beautiful beaches, Torquay is known as the English Riviera.
Historically, the economy was based on agriculture and fishing, but a strong tourism industry was created in the early 19th century as the town developed into a popular seaside resort.
The unemployment rate is higher than the English 8.1% average, currently standing at 8,7%. However, a new South Devon link road was given government approval in June 2012 after many years of lobbying, and recruitment agencies expect this to attract several big companies to the area after its completion in 2015. It is estimated that the road link will create over 8,000 jobs in the area.
Aside from tourism, the four biggest employment sectors in the town are: hotels/restaurants/distribution (32.6%), public administration, education and health (31.7%), manufacturing (13.4%) and banking, finance/insurance (10.75%). Major employers of staff in the town include Beverage Brands (the owners of WKD), Torbay Hospital, Hymid Multi-shot (injection moulding manufacturer), and Francis Clark Accountants. The average full-time salary is around £30,000.
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DCI Care, led by Nurses and Carers themselves, supplies Health and Social Care staff throughout the South West. Areas they support include Torquay, Exeter and Paignton, where they fill flexible and temporary posts in Children and Young People Care, and Supported Living. They were formed in 2017.
5 Madrepore Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 1EY
Emmerson-Ross Recruitment is a staffing firm that offers solutions to a wide range of sectors including Accounting & Finance, Administration, Call Centre, Engineering, and IT. They provide services nationally, but they focus primarily in Devon. The firm is independently owned and covers part-time and full-time vacancies for roles such as Training Operations Coordinator, Plumbing Engineer, Sales Order Processor, and Insurance Advisor.
The White House Broomhill Way, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 7QL
The job market in Torquay blends hospitality, health, retail and a slice of high tech, with steady demand from hotels along the seafront and care providers near Newton Road and around Torbay Hospital. Recruiters support local employers that need seasonal cover and steady hands year round, helping businesses keep a reliable workforce and manage retention. Employment firms and recruitment consultants give candidates quick routes into work, from entry level to management, matching the labour market’s mix of service roles and skilled posts.
Hospitality and tourism rise from spring through autumn, covering front of house, chefs and housekeeping. Health and social care hire across support workers, HCAs and nurses, often on shifts. Retail and customer service roles sit in the town centre and at the Willows, with steady footfall. Construction and trades move with local projects across the harbourside and inland estates. Office support, call centre and finance admin appear in clusters near Edginswell, with some hybrid options for experienced staff.
Large local employers include the acute and community services based around Torquay’s hospital site, established hotel groups on Belgrave Road and the harbourside, and care providers with multiple homes across the town. Growing tech and engineering outfits near business parks add specialist vacancies, from electronics assembly to quality and maintenance. Recruiters and staffing agencies work closely with these businesses to fill both repeat roles and one off hires, using temp agencies for surge periods and executive search for senior hires.
Pay rates reflect a coastal economy with busy peaks. Entry hospitality and retail roles often sit around local living wage levels, moving higher for late shifts or supervisory posts. Care roles pay a premium for nights and weekends, with nurses and clinicians on higher bands. Skilled trades, technicians and engineering roles command stronger salaries, with supervisors and managers stepping into £30,000 to £45,000 brackets, and specialist engineers rising beyond that range. Recruiters can brief you on pay rates by postcode, shift pattern and skill mix.
Recruitment agencies in Torquay see sharp demand before Easter, summer holidays and Christmas trading. Temporary workers cover events, festivals and hotel occupancy spikes, then permanent hiring follows as operators plan the next season. Health and care run on a steadier drumbeat, with contract work used to plug rota gaps. Construction swings with project starts and completions, while office support hires arrive in clusters when teams restructure or expand. Recruitment consultants help smooth these swings, so employers can find employees fast, and candidates can keep earnings steady between peaks.
Hospitality staff often need Food Hygiene certificates, with supervisors holding Level 2 or higher. Care roles usually require an enhanced DBS, plus up to date training in moving and handling and medication where relevant. Site roles may ask for CSCS cards, plant tickets or IPAF. Security needs SIA badges. Drivers need a clean licence, with CPC for HGV. Recruiters guide candidates on the right paperwork and help employers keep compliance tight, from right to work checks to reference chasing.
Torquay’s mix leans toward temporary and seasonal in hospitality and retail, strong contract use in care and construction, and permanent placements for management, office support and technical teams. Temp agencies handle short notice cover and rota planning, turning around bookings within hours. Employment firms place permanent supervisors, head chefs and care managers, often on retained or contingency terms. Executive search comes in for senior leaders. Employers can brief agencies to hire staff for a single shift, a fixed term project or a full team build.
Permanent recruitment fees in Torquay are often a percentage of starting salary, with bands that reflect scarcity and seniority. Temporary charge rates include pay, holiday accrual, NI, pension and the agency margin, with clear breakdowns by hour. For high volume hospitality, block rates and on site support can trim agency costs. For specialist engineering or leadership roles, a staged fee or retained search can make sense. Recruiters will outline rebate terms and replacement periods, so businesses know where they stand before offers go out.
The A380 links Torquay to the wider network, giving drivers quick access to Newton Road and the South Devon Highway. Torquay and Torre stations provide rail options for candidates without cars, with regular services for early and late shifts. Many staff live in nearby suburbs and move along the A3022 to reach the town centre, the hospital zone and the seafront hotels. Recruiters take commute time into account when shortlisting, helping reduce no shows and improving retention on early starts and split shifts.
Do Torquay recruiters cover both employers and candidates?
Yes, agencies support local businesses that need to hire staff, and they help jobseekers register for temporary, contract and permanent roles.
What documents should a candidate bring to register with an agency?
Bring right to work proof, proof of address, a current CV and any licences or certificates relevant to the job.
Can agencies help with seasonal staffing near the seafront?
Yes, temp agencies build pools for summer and event work across hotels, restaurants and venues.
How can a business reduce recruitment fees?
Share clear briefs, agree pay rates early and consider temp to perm routes where suitable.
Are remote roles common in Torquay?
Some back office and customer service roles offer hybrid patterns, though many jobs remain on site in hospitality, care and trades.
Where are most vacancies based in town?
Strong pockets sit near the harbourside, Belgrave Road hotels, the Willows retail area and around Newton Road for healthcare.
Torquay recruitment agencies give employers straight access to recruiters who know the local labour market, and they offer candidates quick ways to register with an agency and start earning. If you need to find employees or compare agency costs, this page helps you speak to the right people fast.