The town of Clitheroe is situated in the county of Lancashire in England, and forms part of the Borough of Ribble Valley. Due to its proximity to the Forest of Bowland, it is a popular base for tourists.
There are roughly 14,697 inhabitants living in the area, many of whom are employed in the key sectors of manufacturing (19.4%), public services (22%), and financial/business services (12%). The town itself hosts around 7,250 jobs; the majority of staff roles are of the following types: process plant (1,099), management and senior positions (932), elementary (910), skilled trades (983), administrative and technical (766), and associate professionals (721).
The key companies who form the main sources of employment in Clitheroe are Ultraframe, Tarmac, Johnson Matthey (chemicals and precious metals), Hanson Cement, Dugdale Nutrition, Clitheroe Light Engineering, Spiroflow (material handling), and Townson Bros. (fuel suppliers.).
The unemployment rate for the Ribble Valley area is particularly low, and average earnings are well ahead of the UK average. The town is an affluent one with plenty of job prospects and, if the British Aerospace site at nearby Samlesbury gets approval for further development as a business park, recruitment agencies expect a significant number of new jobs to be created over the coming years.
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Walmsley Wilkinson Associates is based in Clitheroe. Their specialist consultants have 50 years of experience between them. They provide Executive and Management recruitment solutions to private equity firms, portfolio businesses, large corporates, SMEs, and family-owned companies across multiple industries such as Engineering, Aerospace, Health & Social Care, and Manufacturing.
Cowgill House, Gisburn Road, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 4LH
Clitheroe sits at the heart of the Ribble Valley with a job market shaped by manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, and professional services. Local recruiters work with small businesses and larger employers that need permanent hires and short-term cover. The town draws candidates from surrounding villages and from Blackburn and Preston, helping employers broaden the pool for technical, office, and service roles. Recruitment agencies understand local demand patterns and can advise on pay rates, agency costs, and likely time to hire.
Engineering and advanced manufacturing remain steady, with CNC machining, maintenance, quality, and assembly roles common. Hospitality and tourism pick up across the year thanks to the Forest of Bowland and well-known venues in the town centre. Care providers recruit healthcare assistants, support workers, and nurses. Logistics, warehousing, and food production add a stream of shift-based vacancies. Office-based employers look for customer service, sales, payroll, and bookkeeping staff, with executive search used for senior finance and operations leaders.
Ribble Valley Borough Council provides public sector roles across services and administration. The wider area hosts well-established manufacturers and construction suppliers, with plants and workshops on the edge of town. Hospitality brands, independent venues, and retail employers add front-of-house and kitchen roles through temp agencies and staffing agencies. Many businesses on the Salthill Industrial Estate and Link 59 Business Park use recruitment consultants for both shop floor hires and specialist engineers.
Entry-level warehouse and production roles often sit around £11 to £13 per hour, with nights and skilled lines moving higher. Hospitality pay for front-of-house and kitchen assistants usually ranges from £10.50 to £12 per hour, with chefs from £13 to £18 per hour, depending on grade. Office support roles, such as administrators and customer service staff, tend to range from £22,000 to £28,000, while team leaders range from £28,000 to £35,000. Professional roles in finance, engineering, and IT commonly run from £35,000 to the £50,000s. Executive search fees are often 15% to 25% of the starting salary, with temp agency margins reflected in hourly charge rates that include holiday pay, NI, and agency costs.
Employers use temporary workers to handle seasonality, projects, and sickness cover. Contract work supports engineering turnarounds, installations, and IT changes. Permanent hiring remains the aim for core roles tied to production schedules, compliance, and customer relationships. Candidates can register with an agency for flexible shifts, then move into fixed-term or permanent posts when the fit is right. Recruiters help set clear expectations on notice periods, timesheets, and conversion fees so both sides know the plan.
The A59 links Clitheroe with Blackburn, the M6 at Samlesbury, and Skipton. Rail services run from Clitheroe to Blackburn and on to Manchester, with stops at Whalley and Langho adding catchment for employers based near the station. The Clitheroe Interchange brings together bus routes for villages such as Barrow, Chatburn, and Whalley, which suits shift patterns on industrial estates. These commuter links help recruitment agencies reach candidates who prefer short travel times and free parking.
Manufacturing and trade employers cluster around Salthill Industrial Estate, Lincoln Way, and the wider Pendle Road area. Link 59 Business Park supports logistics, production, and service units with good access to the A59. The town centre and Holmes Mill area drive hospitality and retail hiring across weekdays and weekends. Clitheroe recruitment agencies tend to cover these hotspots closely, which helps with quick fill times for temp bookings and fast interviews for permanent roles.
Forklift licences for counterbalance or reach remain in demand across warehousing and production. Food safety certificates help candidates in kitchen and food manufacturing roles. DBS checks apply to care, education, and some community roles. CSCS cards are required for construction-related work on local sites. Drivers may need CPC for HGV work and clean licences for multi-drop roles. Recruitment consultants can advise on renewals, training providers, and the right paperwork for each vacancy.
Do Clitheroe recruitment agencies cover the wider Ribble Valley?
Most agencies serve Clitheroe, Whalley, and nearby villages, with many roles within a short drive or rail ride.
What are typical recruitment fees for permanent hires?
Fees often start at 15% of base salary and rise with seniority or hard-to-fill skill sets.
Can agencies help with temporary staff for seasonal peaks?
Yes, temp agencies in Clitheroe handle short-notice cover, holiday peaks, and event-based demand.
How do I register with an agency as a candidate?
Bring ID, right-to-work documents, a recent CV, and relevant licences, then complete onboarding with a consultant.
What mix of work is common in the town?
Employers offer temporary, permanent, and contract work, with hospitality and logistics using more flexible shifts.
Where can employers find local candidates fast?
Clitheroe recruitment agencies maintain active talent pools across Salthill Industrial Estate, Link 59, and the town centre.
What should employers share to speed up hiring?
Clear job specs, pay rates, shifts, and start dates help recruitment consultants shortlist quickly and reduce time-to-hire.
What travel times do candidates consider reasonable?
Many aim for roles within a 30-minute drive along the A59 or on the rail line through Blackburn.