Start your search to find your closest local or specialist agency
Jobseekers Recruitment seeks individuals throughout the Somerset area for permanent, temporary, contract and executive Office and Commercial opportunities in Accountancy, Legal, Manufacturing, IT, HR and more. They take pride in being an experienced recruitment firm, opening their doors in 1972, and having a team with a combined experience of over 100 years. They are located in Taunton and were a finalist in the 2019 Taunton Deane Business Awards.
12-14 The Crescent, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4EB
Acorn Recruitment is a multi-faceted consultancy established in 1992 for various areas including, but not limited to, Aerospace & Defence, Energy, and Life Sciences. With 600 branches worldwide, they have experience in supplying employees for permanent, temporary and contract jobs, in addition to confidential executive search services and international placements. In the UK, they have offices in Newport and nearly 20 other locations.
Wellworthys Business Centre, Parrett Way, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 5LB
+ 20 other offices
City Centre Recruitment covers a wide range of sectors including Catering and Hospitality, Engineering, Driving, Cleaning, Service Levels, Industrial, Events, Housekeeping and Commercial. They deliver permanent and temporary staffing solutions to clients in Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset and surrounding areas. They have offices in Bournemouth, Charminster, Weymouth, Yeovil, Bridgwater and Southampton.
Nest@ Mallard, Express Park, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4RN
+ 5 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.
The Exchange, Express Park, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4RR
+ 61 other offices
Office Angels has been providing Office personnel for a broad range of temporary and permanent roles, including Administrators, Executive Assistants, Office Managers, PAs, and Secretaries, since its establishment in 1986. The talent firm caters to a diverse client group in various sectors, such as Accountancy & Finance, Engineering, IT, Legal, Marketing, Sales & Retail. With teams based across 60 locations, they operate nationwide.
Aintree House, Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2PX
+ 20 other offices
Permanent salaries in Somerset typically track just under wider South West averages, with design engineers often between £35,000 and £45,000 depending on CAD stack and sector. Senior project roles may move into the £55,000-£65,000 range in power, pharmaceutical, or high-compliance settings. Technicians and fitters frequently earn around £15 to £22 per hour, with shift premiums in heavier plants. Recruitment fees usually fall in the 15% to 22% band for permanent placements, rising for scarce skills or executive search. Temp agencies bill an hourly pay rate plus employment costs and an agency margin, so employers should ask for a clear breakdown covering holiday accrual, NI, pension, and any uplifts for nights or weekends. Contractors on a limited company or umbrella may work on day rates, for example, £250 to £450 for controls, validation, or planning specialists. Agree on service levels, rebate periods, and payment terms before offers go out.
Most local employers look for HNC or degree routes in mechanical, electrical, or civil engineering, with apprenticeships valued for hands-on posts. Design roles often require proficiency in SolidWorks, Inventor, or AutoCAD. Electrical roles may require 18th Edition, inspection and testing, or CompEx in hazardous areas. Welding and fabrication roles lean on coded tickets, with ASME or BS standards applied on site. Safety cards such as CSCS or CCNSG may be required for work on construction or process sites. Recruiters will pre-check right to work, references, and qualifications to cut time to hire.
Opportunities cluster along the M5 corridor, with Taunton, Bridgwater, and Wellington drawing in commuters from North Somerset and Devon. Yeovil has aviation, precision, and support engineering close to the A303. Wells and Frome see mixed SME manufacturing and food engineering. Travel times matter on shifts, so agencies often look for candidates within 45 minutes of the site, or they explore relocation for senior or niche roles. Rail and road links dictate on-call coverage, which can shape rota patterns for maintenance teams.
The labour market is tight for multi-skilled maintenance, controls, and quality engineers. Commutable draws from Bristol and Exeter, pulls talent north and south, which can inflate pay rates at short notice. Security-cleared or nuclear-ready profiles are scarce and require onboarding lead time. Rural plants experience transportation gaps during early and late shifts. Agencies help by pre-building talent pools, staging open evenings near business parks, and advising on shift premiums that support retention.
Manufacturing and processing plants in food and drink, aerospace supply chains, plastics, packaging, and precision machining provide steady demand. Energy projects around Bridgwater have increased demand for civils, mechanical installation, commissioning, and QA. Water utilities and FM providers add regular callouts for E&I and mechanical maintenance. Employment firms with engineering recruitment consultants often split desks by sector to deliver faster shortlists to clients.
Maintenance engineer, mechanical fitter, welder-fabricator, CNC programmer, quality engineer, design engineer, project engineer, E&I technician, controls engineer, estimator, and production supervisor remain steady briefs. Executive search teams may handle site leadership, operations management, or senior project posts. Temp agencies provide shift cover for breakdowns, holidays, and peaks, while permanent teams focus on succession planning and growth. Candidates can register with an agency to access contract work, temporary assignments, or a step up into permanent roles.
Controls and automation, validation in regulated plants, senior quality with auditing depth, and multi-skilled maintenance across PLC fault-finding are the roles that stall hiring plans. Welders with coded tickets and thin plate experience are in short supply. Recruiters expand their reach through referral networks, pre-employment testing, and relocation briefs, with agreed-upon recruitment fees and start dates that suit both parties.
Process and construction environments require strong EHS compliance, familiarity with RAMS, and permit-to-work procedures. Electrical staff often need the 18th Edition and proof of safe isolation. Food and pharma sites will ask for hygiene or GMP awareness. Candidates heading to live plants should understand lockout-tagout and site induction routines. Agencies confirm documentation early to prevent offers from slipping.
Food and drink sites peak ahead of summer and Christmas, so maintenance shutdowns and project installs stack up in spring and late autumn. Aerospace and precision demand can mirror order books and MRO cycles. Harvest-linked agri-engineering sees short bursts of temp and contract work. Staffing agencies advise on booking contractors early to avoid rate spikes.
Many engineers progress from apprentice or improver to technician, then to multi-skilled maintenance or CNC programmer, and on to team leader or engineer. Degree-qualified paths often move from design or quality into project engineering and operations. Recruiters help candidates plan steps that align with pay expectations, rota preferences, and commutes, which supports retention for local businesses.
Do engineering recruitment agencies in Somerset place both temporary and permanent staff?
Yes, most recruiters handle temporary, permanent, and contract work, with specialist teams for each.
What should employers include in a vacancy brief to speed up shortlists?
List must-have skills, shift pattern, pay or salary band, site location, and any certificates, plus start date and interview windows.
How transparent are agency costs for temps and contractors?
You should receive a rate card that splits pay rates, statutory costs, and the agency margin, keeping invoicing clear.
Where do agencies find candidates in rural parts of Somerset?
Recruiters use job boards, trade groups, and referral schemes, and focus on commuting routes around the M5 and A303.
Can candidates register with an agency before a job is live?
Yes, early registration means recruiters can call first when a suitable role opens.