Salaries and Costs
Hiring in Chichester sits close to South Coast averages, with labourers often on £12 to £15 per hour and groundworkers in a similar band. Bricklayers and carpenters can command £180 to £300 per day, shaped by site type and tickets. Site managers tend to sit between £45,000 and £60,000, with project managers and quantity surveyors in the £45,000 to £70,000 range. Recruitment fees for permanent roles are commonly 12% to 20% of basic salary, with executive search for senior hires pushing higher bands. Temp agencies charge an hourly or daily rate that covers pay, pension, holiday, and margin, and you will see pay rates vary depending on the CIS or PAYE setup. Agency costs rise on short notice or hard-to-fill assignments, so early planning can protect your budget.
Qualifications
Most construction recruiters in Chichester will ask for a current CSCS card for site roles. Supervisory posts often expect SSSTS or SMSTS. Plant roles usually need CPCS or NPORS, and slinger or lift supervisor slots require the right endorsements. For housing maintenance or school projects, some employers ask for DBS checks. First aid at work, PASMA, and IPAF can help candidates stand out. For white collar roles, chartered status for MRICS or MCIOB can support higher pay bands and smoother shortlisting.
Regional or Geographic Variations
Chichester sits off the A27, with steady links to Portsmouth, Worthing, and Brighton. Chichester Business Park at Tangmere and sites near Barnham and Bognor Regis supply steady fit-out and civils demand. Rail to London Victoria supports commuter managers on hybrid patterns. Proximity to Chichester Harbour, the Goodwood estate, and nearby ports shapes projects tied to heritage works, marine edges, and event upgrades. Construction recruitment agencies in Chichester track these micro markets, so brief details on travel, parking, and start times can speed up bookings.
Local Hiring Challenges
Contractors report pressure during peak summer works and school refurb windows, where shifts tighten, and overtime climbs. Civils and highways jobs near the A27 corridor can pull skilled gangs away from small refurb sites. Housing plots around the coastal strip compete for the same bricklaying and drylining crews. Recruiters balance travel-to-site with van access and fuel, so accurate postcodes and start times help keep retention steady. Short-notice cancellations hit candidates, and that can raise agency costs on the next call, so clear communication matters.
Key Sectors or Employers In The Region
Housebuilding, social housing maintenance, and small commercial refurb keep the diary busy across Chichester and the coastal belt. Utilities and water works feed civils hires, with highway repairs adding night shifts. Heritage and conservation work around cathedral precincts and listed buildings brings joinery and stonemasonry skills into play. Local businesses in light industrial parks need FM support for planned maintenance and call-outs. Construction recruitment agencies support these streams by keeping candidate pools up to date and ready for site inductions.
Industry-Specific Training Or Licences
For plant, CPCS and NPORS remain standard for excavators, dumpers, and telehandlers. IPAF and PASMA sit well with commercial refits that include MEWP use and tower installs. Gas Safe, NICEIC, and 18th Edition steer M&E screening. Asbestos awareness is common on refurbishment programmes. Temporary traffic management cards help with highway shifts. Recruiters and recruitment consultants will check expiry dates early, which helps avoid delays on the start day.
Common Job Roles Agencies Recruit For In This Area
Local agencies place labourers, handymen, and skilled tradespeople such as carpenters, bricklayers, plasterers, painters, and roofers. Site managers, forepersons, and engineers cover supervision and setting out. Quantity surveyors, document controllers, and planners support programme delivery. For temp agencies, traffic marshals, fire marshals, and gatemen stay in steady demand. Employment firms cover permanent design and commercial roles for local employers and regional businesses that service Chichester.
Hard To Fill Positions
Experienced setting-out engineers, utility surveyors, dryliners for high-finish fit-out, and facade installers can be hard to secure at short notice. Senior quantity surveyors with housing or civils experience draw strong salaries and can be selective. Night shift electricians with testing tickets and gold cards are stretched during peak periods. Executive search may suit project leads or commercial managers where retention is vital and notice periods are long.
Hiring Challenges
Lead times vary with site access, inductions, and right-to-work checks. Agencies can hold pre-verified candidates, yet rain calls and supply chain delays can knock the diary. Give your recruiter exact tasks, start times, PPE notes, and parking to reduce fall-offs. For contract work, be clear on pay rates, breaks, and overtime rules, and confirm whether CIS, PAYE, or umbrella applies. Candidates value steady runs, which helps retention and lowers recruitment fees across a programme.
Quick Facts And Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can a recruiter supply site labour in Chichester?
Same day is possible for general labour if ID and right to work are clear, with skilled trades often placed within 24 to 72 hours.
Do agencies cover temporary, permanent, and contract work?
Yes, most recruitment agencies handle temporary, permanent, and contract assignments, with temp agencies focusing on fast turnaround and payroll support.
What are typical pay rates for common trades?
Labourers often earn £12 to £15 per hour, with bricklayers and carpenters at £180 to £300 per day, adjusted for experience and tickets.
How do recruitment fees work for permanent hires?
Fees usually run from 12% to 20% of basic salary, with higher rates for senior or executive search briefs based on complexity and scarcity.
Which documents should candidates have ready?
A valid right-to-work document, CSCS (where needed), any plant tickets such as CPCS or NPORS, and proof of address help speed up registration.
Can agencies help with compliance on school or healthcare sites?
Yes, recruiters can arrange DBS checks where required, and will guide on site inductions and any additional clearances.
Where in Chichester sees the most activity?
Tangmere and Chichester Business Park attract steady work, with the A27 corridor and coastal towns supplying projects that need trades and supervision.
How do I register with an agency as a jobseeker?
Contact a recruiter, share your CV, tickets, and references, then agree on preferred travel distances and shift patterns to get matched quickly.
Can local employers book night shifts and weekend crews?
Yes, many staffing agencies run out-of-hours services for highways, retail refits, and fast-track programmes, with pay rates adjusted for the shift.
What affects retention on longer programmes?
Clear scopes, reliable pay, travel support, and steady hours keep crews engaged, which lowers agency costs for replacement hires.