Salaries and Costs
Pay rates across Brighton and Hove reflect South East demand, with site managers often in the £55,000-£70,000 range, and project managers near £60,000 on larger civils or mixed-use builds. Quantity surveyors land between £45,000 and £65,000, with senior hires pushing beyond this on complex schemes. Trade pay varies by ticket and site, with bricklayers seeing £180 to £230 a day, and skilled carpenters near £200 a day on refurb and fit out. General labourers earn £13 to £16 per hour, and night shifts or weekend work can pay more. Recruitment fees for permanent hires tend to sit around 15% to 20% of basic salary, with executive search for senior roles priced higher. Temp agencies quote an all-in-charge rate that covers wages, holiday pay, employer NI and the agency margin, so ask for a clear breakdown before you sign. Agree payment terms, rebate windows, and any temp-to-perm conversion terms in writing, and compare like-for-like across staffing agencies.
Qualifications
Most employers expect a CSCS card on site, with SSSTS or SMSTS for supervisors and managers. First aid at work, PASMA, and IPAF remain common on refurbishment and fit-out projects. Civil engineering roles often look for New Roads and Street Works, and water or rail sites add scheme-specific inductions. Degree-qualified professionals may hold RICS, CIOB, or ICE membership, and client-side managers often ask for strong CDM knowledge. Candidates should keep their cards in date, and employers should record certificate numbers at onboarding.
Regional or Geographic Variations
Brighton and Hove schemes range from seafront refurb to mid-rise residential and public buildings, with Shoreham Harbour and the London Road area drawing steady contractor interest. Hove Station links to London Victoria in about an hour, which makes the area workable for travelling managers and specialist subcontractors. The A259 and A270 offer east-west access, and proximity to Gatwick helps with visiting teams and plant movements.
Local Hiring Challenges
The labour market is tight for experienced site managers, finishing managers, and building services coordinators, with rising demand pulling candidates toward higher day rates. Blue-collar supply can thin during peak months when big civils projects or rail blockades run nearby. Local employers report competition for bricklayers, dryliners, and experienced groundworkers, which puts pressure on retention as projects move into the snagging phase. Good recruiters help plan phased intakes and can hold relief labour to cover holiday gaps.
Roles and Career Paths
Recruitment consultants in this area place trades, technical, and professional staff. Common job roles include labourers, bricklayers, carpenters, plant operators, groundworkers, site engineers, assistant site managers, site managers, quantity surveyors, estimators, document controllers, and health and safety advisors. Career paths often start with a labourer or improver position, then move into skilled trades or assistant roles, and finally into supervision or commercial posts. Executive search is used for project leads, commercial managers, and directors.
Industry-specific training or Licences
CPCS or NPORS tickets remain standard for plant, with lifting ops, slinger signaller, and crane supervisor in steady demand on tight city sites. Temporary works supervisor or coordinator is common on refurbishment and façade retention work, and confined spaces or asbestos awareness pops up on older stock in Hove and central Brighton. For building services, the 18th Edition and testing and inspection help are required, and many clients ask for DBS checks for live school or healthcare settings.
Key Sectors or Employers In The Region
Local employers include main contractors on residential, mixed-use, public realm, and leisure projects, with frameworks covering council sites and education estates. Subcontractors in brickwork, drylining, roofing, civils, and building services supply much of the workforce, and port-related upgrades near Shoreham bring civils and marine packages into play. Employment firms with construction desks support both small builders and national contractors that mobilise teams from outside the city during peak periods.
Seasonal Trends Or Themes
Exterior packages push hard from spring to early autumn, while interior trades peak as the weather turns and students return to the city. Public realm works cluster in school holidays where possible, so supervisors and traffic marshals see spikes in activity. Storm repairs and coastal maintenance drive short-notice bookings through temp agencies during winter, and emergency call-outs suit workers who register with an agency and keep documents ready.
Market And Retention
The local job market is active, with short commutes and regular trains pulling candidates from Worthing, Lewes, and Haywards Heath. Employers who forecast labour, pay fair market rates, and keep a clean site retain better talent. Small benefits like prompt timesheet payments, reliable PPE, and sensible shift patterns go a long way with this workforce. Recruitment agencies help with quick backfills, but long-term retention rests on good supervision and steady communication.
How Recruitment Agencies Help
Construction recruitment agencies offer temp labour at short notice, run executive search for senior hires, and provide recruitment consultants who understand local build cycles. Employers use agencies to hire staff quickly, find employees with the right tickets, and fill gaps during handover. Candidates and job seekers register with an agency to pick up contract work, secure permanent roles, or step up to a supervisory post. Good agencies brief the role, handle right-to-work checks, and keep compliance records tidy.
Quick Facts And Frequently Asked Questions
What contract types do Hove construction recruiters cover?
Temporary, permanent, and contract work are all common, with temp-to-perm used on longer schemes.
What paperwork should I have ready before I register with an agency?
Right to work, NI number, recent references, and any CSCS or plant tickets.
What do permanent recruitment fees usually look like in Hove?
Most sit around 15% to 20% of basic salary, with executive search priced higher.
How fast can temp agencies supply labour in Hove?
Same day for common trades during off-peak periods, with longer lead times for scarce skills.