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Salaries and Costs
Electronics recruiters in Leicester place people across PCB assembly, test, repair, and design, Typical salaries run around £22,000 to £28,000 for assemblers, £26,000 to £34,000 for test and repair technicians, and £32,000 to £45,000 for electronics engineers, Senior power or embedded roles can sit higher where niche experience is needed, Temp agencies set pay by skill and shift, day rates for contractors can span £250 to £500 where security clearance, power electronics, or safety standards apply, Permanent recruitment fees for employment firms usually sit in the mid teens to low twenties as a percentage of starting salary, Agency costs for temps fold in pay, holiday, NI, and margin, so ask for a line by line breakdown before you hire staff or extend a contract.
Qualifications
Local recruitment consultants will ask for solid hands on skills, IPC standards for soldering and rework, and evidence of safe ESD practice, For engineers, an HNC or degree in electrical and electronic engineering helps, modules in embedded systems, power electronics, PCB layout, and EMC are valued by recruiters and hiring managers, De Montfort University and Loughborough University supply a steady flow of graduates and postgraduates, many with IET accredited courses, Short vendor courses on Altium, KiCad, LabVIEW, or Matlab can lift a CV for both candidates and jobseekers aiming for design or test development posts.
Local Hiring Challenges
Demand in Leicestershire covers contract electronics manufacturing, automotive electronics repair, logistics automation, and space linked technology, Employers near Meridian Business Park, Grove Park, and the Space City cluster see tight competition for experienced test engineers and electronics design talent, Commuter links on the M1 and M69 make it easy for candidates from Loughborough, Hinckley, and Coalville to dip into the same pool, which drives up pay rates for certain shifts, Recruiters help by mapping notice periods, lining up temp to perm options, and advising on retention tactics such as flexi time, training budgets, and clear progression paths.
Key Sectors and Local Employers
Agencies in Leicester work with PCB manufacturers, contract electronics manufacturers, automotive electronics repair specialists, warehouse automation and controls firms, and companies tied to Space Park and precision measurement, The mix ranges from circuit board fabrication and assembly through to ECU repair and industrial control, That variety gives local employers a wide workforce, from rework operators to senior engineers, and gives candidates a route to switch between sub sectors without leaving the area.
Common Roles Agencies Recruit For
Recruiters and staffing agencies cover assemblers, SMT operators, rework technicians, test technicians, panel wirers, electronics repair techs, quality techs, and inspectors, On the engineering side, they place electronics design engineers, embedded software engineers, hardware test engineers, power electronics engineers, NPI engineers, and production engineers, Executive search teams handle heads of engineering, quality leaders, and operations managers where plant scale up is planned.
Industry-Specific Training and Licences
Hands on staff benefit from IPC-A-610, IPC-7711 or 7721 for rework, and ESD awareness training, Engineers gain traction with IET membership, practical EMC exposure, and safety design for machinery and low voltage directives, Some sites request DBS checks for secure projects, and certain roles need SC eligibility, Forklift or MEWP tickets can help maintenance techs in larger plants, though they sit outside core electronics skills.
Regional or Geographic Notes
Leicester’s electronics employers cluster around Meridian Business Park and Grove Park near M1 Junction 21, with quick access to East Midlands Airport for supplier visits, Space City on Exploration Drive brings R and D links, lab space, and a pipeline of projects, Loughborough and Leicester city centre rail stations widen the catchment, which helps recruitment agencies run same week interviews across the county.
Roles and Career Paths
Entry roles in assembly and test let jobseekers move into inspection, programming of AOI or ICT, and then into NPI or production engineering, Graduates often start in test development or junior design, then step toward embedded, power, or systems roles, Strong candidates move into team lead posts, project engineering, or operations, Recruiters can map stretch roles that protect retention, such as design for manufacture projects for technicians with CAD or CAM experience.
Seasonal Trends and Workforce Planning
Q2 and Q3 can spike with NPI runs and pre peak orders for consumer and logistics projects, Contract work picks up when product transfers land from overseas, Employers gain by pre booking temp agencies three to four weeks before ramp, Jobseekers who register with an agency early often secure better shift patterns, Build a small bench of returner temps to help retention, then convert the strongest into permanent staff once volumes settle.
Quick FAQs
What recruitment agencies cover electronics in Leicester,
You can speak with electronics recruitment agencies that work daily with PCB makers, repair centres, and controls firms across the city and county,
What contract types are common,
Temporary, permanent, and contract work all feature, with temp to perm paths used by many local businesses,
How do I compare recruitment fees,
Ask for a clear quote that shows recruitment fees, any rebate period, and what is included in temp charge rates,
What should candidates bring to registration,
Bring proof of right to work, recent references, and any IPC or ESD certificates, a short project list for engineers helps,
Where do employers find new entrants,
Local colleges and universities supply HNC, BEng, MEng, and MSc talent, plus returners from other assembly lines moving back into electronics.
How To Work With Leicester Electronics Recruiters
Local employers can brief recruitment consultants on core skills, shift patterns, and test methods used on site, then agree a short turnaround for CVs, Book a shop floor tour for shortlisted candidates, it reduces dropouts, Jobseekers should register with an agency, set location limits around the M1 and M69 corridors, and keep certificates and solder test pieces ready, Electronics recruitment agencies who know the Leicester job market will help you find employees faster, reduce agency costs through better planning, and keep your workforce steady through peak periods.