Salaries and Costs
Local recruiters will talk straight about pay rates and agency costs. Production operatives often sit at £11 to £14 per hour, with skilled machinists and CNC setters at £15 to £20 per hour. Entry-level welders may start at around £13 per hour, with coded welders and fabricators earning £18 to £22 per hour, depending on the process and materials. Maintenance engineers can land £35,000 to £50,000, and supervisors in busy cells tend to fall between £30,000 and £40,000. Temp agency margins vary with demand and risk, with typical charge rates covering holiday pay, NI, and overhead. Many shifts price out above £250 per day on short notice, and out-of-hours call-outs can carry a premium. Permanent recruitment fees often range from 12% to 20% of basic salary, with rebates that taper over the first few months. Speak early about recruitment fees, replacement terms, and any conversion costs on temp-to-perm routes.
Common Job Roles Agencies Recruit For
Manufacturing recruiters in Gateshead place production operatives, assemblers, warehouse pickers, FLT drivers, welders, fabricators, CNC setters and programmers, quality inspectors, maintenance fitters, and multi-skilled engineers. Staffing agencies also cover production planning, materials control, and first-line leadership roles. Executive search teams may handle plant managers, operations managers, and quality heads for larger sites.
Qualifications
Recruitment consultants will look for practical certificates first. RTITB or ITSSAR FLT licences matter for goods in and dispatch. IPAF helps with maintenance work at height. CNC teams value Fanuc, Heidenhain, and Siemens controls. Welders benefit from BS EN ISO 9606 approvals. City and Guilds or Level 3 engineering qualifications carry weight for maintenance roles. Quality hires may hold ISO 9001 internal auditor training, with IATF 16949 experience prized by automotive suppliers.
Industry-specific training or Licences
Basic shopfloor safety starts with in-date induction, manual handling, and COSHH awareness. Food manufacturers want food hygiene and allergen training. Fabrication shops may request hot-work permits and confined-space permits where relevant. MEWP users need IPAF. Overhead crane or slinging tickets help in heavy fabrication. First aid at work and fire marshal tickets are handy for supervisors. Recruiters will flag any must-have cards early so candidates can register with an agency and renew in time.
Regional Or Geographic Variations
The strongest clusters sit around Team Valley Trading Estate and Follingsby Park, with quick access to the A1 and A194. Day and night shifts link well to local bus routes and freight movements across the Tyne Bridge. Agencies understand commuter links that draw candidates from nearby estates and riverside workshops, so response times on late shift cover tend to be fast.
Local Hiring Challenges
Hands-on roles compete with logistics peaks at the Metrocentre and regional distribution hubs. That can pull FLT drivers and warehouse staff at short notice. Short lead times make sickness cover and reactive hires harder on Monday and Friday. Recruiters maintain standby pools of welders, CNC setters, and maintenance fitters, and they often pre-clear right-to-work status and references so you can hire staff quickly when a line is down.
Regulatory Or Compliance Standards
Right-to-work checks come first, along with proof of licences where machinery is involved. Health and safety training must be up to date, with inductions recorded and signed. ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 experience helps in audited plants. IATF 16949 exposure is valuable for the automotive supply. DBS checks are common in some food and pharma settings, though they are not universal on the shop floor. Agencies should record hours, breaks, and compliance with working time on shifts.
Roles And Career Paths
Jobseekers can enter as production operatives, then move into cell leader, quality tech, or setter roles. Skilled trades often start with fabrication, welding, or machining before stepping into inspection or maintenance. With steady site experience, candidates can reach a team leader, supervisor, or production planner. Employment firms often run temp-to-perm programs that let managers test-fit and help candidates grow with the plant.
Salaries, Pay Rates, And Retention
Pay remains the main lever in a tight labour market, yet small gains in shift patterns, overtime planning, and training can lift retention. Clear pay bands, fair night premiums, and quick resolution of payroll queries help keep the workforce steady. Agencies will advise on market pay by role so local employers can find employees without overpaying or losing staff to nearby shifts.
Quick Facts And Frequently Asked Questions
Do recruitment agencies place both temps and perms in Gateshead?
Yes, recruitment agencies place temporary, permanent, and contract work across factories and workshops in Gateshead.
What documents should a candidate bring to register with an agency?
Right to work ID, proof of address, licences like FLT or IPAF, welding codes if held, and an up-to-date CV.
How fast can a temp start on a production line?
Same-day is possible when induction is short, and PPE is in stock, with pre-cleared labour often ready for late shifts.
What are typical agency costs for permanent hires?
Fees often range from 12% to 20% of basic salary, with a rebate period that steps down over time.
Which business parks see the most manufacturing roles?
Team Valley Trading Estate and Follingsby Park generate steady demand for shopfloor and engineering roles in Gateshead.