Market overview

2023 has been a game of two halves across the South West with the construction market cooling a little and the Civil Engineering sector going wild. We expect this trend to continue, at least until the end of the year.

All sectors are still recruiting however, with staff attraction and retention remaining a key focus for business’s in the region. In terms of salary and packages on offer thankfully and the wild offers and bu backs of 2022 are now less prevalent. We’ve seen very little change in salaries from 2022.

As always, our survey uses data over the last 6 months and combines current salaries and packages of the candidates we interview with new offers from our clients, specific to the South West.

Interviewing and Onboarding

Consider your interview process. Is it engaging yet rigorous? Does everyone leave wanting the job? Is there a point to every meeting?

Ensure the process has momentum and don’t leave it weeks between interviews.

Get this part wrong and the perfect candidate could slip through your fingers.

Make sure you don’t rely on Teams interviews. These work well for a first interview or exploratory chat but there’s nothing like a face to face meeting to add rigour to your process as well as increasing candidate buy-in.

Finally, always remember onboarding starts when the candidate excepts your offer, not just on the day they start the job.

Good candidates will constantly have alternative offers of employment so make sure you’re in touch regularly throughout their notice period and have a thorough onboarding process throughout their probation.

Notice periods

We’ve seen a dramatic increase in notice periods with 3 months become the standard for many candidates. With that in mind, ensure you start the recruitment process in good time as well as planning for unexpected attrition.

 

The right benefits

Most business’s now offering the following as standard:

  • Company Car / Car Allowance / Electric Car Scheme
  • Structured Bonus Schemes and LTIPs
  • Family Health Care 
  • Contributory Pension
  • Average holiday offering = 25 days + bank holidays
  • Gym Membership
  • Professional Fees
  • £ amount for personal development and training

Choose the right recruitment partner

Set your expectations high and pick a few trusted recruitment consultancies who understand these expectations and can meet them. 

Then give them the time and information to do the job properly.

The good consultancy should be an extension of your business, flying your flag and ensuring the candidate’s experience is always positive. Work this way and you’ll have the pick of the talent and hopefully enjoy the ride.

The alternative is an overflowing inbox and answerphone!! 

For more detailed information on any of this email [email protected] to arrange a more detailed discussion

  • PM, PQS and BS
  • Architecture
  • Land and Planning
  • Civil and Structural Engineering Design
  • Construction – Operations, Commercial, Pre-construction
  • Civil Engineering – Operations, Commercial, Pre-construction
  • Building Services Commercial and Operational
  • Housing Maintenance
  • FM and Commercial Maintenance
  • Business Support

Project Management

Title Low Average High
Graduate £20,000 £22,000 £25,000
Assistant £24,000 £29,500 £33,000
Project manager £32,000 £40,000 £46,000
Senior Project Manager £45,000 £50,000 £55,000
Associate Project manager £50,000 £55,000 £62,000
Director £60,000 £65,000 £85,000

 

PQS

Title Low Average High
Graduate £20,000 £22,000 £26,000
Assistant £26,000 £30,000 £35,000
MRICS Quantity surveyor £39,000 £44,000 £46,000
Senior Quantity Surveyor £42,000 £50,000 £55,000
Associate £55,000 £55,000 £65,000
Director £60,000 £65,000 £75,000

 

Building Surveying

Title Low Average High
Graduate £20,000 £22,000 £25,000
Assistant £26,000 £27,000 £30,000
Assistant (completing APC) £28,000 £31,000 £34,000
Chartered surveyor £38,000 £42,000 £49,000
Senior surveyor £42,000 £48,000 £55,000
Associate £55,000 £60,000 £62,000
Director £61,000 £72,000 £85,000