Salaries and costs
Energy recruiters in Shropshire place technicians, supervisors, engineers, and project staff across utilities, solar, storage, and grid work. Employers can hire staff on temporary, permanent, or contract work, with recruitment fees for permanent hires often falling between 15% and 25%. Temp agencies set margins against pay rates and holiday accrual, with skilled site work in the £18 to £28 per hour range and senior engineering day rates higher in complex projects. Agency costs vary by shortlist size and notice period, so ask for a clear schedule of charges before you register with an agency. Candidates should expect fair pay for safety-critical duties, with overtime uplifts on outage or callout work.
Qualifications
Recruitment consultants look for ECS or CSCS cards for site access, as well as trade papers for electricians and mechanical fitters. Gas engineers need Gas Safe registration, and electrical staff often present NICEIC experience or equivalent competence routes. Project professionals show APM or PRINCE2, and HSE leads present NEBOSH. Energy storage, EV charging, and solar roles value EUSR tickets and manufacturer training, which help recruiters quickly verify skills for local employers.
Regional or geographic variations
Most hiring clusters sit near Shrewsbury and along the M54 corridor for access to depots and substation projects. Battlefield Enterprise Park and Hortonwood feed logistics and maintenance rosters, while Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Oswestry, Market Drayton, and Whitchurch supply technicians who know rural networks. Recruiters match start times to commuter links on the A5 and rail routes, which supports attendance on early shifts and outage windows.
Local hiring challenges
Rosters can stretch during winter faults and summer shutdowns, so staffing agencies balance short-notice cover with retention on longer programmes. Executive search is used for grid connection, grid code, and asset management posts, where experience with DNO interfaces is scarce. Recruiters often coach businesses on interview pace and medical booking, since delays risk losing candidates to nearby contracts.
Roles and career paths
Energy recruitment agencies place cable jointers, linespeople, solar installers, commissioning engineers, SCADA technicians, HV authorised staff, control room operators, planners, schedulers, and site managers. Career paths move from improver to technician to supervisor, or from project co-ordinator to project manager. Jobseekers who add switching authority, protection testing, or HV permits gain quicker access to higher pay brackets and priority rosters.
Training and licences for energy work
Many roles need EUSR, first aid, manual handling, working at height, and confined space training. Substation work requires authorisations aligned with client rules, plus MEWP or a telehandler when access is tight. Wind and solar maintenance values GWO or manufacturer modules, and battery storage sites often request HV awareness, emergency response, and lockout/tagout practices. Recruiters track expiry dates and book refreshers so placements can mobilise on time.
Compliance and safety standards
Agencies screen for the right to work, conduct DBS checks where site security applies, and arrange fit-for-work medicals where lone working or climbing is part of the job. Method statements and permits are common on live sites, so recruiters favour candidates who can read drawings, follow switching plans, and keep accurate records. Employment firms brief both parties on PPE, travel, digs, and standby arrangements before a start date.
Key sectors or employers in the region
Local businesses cover distribution networks, metering, private wire, facilities energy teams, and renewable asset owners. Industrial estates near Shrewsbury and Telford host service depots that handle installations, inspections, and emergency callouts across the county. Recruiters map crews to rural circuits and market towns, which helps with response times and parts supply during faults.
Salaries and pay bands at a glance
Solar installer roles often sit between £28,000 and £40,000, with uplifts for testing skills. HV technicians and commissioning staff earn between £40,000 and £55,000, with standby and travel paid on top. Project managers in grid or storage can land £50,000 to £70,000, depending on permits and portfolio size. Contractors on specialist scopes may cross £350 per day where authorisations are required. Discuss recruitment fees early and request a margin breakdown that covers agency costs, PPE, and medicals.
Quick facts and frequently asked questions
Do agencies cover emergency callouts for utilities?
Yes. Many recruitment agencies keep a standby pool for faults, with agreed pay rates and travel rules set in advance.
Can employers find employees for rural substations and remote solar sites?
Yes. Recruiters use candidates from Oswestry, Ludlow, and Whitchurch to cut travel times and improve attendance.
How can a candidate register with an agency?
Send your CV, tickets, and authorisations. Add copies of EUSR, first aid, and recent medicals to speed up the booking process.
Do staffing agencies handle executive search for senior energy roles?
Yes. Executive search is common for grid connection, asset management, compliance, and programme leadership.
What payroll options do temp agencies offer?
Umbrella and PAYE are typical. Contractors on long bookings may use a limited company only where rules allow, with checks in place.
Can recruitment consultants help with retention on long projects?
Yes. They plan rotations, travel, and digs. They adjust pay rates at agreed milestones to maintain the workforce.
Which contract types are popular in the local job market?
Temporary cover for outages, permanent hires for depot teams, and contract work for projects with strict milestones.