Defence recruitment across Plymouth, Devon, Cornwall & Somerset

Plymouth is one of five UK defence growth areas, and defence employers across the South West are competing for engineers, production and quality staff, planners and the finance and HR people around them. As a recruitment agency serving Plymouth and Exeter, Cathedral Appointments finds the people that defence employers and their suppliers need.

Cathedral Appointments is a recruitment agency based in Exeter, with a presence in Plymouth and Taunton, recruiting for employers across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset since 1988. We recruit for businesses in the defence supply chain.

Talk to Dan Martin on 01392 575697.

The roles we recruit

• Engineering and design. Design, project, mechanical and electrical engineers, and technicians.
• Production and quality. Production managers and supervisors, quality, and health and safety roles.
• Planning, buying and supply chain. Planners, buyers, logistics and supply chain staff.
• Finance, HR and business support. Accountants, finance managers and controllers, HR advisers and administrators.

What’s driving defence hiring

Plymouth is a defence growth area. GOV.UK reported on 23 September 2026 an £84 million package for Plymouth’s defence growth plans: £50 million from government through the Defence Growth Deal and up to £34 million more from industry and local partners. The government says the investment will create nearly 1,000 jobs. The Get Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Working plan lists Plymouth among five UK defence growth areas.

Devonport is driving demand for people. The same working plan says demand is rising from the £4.4 billion Devonport investment to 2035, and that Babcock expects to need at least 5,500 new local employees. GOV.UK adds that the Ministry of Defence spent £6.6 billion in the South West in 2024/25, supporting 37,300 industry jobs.

The supply chain is growing too. The government’s April 2026 announcement names employers in the Plymouth defence area including Babcock, Thales, Leonardo, Airbus and BAE Systems, and includes a skills hub at City College Plymouth with 60 defence-related courses. Somerset’s Economic Prosperity Strategy also names aerospace and defence in its vision for the county.

Defence sits alongside marine in Plymouth. See our marine recruitment page.

Senior and leadership roles

Defence employers also need directors, heads of department and interim leaders. Talk to Dan Martin on 01392 575697, or to Clodagh Murphy, our Executive Director, on 01392 575692. Our Executive & Leadership page covers senior appointments across every sector.

However you need to hire

Permanent. Someone to join your team for the long term. See permanent recruitment.

Temporary. Cover for leave, a busy period or a gap in a team. See temporary support.

Contract, interim and fixed-term. A specialist for a project, or a role with a set end date. See contract solutions.

Questions we get asked

Which defence roles do you recruit? Engineering and design, production and quality, planning, buying and supply chain, and finance, HR and business support, from entry level to director.

Do you recruit for defence? [We recruit for businesses in the defence supply chain across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.]

Do defence roles need security clearance? Many defence roles do, and the level depends on the employer and the work. We ask what each employer needs before we start, so you know early what is realistic.

Can you help on permanent, temporary and contract terms? Yes. See temporary support and contract solutions.

I’m looking for a defence job. How do I find one? Search our current vacancies or send us your CV.

Which areas do you cover? Devon, Cornwall & Somerset, from our office in Exeter, with a presence in Plymouth and Taunton.

Ready to hire?

Tell us what you need and when, and we’ll tell you who is available.

Your contact

Dan Martin, Senior Consultant. Dan works with engineering and manufacturing employers across Devon, Cornwall & Somerset. 01392 575697

Our numbers: Exeter 01392 413577, Plymouth 01752 354200, Taunton 01823 813122.