Recruitment for the industries growing across Devon, Cornwall & Somerset

The South West’s growth plans point the same way: defence and marine, clean energy and nuclear, advanced manufacturing, digital and professional services. Those employers all need the same core people, from engineers and finance teams to HR, IT and leaders, and they are competing for them. 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.

Marine and defence

Plymouth is the focus of a major defence growth programme. GOV.UK reported on 23 September 2026 an £84 million package that the government says will create nearly 1,000 jobs. The Get Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Working plan says Babcock expects to need at least 5,500 new local employees as the Devonport programme grows, and Cornwall names marine as one of its distinctive sectors. We recruit engineers, production and quality staff, planners, buyers and the finance and HR people around them. See our full marine and defence recruitment page.

Clean energy and nuclear

Somerset’s Economic Prosperity Strategy puts low-carbon energy first among its growth sectors. In February 2025 EDF said Hinkley Point C would add 3,000 jobs over the following 18 months as construction neared its peak, with around 15,000 people expected to be building the power station. In Cornwall, Cornwall Council’s Good Growth Programme is backing floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, where the Crown Estate has set areas for the first 4.5GW by 2035. We recruit project and engineering staff, planners, buyers, health and safety, finance and HR roles. See Engineering, Logistics & Supply Chain and Accountancy & Finance.

Advanced manufacturing, engineering and aerospace

The Devon and Torbay corporate plan lists advanced manufacturing among the sectors that have grown faster than the UK average since 2019, and says more than one in eight jobs in the area are in high-tech sectors. Somerset’s strategy names aerospace and defence and high-value manufacturing in its vision, and describes £4 billion of investment in the Gravity Enterprise Zone, an industrial battery cluster. The Devon working plan names engineering and advanced manufacturing among the sectors with recruitment difficulties. We recruit engineers, production, quality and supply chain roles. See Engineering and Manufacturing & Production.

Digital, data and technology

The Devon and Torbay corporate plan describes creative and digital sectors as expanding rapidly, and Somerset’s strategy names digital and data, including data centre investment. We recruit developers, IT support and technical project professionals, plus the sales, marketing, finance and HR roles around them. See IT & Tech and Sales.

Construction and infrastructure

The Devon working plan says construction has recruitment difficulties, an ageing workforce and limited training pipelines, and that Babcock needs around 2,000 construction workers. The corporate plan lists £48 million of Housing Infrastructure Fund money for homes in South West Exeter. We recruit the commercial, estimating, project, finance, HR and business support roles that construction businesses need. See Business Support and Accountancy & Finance.

Professional and financial services

The Devon and Torbay corporate plan names professional services among the drivers of growth since 2019. Exeter and Plymouth are the main centres. We recruit legal support, accountancy, financial services, HR, marketing and business support roles, from administrators to directors. See Legal Support, Financial Services and Accountancy & Finance.

Health and social care

The Devon working plan says health and social care is Torbay’s largest employer, with 26.5% of jobs and high vacancy rates, and the corporate plan describes health and care as sectors with acute skills shortages. We recruit the roles that keep providers running: finance, HR, IT, business support and senior appointments.  

Also growing

Cornwall’s Good Growth Plan names minerals, renewables, space and marine as distinctive sectors, and agri-food, the visitor economy and creative industries as core. In Devon, agri-food produces over £1 billion of livestock a year, and the visitor economy draws about 30 million visitors and supports 33,000 jobs. Keep this section if you want to be seen in these industries.

Senior and leadership roles

Every growth industry needs directors, heads of department and interim leaders. Talk 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 industries are growing in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset? The regional growth plans point to defence and marine, clean energy and nuclear, advanced manufacturing and engineering, digital and data, and professional services, with health and care and construction facing the biggest recruitment pressure.

Which industries do you recruit for? The ones on this page: marine and defence, clean energy and nuclear, advanced manufacturing and engineering, digital and technology, construction, professional and financial services, and health and care (non-clinical roles).

Do I need a recruiter who knows my industry? It helps, and we ask about your industry, your competitors and your culture before we start looking. We tell you honestly how the market looks for the role you want to fill, including salary.

My industry isn’t listed. Can you still help? Probably. We recruit by job type across twelve disciplines, so if you need finance, HR, IT, sales, marketing, operations or senior people, talk to us.

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

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 about your industry, what you need and when, and we’ll tell you who is available.

Your contact

Not sure who to speak to? Call our Exeter office on 01392 413577 and we’ll put you through to the right person, or speak to Clodagh Murphy, our Executive Director, on 01392 575692.

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