Marine recruitment across Plymouth, Devon, Cornwall & Somerset

Boat builders, marine engineers and the businesses that supply them need people who can design, build, test and deliver, and marine is one of the sectors that Cornwall and Plymouth are building their growth plans around. As a recruitment agency serving Plymouth and Exeter, Cathedral Appointments finds the engineering, production, quality, finance and HR people that marine employers 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 the marine industry, from boat building and marine engineering to marine products and equipment.

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.
• Estimating, planning and buying. Estimators, planners, buyers and supply chain staff.
• Finance, HR and business support. Accountants, finance managers and controllers, HR advisers and administrators.

What’s driving marine hiring

Marine is a priority sector across the region. Cornwall’s Good Growth Plan, updated 24 March 2026, names marine among its distinctive sectors, and Cornwall Council links to a Marine Sector Growth Plan for 2026 to 2031. In Plymouth, GOV.UK’s September 2026 announcement says a new National Centre for Marine Autonomy is expected to create 120 jobs and attract more than 30 businesses.

Ports and dry docks are being built up. In 2024 Cornwall Council’s Good Growth Programme backed a refit of Penzance Dry Dock, with a skills academy, and a Falmouth manufacturer of floating dry docks, as part of its support for the Celtic Sea’s offshore wind industry.

Employers are finding people hard to find. The Get Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Working plan, published in December 2025, names marine, engineering and digital among the sectors facing recruitment difficulties. More investment means more employers hiring for similar skills in the same places, so it pays to plan your hiring early.

Marine employers in Plymouth also sit alongside the city’s defence growth. See our defence recruitment page.

Senior and leadership roles

Marine 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 marine roles do you recruit? Engineering and design, production and quality, estimating, planning and buying, and finance, HR and business support, from entry level to director.

Do you recruit for boat builders and marine engineering firms? Yes. We recruit for boat builders, marine engineering firms and marine product businesses in Devon and the South West.

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

I’m looking for a marine 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, including marine businesses. 01392 575697

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