Construction recruitment
Construction recruitment in Cambridge
YP Recruitment places project managers, site managers, quantity surveyors, contracts managers, and construction directors in Cambridge for principal contractors and developers delivering major projects including the Cambridge Biomedical Campus expansion, Eddington development, North East Cambridge redevelopment, and the ongoing university and commercial construction pipeline. Cambridge has one of the most active construction markets outside London, driven by chronic housing pressure, biomedical investment, and university-linked development. Salaries run from £36,000 for site managers to £80,000 for senior project directors.
The construction market in Cambridge
Cambridge is one of the most supply-constrained housing markets in the UK, and the resulting development pressure has created a sustained construction boom that has lasted over a decade. Barratt, Persimmon, Countryside Properties, and numerous regional housebuilders operate across South Cambridgeshire and the city fringes. Site manager and contracts manager demand in residential construction is consistently high, and the premium land values here mean development programmes run at scale.
The Cambridge Biomedical Campus is one of the largest healthcare and research construction programmes in Europe. Major contractors including Skanska, Kier, and Laing O'Rourke have delivered phases here, with AstraZeneca's new R&D headquarters one of the flagship projects. These are technically demanding contracts requiring project managers with experience in occupied healthcare environments, complex MEP coordination, and long-form NEC contracts. The programme is ongoing and continues to generate senior construction management demand.
University of Cambridge development and the Eddington mixed-use project on the northwest fringe add further commercial, residential, and civic construction work to a market already stretched for experienced talent. Infrastructure investment, including the Cambridge South railway station and wider transport improvements, adds civils and infrastructure project management demand. The result is a market where experienced project managers and QSs command rates at or above London equivalents in practice.
Construction salary benchmarks in Cambridge
Site managers in Cambridge earn £42,000 to £56,000. Quantity surveyors at mid-level earn £44,000 to £60,000. Contracts managers earn £54,000 to £70,000. Senior project managers on major commercial or biomedical contracts earn £62,000 to £80,000. Day rates on major projects regularly exceed £450-£550 per day for experienced project managers.
Construction roles we fill in Cambridge
Project Manager
Commercial, biomedical, residential. Major contractors. £50,000-£72,000.
Site Manager
Residential and commercial. Housebuilders and principal contractors. £42,000-£56,000.
Quantity Surveyor
Main contractor and PQS. Commercial and biomedical. £44,000-£62,000.
Contracts Manager
Multi-site or multi-project. Residential volume and commercial. £54,000-£70,000.
Mechanical & Electrical Project Manager
Complex MEP coordination. Biomedical campus and commercial. £52,000-£72,000.
Construction Director
Programme and regional leadership. Major contractor operations. £72,000-£80,000+
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