Specialist Contracting Recruitment Agency
Specialist contracting recruitment across facades and curtain walling, demolition and deconstruction, groundworks and piling, structural steel and precast concrete, roofing and cladding, and scaffolding, formwork and temporary works. NFDC, BCSA, CWCT, FPS, NFRC and NASC-aligned, BS 5975 Temporary Works and CDM 2015 literate. Permanent, contract and interim across the UK.
0hrs
Average time to shortlist
0%
Placement retention at 12 months
0+
Years of specialist contracting recruitment expertise
Our Expertise
our expertise.
We recruit across the full UK specialist contractor community, the sub-contractor tier sitting beneath tier-one and regional main contractors and delivering the specialised trade packages modern construction depends on: facades and curtain walling, demolition and deconstruction, groundworks and piling, structural steel and precast concrete, roofing and cladding, and scaffolding, formwork and temporary works. Each specialism has its own trade body, accreditation route and candidate pool, and we brief by specialism because that is how the market actually hires.
We place across NFDC-affiliated demolition contractors, CWCT-aligned facade contractors and consultancies, FPS-member piling specialists, BCSA Steel Construction Certification (SCCS) steelwork contractors, NFRC-registered roofing and cladding contractors, and NASC-affiliated scaffolding firms. BS 5975 Temporary Works regime literate throughout, BS EN 1090 steel compliant, Eurocode 7 (BS EN 1997) geotechnical design aware, BS 6187 demolition, BS 5534 roofing and BS 8414 cladding fire performance fluent. CDM 2015 duty-holder assessed, and the Building Safety Act 2022 HRB overlay verified on facade and cladding briefs, including PAS 9980 FRAEW and EWS1 context on remediation work.
Why It Matters
why specialist UK specialist contracting recruitment matters.
BSA 2022 has stretched facade and cladding capacity, BS 5975 temporary works has become a shortlist bar, and specialist accreditation is now a minimum supply-chain trust marker. UK specialist contracting hiring runs on evidence of the accreditation regime, not on CVs alone.
“Moston understood the facade market under the BSA 2022 regime. Every CV came with named scheme evidence, not just claimed CWCT fluency.”
Specialist Contracting
72hrs
Average time to shortlist
BSA 2022 has pulled facade and cladding capacity two ways at once
The Building Safety Act 2022 Higher-Risk Building regime, Cladding Safety Scheme and PAS 9980 FRAEW remediation pipeline have stretched facade and cladding capacity (design engineers, facade consultants, installer Contracts Managers, cladding remediation Programme Leads) across two simultaneous workloads: new-build HRB delivery and legacy remediation. The senior facade market is materially tighter than two years ago.
Find Specialist Contracting Talent →BS 5975 temporary works competence is now a shortlist bar
Tightened HSE focus on temporary works has made Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) and Temporary Works Designer (TWD) experience a baseline requirement on civils, demolition, groundworks and structural steel briefs. BS 5975-competent candidates with live scheme appointment evidence are in short supply, and specialist contractors are hiring ahead of the curve.
Our Approach
how we solve UK specialist contracting hiring.
Sector depth, real network and a methodology that gets the shortlist right first time. Three things a UK specialist contracting recruitment agency has to be fluent in.
Sector-specific specialist contracting expertise
We work UK specialist contracting full-time, every brief, every day. Assessments are built around NFDC, BCSA, CWCT, FPS, NFRC and NASC-literate competence screening so we can interrogate the detail behind a CV:
Trade bodies and accreditation
NFDC Code of Practice and membership, BCSA Steel Construction Certification (SCCS) against BS EN 1090, CWCT facade certification, FPS piling-specialist membership, NFRC roofing registration and NASC scaffolding audit standards.
Card and qualification regimes
CSCS, CPCS (plant), CISRS (scaffolding), CCDO (demolition), SMSTS, SSSTS and SEATS verified at issue and currency. Tier-one main contractor supply-chain expectations, CHAS, Constructionline and Safe Contractor also screened where relevant.
Technical standards
BS 5975 Temporary Works, BS EN 1090 steel, Eurocode 7 (BS EN 1997) piling and geotechnical, BS 6187 demolition, BS 5534 roofing, BS 8414 cladding fire performance and the BSA 2022 HRB overlay on facade and cladding work.
Six specialism tracks
facades and curtain walling, demolition and deconstruction, groundworks and piling, structural steel and precast concrete, roofing and cladding, and scaffolding, formwork and temporary works.
Real specialist contracting networks, trade to Contracts Manager
Fifteen years in the market and the relationships are how this works. Active conversations across UK specialist contractor communities by trade:
Facade and curtain walling
Facade Design Engineers, CWCT-aligned Facade Consultants, Curtain Wall PMs and Contracts Managers, plus Cladding Remediation Programme Managers on PAS 9980 FRAEW schemes.
Demolition and piling
NFDC-member Demolition PMs and CCDO-carded Site Managers, FPS-member Piling PMs, Geotechnical Engineers and Piling Designers on Eurocode 7 design.
Steelwork, roofing and cladding
BCSA SCCS Steel Project Managers, Tekla Detailers, NFRC Roofing and Cladding PMs, and Rainscreen and Metal Cladding Contracts Managers.
Scaffolding and temporary works
NASC Scaffolding Contracts Managers, CISRS-carded Senior Scaffolders and Supervisors, Formwork Engineers and BS 5975 TWCs and TWDs.
A methodology that earns its 72 hours
Most specialist contracting shortlists land in 72 hours. That is because the work happens before the brief, not during it:
Honest brief scoping
we pressure-test the role against the live UK specialist contractor market before searching. If a BCSA SCCS requirement is unrealistic for the salary or a CWCT-aligned facade bar is mispriced, we say so on the first call.
Proactive search
we work candidates directly across the UK specialist contractor community. Most placements never appear on generic boards or trade-body job feeds.
Rigorous assessment
trade body membership, accreditation scheme status, card and qualification currency, BS 5975 TWC/TWD appointment record and live-scheme evidence all verified. Listed competences do not clear the shortlist bar on their own.
Curated shortlists
four candidates properly qualified for the trade and accreditation bar, not twenty half-fits. The 94% twelve-month retention rate starts here.
Roles We Recruit
specialist contracting roles we recruit for, by trade specialism.
Facades and curtain walling, demolition and deconstruction, groundworks and piling, structural steel and precast concrete, roofing and cladding, and scaffolding, formwork and temporary works. Six dedicated areas because UK specialist contracting is organised by trade, not by scheme.
Facades & Curtain Walling
Specialist facades & curtain walling roles we recruit:
5 roles in this category
- Facade Design Engineers and Senior Facade Engineers
- Facade Consultants (CWCT-aligned)
- Curtain Wall Project Managers and Contracts Managers
- Facade Site Managers and Package Managers
- Facade Commercial Leads (Senior QSs, Commercial Managers)
Can't see your role? We recruit across all Specialist Contracting disciplines.
Hire NowProof in Practice
the work, not the pitch.
Why Clients Partner With Us
what you get when you brief us on specialist contracting hiring.
We understand NFDC, BCSA, CWCT, FPS, NFRC and NASC, the full UK trade body network, plus CSCS, CPCS, CISRS, CCDO and SMSTS card regimes, BS 5975 Temporary Works, BS EN 1090 steel, Eurocode 7 geotechnical and the BSA 2022 overlay on HRB facade and cladding. You will brief us, not explain the accreditation regime.
- Six specialisms covered by one desk: Facades, demolition, groundworks and piling, structural steel and precast, roofing and cladding, scaffolding and temporary works. Candidates and employers in each specialism get a desk that understands the distinct accreditation regime, trade body and supply-chain expectation for their trade.
- BSA 2022 and facade-regime literate from the first call: Post-BSA 2022 facade and cladding senior briefs require HRB scheme evidence and, on remediation, live PAS 9980 FRAEW experience. We screen for that evidence and cross-brief with our Fire Safety & Building Compliance desk where specialist assessment cover is in scope.
- Temporary Works regime verified on relevant briefs: BS 5975 Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) and Temporary Works Designer (TWD) experience is now a baseline on civils, demolition, groundworks and structural steel. We verify training currency, site-level appointment record and live-scheme delivery, not just awareness.
- Clean boundaries with Construction, Civils and Fire Safety: Main contractor roles sit on our Construction desk. Civils-led engineering sits on our Civil Engineering desk. Passive fire protection and cladding remediation assessment sit on our Fire Safety desk. Specialist contracting is the sub-contractor tier connecting all three, and we brief jointly when the hiring is at the interface.
Latest Opportunities
live UK specialist contracting jobs.
Showing 1 of 49 live roles
Browse All JobsThinking
specialist contracting recruitment insights.
UK Construction Recruitment in 2026: Lessons from Company Collapses and Talent Demand Pressures
Why insolvencies are rising while skills shortages persist - and what construction employers must do next
Record offshore wind auction secures 8.4GW for Great Britain
Government-backed contracts support enough new capacity to power the equivalent of over 12 million homes, with £22bn of private investment cited.
Record offshore wind auction secures 8.4GW for Great Britain
Government-backed contracts support enough new capacity to power the equivalent of over 12 million homes, with £22bn of private investment cited.
Get In Touch
brief our UK specialist contracting recruitment desk?
Most specialist contracting recruitment shortlists are delivered within 72 hours. Senior BSA 2022-literate facade, PAS 9980-aligned cladding remediation and specialist-subcontractor Commercial Director briefs take longer, and we will say so on the first call.
Or speak to us direct
+44 (0) 1234 567 890hello@mostonrecruit.co.ukMon–Fri, 8am–6pm GMT.
Confidential conversations welcome.
FAQs
common specialist contracting recruitment questions.
Direct answers on specialist contracting versus main contracting, NFDC, BCSA, CWCT, FPS, NFRC, NASC, BS 5975 Temporary Works and BSA 2022 overlap.
Specialist contracting refers to the UK sub-contractor tier delivering specific trade packages beneath a tier-one or regional main contractor. Each trade is organised around a specialism: facades, demolition, groundworks and piling, structural steel, roofing and cladding, and scaffolding and temporary works, among others. Tier-one and regional main contractors (Mace included) hold the main contract and sub-let trade packages to specialist contractors. Specialist careers typically specialise into one or two trades, and pay bands, accreditation expectations and candidate pools differ materially from the main contractor market. Our Construction page covers the main contractor tier; this Specialist Contracting page covers the specialist sub-contractor tier.
NFDC is the National Federation of Demolition Contractors, the UK trade association for demolition contractors. NFDC membership is commonly required by tier-one main contractors as a baseline supply-chain standard, and NFDC publishes the NFDC Code of Practice plus technical guidance for the UK demolition industry. Demolition careers are also governed by the CCDO (Certificate of Competence of Demolition Operatives) card regime. Asbestos and hazardous-materials-related demolition also interfaces with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and the Licensing regime operated by HSE.
BCSA is the British Constructional Steelwork Association, the UK trade body for structural steelwork contractors. BCSA Steel Construction Certification (SCCS) is the accreditation scheme demonstrating a contractor's compliance with BS EN 1090, the European (UK-adopted) standard for the execution of steel and aluminium structures. SCCS is a baseline supply-chain requirement on tier-one UK construction schemes and is referenced on most structural steel packages. Tekla Structures is the dominant UK steel detailing platform, and Tekla fluency is a common screening requirement on senior steel detailer briefs.
CWCT is the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology, the UK technical body for facades and curtain walling. CWCT publishes the Standard for Systemised Building Envelopes and technical notes covering curtain wall, cladding and glazing testing and performance. CWCT technical guidance is widely referenced on UK facade design and installation briefs, and CWCT membership signals technical currency. On Higher-Risk Building (HRB) projects under the Building Safety Act 2022, facade CVs are increasingly screened for live HRB-tier scheme evidence alongside CWCT fluency.
FPS is the Federation of Piling Specialists, the UK trade association for piling and geotechnical specialist contractors. FPS members deliver CFA (continuous flight auger), rotary bored, driven and sheet piling, diaphragm walls, ground improvement and specialist geotechnical works. FPS membership signals technical capability and supply-chain trust. Piling is governed by Eurocode 7 (BS EN 1997) for geotechnical design and is delivered under the NEC or JCT contract forms. Senior piling careers typically require FPS-member contractor experience plus Temporary Works Coordinator competence.
BS 5975 is the UK Code of Practice for Temporary Works Procedures and the Permissible Stress Design of Falsework, setting out the competence regime for Temporary Works on UK construction and civils sites. The Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) is responsible for site-level management of temporary works, ensuring design sign-off, installation and removal happen correctly. The Temporary Works Designer (TWD) produces and signs off the temporary works design. Tightened HSE focus and post-CDM 2015 competence expectations have made TWC and TWD experience non-negotiable on most civils, demolition, groundworks and structural steel briefs.
NASC is the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation, the UK trade association for scaffolding contractors. NASC members work to TG20:21 tube-and-fitting guidance and system scaffold standards, and NASC audits and member standards are a baseline trust marker on tier-one main contractor supply chains. CISRS (Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme) is the UK card regime for scaffolders, with Labourer, Trainee Scaffolder, Scaffolder, Advanced Scaffolder and Supervisor grades. Senior UK scaffolding briefs typically require NASC-member contractor track record plus CISRS Supervisor or Advanced Scaffolder credentials.
The Building Safety Act 2022 created a Higher-Risk Building (HRB) regime for residential buildings at least 18 metres or seven storeys tall, with Gateway 1/2/3 approvals, a Principal Designer duty under Part 2A, and Accountable Person and Building Safety Manager roles. Specialist contractors on HRB schemes, particularly facade, cladding and passive fire protection contractors, are directly in scope for Gateway submission evidence. Our Fire Safety & Building Compliance page covers the BSA 2022 duty holder market and PAS 9980 FRAEW specialists in depth. Cladding remediation scheme delivery specifically is cross-briefed across both desks.
Broad 2026 market ranges. Facade Design Engineer 45 to 65 thousand, Senior 60 to 85, Principal 80 to 110. Facade Consultant (CWCT-aligned) 50 to 75, Senior 70 to 95. Demolition Project Manager 55 to 80, Contracts Manager 70 to 100. Piling Project Manager 60 to 85, Contracts Manager 75 to 100. Structural Steel PM 55 to 80, Contracts Manager 70 to 100. Tekla Detailer 38 to 60, Senior 55 to 75. Roofing and Cladding PM 50 to 75. Scaffolding Contracts Manager 55 to 80. Senior specialist contracting commercial roles (Commercial Manager, Commercial Director) 80 to 160 plus. Temporary Works Coordinator 50 to 75. London and tier-one scheme premiums apply, and specialist-subcontractor Director-level roles commonly include meaningful bonus and benefits.
Yes. We cover all six: facades and curtain walling, demolition and deconstruction, groundworks and piling, structural steel and precast concrete, roofing and cladding, and scaffolding, formwork and temporary works. Our reach runs across the UK specialist subcontractor tier for each of those trades, including Lindemann. Candidates move between specialisms less frequently than within them, and our screening is specialism-led.
Yes. BS 5975 Temporary Works Coordinator (TWC) and Temporary Works Designer (TWD) roles sit across civils, demolition, groundworks and structural steel. Our Civil Engineering page covers the broader civils Temporary Works market; this Specialist Contracting desk briefs trade-package TWC and TWD roles. On scheme-level TW mandates we cross-brief across desks to cover both site-based and design-office-based TW practitioners.
Yes, across all three. Permanent placements are the majority of our volume. Contract cover is common on scheme mobilisations, peak demolition and groundworks windows, commissioning and snagging peaks, and specialist-subcontractor design surges (particularly in facade and steel detailing). Interim Contracts Manager and Commercial Manager placements are used on post-contract-win team integration, framework bid mobilisation and senior turnarounds within specialist contractor businesses.
Our Industries