Epsom and Leatherhead form an important business corridor in Surrey, combining established corporate employers, professional services, technology businesses and a strong network of SMEs. Their location between London and the wider Surrey economy gives businesses access to a broad and highly skilled workforce, while excellent road and rail connections make both towns attractive to employers and commuters.
The two areas have distinct but complementary employment profiles. Epsom has a strong professional and service-based economy, alongside established engineering, healthcare, retail and leisure businesses. Leatherhead has developed a particularly strong corporate presence, with major employers across construction, technology, engineering, energy and business services. Together, they create a diverse recruitment market covering everything from administration and finance to highly specialised technical and professional positions.
A strong corporate presence in Leatherhead
Leatherhead has developed a reputation as a recognised base for major national and international businesses. Wates Group has its headquarters at Wates House. With the wider Wates organisation operating across construction, property services, development and facilities management.
The technology sector research another major part of the local economy. Bytes Technology Group is headquartered on Randalls Way and operates across software, cloud, security and IT services. Its presence creates additional demand for commercial, sales, account management, technical and business support roles within the area.
Leatherhead is also home to businesses such as KBR, with its UK operations employing professionals across engineering, project management and other specialist services. Other established organisations in the wider business community include engineering and technology companies, financial services and major corporates.
This concentration of larger employers creates demand for a broader range of opportunities beyond traditional office administration. Demand spans support functions and technical functions, with employers often competing for candidates who possess both sector knowledge and transferable commercial skills.
Epsom’s professional and specialist workforce
Epsom has a slightly different employment profile, with professional services sitting alongside engineering, healthcare, leisure and the long-established racing industry. Local economic data identifies information and communication, accommodation and food, arts and recreation as the growing sectors.
Engineering has a particularly strong presence within the town, with Atkins having operated in the area for decades. Nuffield Health is also headquartered in Epsom, adding healthcare and corporate functions to the local employment mix.
The area also benefits from Epsom Business Park and surrounding industrial estates, which provide space for a variety of manufacturing, engineering, distribution and specialist businesses. This creates opportunities beyond the town centre, particularly for operations, logistics, technical and administrative roles supporting commercial activity.
A highly qualified local talent pool
One of the defining features of Epsom and Ewell’s workforce is its level of education and professional experience. Local authority data shows that 55% of residents aged 16–64 hold NVQ Level 4 or above, compared with 43% across England. Professional, managerial and associate professional occupations make up a significant proportion of the local workforce.
For employers, this provides access to candidates with strong qualifications and experience across a wide range of disciplines. However, a highly skilled workforce also means competition between employers can be significant, particularly for candidates with specialist experience in technology, engineering, finance and professional services.
The proximity of London is another important factor. Epsom and Leatherhead benefit from strong commuter links, allowing businesses to draw candidates from across Surrey and Southwest London rather than relying solely on the immediate local population.
Business parks creating a wider employment base
While the larger corporate names attract attention, much of the employment market is supported by the area’s network of smaller and medium-sized businesses. Epsom and Ewell’s economy has a substantial SME presence, while Leatherhead’s business parks accommodate organisations ranging from specialist consultancies and engineering firms to technology providers and commercial services.
This creates a particularly varied recruitment landscape. A business may be looking for a finance assistant or administrator to support a growing team, while another employer nearby may require an experienced project manager, engineer or IT specialist.
For recruitment agencies, understanding these different requirements is important. Candidates who may not immediately appear suitable for one sector can often bring transferable skills that work well within another, particularly across administration, customer service, operations and commercial support.
What does this mean for local employers?
The Epsom and Leatherhead recruitment market benefits from a combination of strong businesses, established corporate headquarters and a highly qualified workforce. However, employers are competing across a much wider geographical area than their immediate towns.
Salary, flexibility, career development and the overall employment package can all influence whether candidates choose a local opportunity or look towards London and other parts of Surrey. For specialist roles, the available talent pool can be even wider, making access to the right candidates increasingly important.
For businesses in Epsom and Leatherhead, recruitment is therefore about more than simply filling vacancies. Understanding the local workforce, knowing where relevant candidates are likely to come from and presenting opportunities clearly can all make a difference in a competitive market.
What this means for recruitment
For employers across Epsom and Leatherhead, the diversity of the local business community means recruitment requirements can vary considerably. From large corporate organisations and technology firms to smaller businesses and specialist operators, each brings different challenges when it comes to attracting and retaining the right people.
The combination of strong transport links, an established professional workforce and a diverse mix of industries make the area an attractive place to build a career. For businesses, understanding where the right candidates are and what they are looking for can be just as important as having the right vacancy in the first place.
