These four roles come up more than almost anything else on my desk. Project Managers, FM Contract Managers, AC/HVAC Engineers and Commercial Gas Engineers. And they all share something: businesses regularly underestimate what they need to offer to attract the right person, and find out at the offer stage rather than the briefing stage.
Here's what the market looks like for each, what good candidates actually look like, and what you need to know going into a hire in 2026.
M&E Project Manager
PM roles are competitive at every level of the market. The average M&E Project Manager salary across the South East sits at around £69,700 based on current Indeed data, with typical ranges running from £65,000 to £75,000 across Hampshire and Surrey, and £60,000 to £70,000 in Dorset depending on project scale, client base and programme complexity.
The Stretch band goes up to £85,000 for senior-level hires managing large, multi-disciplinary programmes. If you're benchmarking at Entry (£50,000 to £55,000) and expecting someone with serious delivery experience and client management capability, you'll feel that gap the moment you start interviewing.
| Level | Hampshire / Surrey | Dorset |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | £50,000 – £55,000 | £50,000 – £55,000 |
| Market | £65,000 – £75,000 | £60,000 – £70,000 |
| Stretch | £75,000 – £85,000 | £75,000 – £85,000 |
What separates a good M&E PM from a strong one is rarely the qualifications. It's the ability to manage a project and a client relationship at the same time without either slipping. Commercial awareness, clear communication under pressure and the ability to chair a site meeting without losing the room. These are the things I probe for when I'm representing a role, and they don't always show up on a CV.
FM Contract Manager
Contract Managers in Facilities Management are in consistent demand and the market is getting tighter. Hampshire averages around £60,000, Surrey around £65,000, with Dorset broadly in line with Hampshire. Senior commercial managers with P&L accountability sit at the top of the Stretch band, up to £80,000.
| Level | Hampshire / Dorset | Surrey |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | £45,000 – £52,000 | £45,000 – £52,000 |
| Market | £55,000 – £65,000 | £60,000 – £65,000 |
| Stretch | £66,000 – £75,000 | £66,000 – £80,000 |
Uplifts of 3 to 6% are expected through 2026, driven by FM contract renewals and growing demand for people with compliance expertise. If your benchmarks are from 2024 or early 2025, they're probably already behind where the market is sitting.
IWFM qualifications and demonstrable P&L or contract management experience carry a genuine premium. These candidates know their value and are not short of options. Hybrid working has also become common for Contract Manager roles and candidates will ask about it directly. If you can offer flexibility, say so upfront rather than treating it as an afterthought.
AC / HVAC Engineer
HVAC engineers are one of the harder roles to fill well. The salary picture is: Hampshire and Dorset £45,000 to £50,000, Surrey £47,000 to £55,000 depending on experience. But the real talent scarcity isn't in the salary band. It's in the skillset.
| Level | Hampshire / Dorset | Surrey |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | £35,000 – £40,000 | £35,000 – £40,000 |
| Market | £45,000 – £50,000 | £47,000 – £52,000 |
| Stretch | £50,000 – £55,000 | £50,000 – £55,000 |
Multiskilled candidates (someone who covers HVAC plus controls plus pumps) are genuinely scarce. If you've got one in your sights, the Stretch band needs to be available. They know what they're worth and they'll have at least one other conversation on the go.
If the budget doesn't stretch to the top of the band, offering a clear training pathway and support with additional qualifications can bridge the gap for the right mid-level candidate. Frame it clearly in the interview rather than leaving it as a vague future possibility.
Commercial Gas Engineer
Commercial Gas sits at the top of the engineer salary ranges on the South Coast. Hampshire £47,500 to £52,500, Surrey up to £55,000 with some roles advertising up to £60,000 for the right candidate, Dorset broadly in line with Hampshire.
| Level | Hampshire / Dorset | Surrey |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | £40,000 – £44,000 | £40,000 – £44,000 |
| Market | £47,000 – £52,000 | £50,000 – £55,000 |
| Stretch | £53,000 – £58,000 | £55,000 – £60,000 |
The base salary is only part of the picture. This is the role where the package catches businesses out more than any other. Flat-rate overtime is a consistent sticking point. Engineers in commercial gas with a few years of experience have almost always been on 1.5x or 2x overtime rates as standard, and if your offer includes flat-rate OT they will notice immediately. I've seen good offers fall at the last stage for exactly this reason.
Van, fuel card and call-out rota pay need to be clear and competitive. If the on-call rota is intensive, that needs to be reflected in the on-call allowance. Candidates at this level ask about these specifics early in the process, not as an afterthought, and a vague answer raises a flag.
One thing that applies to all four
A 12-month salary review clause in the contract goes a long way in this market. It's a relatively small commitment on your side but signals clearly to a new hire that you're not going to lock them in and forget about them. In a market where strong candidates have choices, that kind of signal can tip a close decision in your favour.
The other thing worth saying is that targeted talent pools are worth thinking about for all four roles. Ex-defence engineers, particularly for mechanical and gas roles, often have exceptional technical discipline and adapt well. Apprenticeship upskilling and links to local colleges can also build a pipeline for roles you know you'll need to fill regularly.
Got one of these roles coming up?
Talk to us before it goes to market. A quick briefing call on the package and the brief will save you a lot of time further down the line.
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