Spotlight On: Bristol's Business Support Market

Spotlight On: Bristol’s Business Support Market

A closer look at what’s happening and what business owners need to know.

Bristol’s Business Support Boom

It’s an exciting time for Bristol’s business support market.

Over the last six months, we’ve seen a steady rise in both the volume and variety of roles being briefed across the region. Businesses are growing, evolving and increasingly aware of the value that strong support functions bring.

Growth Without the Infrastructure

Unlike cities such as London or Manchester, Bristol doesn’t have a wide network of agencies that specialise solely in business support recruitment. While there are many excellent generalist recruiters in the area, this lack of specialisation can make it harder for businesses to access the insight they need to make confident hiring decisions. At Lily Shippen, we have seen a notable rise in demand for EA and business support recruitment in Bristol. Many businesses are finding that local options are limited when it comes to tailored advice, benchmarking and access to high-quality candidates. As a result, more employers are looking further afield for expert support with recruitment.

Questions we often hear include:

•  “Is this salary competitive for Bristol?”

• “Are there experienced EAs in the market locally, or should we consider remote support?”

• “How fast do we need to move to secure good candidates?”

These are strategic hiring decisions that require more than just local knowledge. They need a combination of real-time market data, cross-regional benchmarking and insight into national trends.

What We’re Seeing in Bristol Right Now

Here are a few trends that have emerged through our recent work in the region:

Salary Movement

Salaries for Executive Assistant roles in Bristol have continued to rise in line with market demand. Most roles we see now start at £40,000 as a minimum, with many offers landing between £45,000 and £50,000. Where specific expertise or senior-level support is required, such as C-suite exposure or strong commercial insight, salaries can go beyond this.

Positions offering less than £40,000 are unlikely to attract the kind of strategic talent that adds real value. Business owners should consider what they want the role to deliver before going to market. That includes thinking carefully about how success will be measured, what level of autonomy the role will hold, and the long-term impact the right EA could have on leadership and business performance.

Getting the brief right from the outset helps ensure your budget aligns with your expectations and that you attract the calibre of candidate who can genuinely make a difference.

Hybrid Expectations and the Return to Office Shift

Bristol has largely followed the national trend when it comes to hybrid working, with many businesses now expecting more in-office presence than during the post-Covid hybrid boom.

While remote-first setups were common in 2021 and 2022, we’re seeing a steady shift toward structured return-to-office policies. For many support roles, the standard is now RTW 4 (four days in the office, one day from home). Some businesses are even pushing for full-time office presence, particularly in more junior or team-facing roles.

This shift has created tension in the market. Candidates still value flexibility and we’re seeing a growing number of people rule out otherwise well-aligned roles purely based on the number of office days. In some cases, this means missing out on great opportunities for growth, culture or career progression.

Employers who take a personalised, flexible approach tend to make stronger hires and retain talent for longer.

Pace of Process Matters More Than Ever

One of the clearest trends we’ve seen in Bristol and nationally is how quickly strong candidates are being snapped up.

In several recent processes, businesses have missed out on their preferred candidates simply because they didn’t move fast enough. Delays between first and second interviews or waiting too long to finalise internal sign-off have led to candidates accepting other offers, often within days.

The reality is, in-demand candidates aren’t on the market for long. Particularly in business support roles, where experienced professionals bring immediate value, the best talent typically has multiple opportunities in play at once.

The difference between securing your top choice and starting over often comes down to process speed, not just the offer itself.

Why Nationwide Perspective Matters

While our team isn’t based in Bristol, we’ve recruited extensively across the region and that’s where our national reach becomes an advantage.

Because we’re working across the UK every day, we’re able to:

• Benchmark roles accurately, not just based on location, but on role complexity and candidate expectations

• Understand how Bristol compares to cities like Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and London, and where employers might need to flex to remain competitive

• Share insights into what's working in other markets, from process design to candidate engagement

This broader perspective helps our clients make more informed decisions, especially when talent is tight and time is of the essence.

A Strategic Partnership for Bristol EA Recruitment

Hiring business support professionals is not just about filling a vacancy. It is a strategic investment. The right EA or Office Manager can be a true extension of the leadership team. Someone who drives productivity, protects time and adds real commercial value.

At Lily Shippen, we focus on building genuine relationships with our clients and candidates. We offer more than just recruitment. We bring strategic advice, market insight and a deep understanding of what makes a successful hire.

We also launched a free mentoring programme for EAs and PAs in 2024, giving our clients access to a unique professional development resource. Through our sister company, eavolve, we support ongoing growth and career progression for support staff once they are in role.

For businesses hiring in Bristol, that means access to a complete solution, from recruitment through to retention.

If you are planning to hire an EA or build your business support function in Bristol, we would love to help.