Temping Agency London: Fast, Reliable Temp Staff for Your Business

Apply Online

Complete our quick online form – takes 5 minutes

Document Check

Upload ID, right-to-work, and any certifications

Quick Interview

10-minute phone chat about your skills and availability

Start Work

Get matched to jobs – could be as soon as tomorrow!

CSCS Labourer

Central London | Start Tomorrow

£15.00/hr

General labouring duties on commercial build site. CSCS green card required. 6am-6pm shifts.

Painter & Decorator

West London | Immediate Start

£20.00/hr

Experienced painter needed for residential development. Own tools preferred. 2-week assignment.

Site Cleaner

Canary Wharf | Weekly Work

£13.50/hr

Construction site cleaning on major development. Early morning shifts 5am-2pm. Long-term available.

Warehouse Operative

East London | Night Shifts

£14.50/hr

Picking and packing for major retailer. Night shift premium included. Immediate start available.

Kitchen Porter

Soho | Evening Shifts

£12.50/hr

Busy central London restaurant needs reliable KP. 4pm-midnight shifts. Meals included on shift.

Receptionist

City of London | Temp Cover

£14.00/hr

Professional front desk cover for corporate office. 2-week assignment covering holiday. Smart dress required.

Electrician (18th Edition)

North London | Ongoing

£24.00/hr

Qualified electrician for commercial fit-out. 18th Edition and JIB card essential. Long-term opportunity.

Groundworker

South London | Start Monday

£17.00/hr

Experienced groundworker for housing development. CSCS required. 45-hour weeks available.

Event Staff

Various London Venues | Weekends

£13.00/hr

Flexible event staffing for exhibitions, conferences, and private events. Weekend availability essential.

Admin Assistant

Wembley | 3-Month Contract

£13.50/hr

Office admin support for busy legal firm. Data entry, filing, phone handling. MS Office skills required.

Retail Stock Assistant

Oxford Street | Early Mornings

£12.75/hr

Stock replenishment for major high street retailer. 5am-10am shifts. Great for students.

Site Supervisor

Stratford | SMSTS Required

£25.00/hr

Experienced supervisor for major regeneration project. SMSTS and first aid essential. 6-month contract.

🏗️ Construction & Building

Our core specialty – we're the best temping agency in London for construction .

• CSCS Labourers – all card colours
• Groundworkers – foundations, drainage
• Painters & Decorators – residential/commercial
• Site Cleaners – sparkle and final clean
• Banksmen & Traffic Marshals

🍽️ Hospitality & Catering

Supporting London's world-class hospitality scene.

• Kitchen Porters – restaurants, hotels
• Waiting Staff – fine dining to casual
• Bar Staff – cocktail to pub service
• Event Staff – exhibitions, conferences
• Housekeeping – hotels, serviced apartments

📦 Warehouse & Logistics

Keeping London's supply chains moving.

• Warehouse Operatives – picking, packing
• Forklift Drivers – counterbalance, reach
• Goods-In/Out – loading, unloading
• Stock Controllers – inventory management
• Delivery Drivers – multi-drop, HGV

🔧 Skilled Trades

Certified tradespeople for specialist projects.

• Electricians – 18th Edition certified
• Plumbers – domestic, commercial
• Carpenters – 1st & 2nd fix
• Plasterers – dry lining, rendering
• Tilers – floor, wall, wet rooms

How fast does your temping agency London place staff?

Staff Direct can place temp workers incredibly quickly – often within hours for urgent construction and trades requirements. For same-day placement, we ask clients to call before 10am, and we typically have workers on site by lunchtime. Our database of 10,000+ pre-vetted temps in London means we always have qualified candidates ready to deploy. For planned requirements with specific certifications or skills, we recommend 24-48 hours notice to ensure perfect matching. Unlike other temp agencies London that quote "sometimes same-day," we guarantee it through our rapid response system .

Do you pay holiday pay like other agencies?

Yes, absolutely – and we're completely transparent about it. All Staff Direct temps receive holiday pay accrued on every hour worked, in line with UK employment law. You'll see your holiday accrual on every payslip, and you can request payment of accrued holiday at any time (we recommend quarterly to boost your earnings). Unlike some agencies that bury this in complex T&Cs, we show you exactly what you've earned. We also offer opt-in pension schemes for temps who want to save for the future. Our commitment to fair pay and benefits is one reason we're rated the best temping agency in London for construction workers.

What CSCS requirements do you have for construction temps?

For construction site work, we require temps to hold a valid CSCS card appropriate to their role. This includes Green CSCS cards for labourers, Blue Skilled Worker cards for experienced tradespeople, Gold cards for supervisors, and Black cards for managers. We verify every CSCS card through the official CSCS system before placement – clients can request verification documentation. If you don't have a CSCS card yet but want to work in construction, we can advise on the quickest routes to certification. Our CSCS labourer placements are 100% compliant with site requirements.

How does your timesheet process work?

We offer both digital and paper timesheet options to suit different site requirements. Most of our temps use our mobile app to clock in/out daily – it's GPS-verified for accuracy and means no paper to lose. For sites that prefer traditional methods, we provide weekly timesheet forms that supervisors sign off. Timesheets must be submitted by Monday midnight for payment that Friday. We process payroll mid-week, so you'll always know your payment is coming. No chasing, no delays, no excuses. For clients, we provide consolidated timesheet reports weekly, making invoicing straightforward.

Can I opt out of the pension scheme?

Yes, you can opt out of our workplace pension scheme if you wish. Under UK auto-enrolment rules, we're required to enrol eligible temps into a pension scheme, but you have the legal right to opt out within one month of enrolment. We provide clear opt-out instructions with your welcome pack. If you opt out, you'll receive your full gross pay without pension deductions. You can opt back in at any time if you change your mind. We use NEST pension, which is government-backed and offers low fees. Our advice? Even small contributions add up over time, but it's entirely your choice.

What's your zero no-show guarantee?

Our zero no-show guarantee is our promise that if a temp we've confirmed doesn't arrive on site, we'll provide a replacement within 2 hours or you don't pay for that day. This sets us apart from every other temping agency London offers. We achieve near-zero no-shows through rigorous confirmation processes (we call every temp the evening before), maintaining backup worker lists for each booking, and building genuine relationships with our temp workforce. In 2024, our no-show rate was just 0.3% – industry average is around 5%. When no-shows do happen (illness, emergencies), we act immediately to find cover.

How do I register as a temp with Staff Direct?

Registering is quick and straightforward. Visit our registration page and complete the online form (5 minutes). Upload copies of your ID, right-to-work documents, and any relevant certifications (CSCS, trade qualifications). We'll call you within 24 hours for a brief chat about your skills, experience, and availability preferences. Once verified, you're live in our system and could be working within days. Unlike some agencies with lengthy registration processes, we prioritize getting you earning quickly. If you have specific questions, call us on 020 3627 5550.

What areas of London do you cover?

We cover all London boroughs and surrounding areas within the M25. This includes Central London (City, Westminster, Southwark), North London (Camden, Islington, Haringey), South London (Lambeth, Lewisham, Croydon), East London (Tower Hamlets, Newham, Barking), and West London (Hammersmith, Ealing, Hounslow). We also serve nearby areas like Watford, Reading, and Luton for workers willing to travel. Our Central London headquarters at Hatton Garden means we have genuine local knowledge of sites, transport links, and area-specific requirements.

Can temp work lead to permanent employment?

Absolutely – many of our temps transition to permanent roles with clients they've impressed. Temp work is an excellent way to "try before you buy" for both employers and workers. You get to experience different companies, sites, and cultures before committing permanently. We actively facilitate temp-to-perm transitions when both parties are interested. There may be a transfer fee payable by the employer, but this is often waived after a qualifying period of temp service. Many of our most successful placements started as "just a week's cover" and became permanent team members.

What happens if I'm sick and can't work my shift?

If you're unwell and can't work, contact us as early as possible – ideally before your shift start time. We understand people get sick, and we won't penalize you for genuine illness. However, we do need notice to arrange cover for our clients. For extended illness (3+ days), we may ask for a fit note. Repeated unexplained absences affect your reliability rating in our system and may reduce future job offers. For employers, our backup system means we can usually provide replacement workers within 2 hours of notification. Communication is key – keep us informed and we'll support you.