For employers
How to Book Temporary Staff Quickly
Tell us what you need by phone, form or WhatsApp and we'll send vetted candidates the same day. No lengthy contracts, no minimum booking — just workers who turn up.
No booking fee · Right-to-work checked before arrival · 24/7 helpline for urgent cover
Booking speed at a glance
Based on Workers Direct booking data, reviewed September 2026.
Three ways to book temporary staff
Pick whichever fits the urgency. All three routes reach the same booking desk and start the same vetting checks, so the method you choose only changes how fast you talk to a person — not how thoroughly your shift gets covered.
Call the booking desk
Fastest route for same-day or next-day cover. Call 020 3086 9080 during office hours, or the 24/7 helpline on +44 333 188 0008 for anything outside 08:00–18:00. Have the role, site postcode and shift times ready and we'll start matching while you're still on the phone.
Submit a booking request
Use the form below for cover you can plan a day or more ahead — a fixed-term contract, a rolling weekly pattern, or a seasonal peak. A consultant confirms the brief back to you, usually within the hour during office hours.
Email your requirement
Email [email protected] with the role, dates and rate you have in mind. Good for multi-site bookings or a spec you want in writing before a call. See our full temporary staffing service for what's covered.
Visit the Westminster office
Book a callback via Contact Us or drop into Buckingham Palace Rd, Westminster, London SW1W 9TR — useful if you're also registering candidates for right-to-work checks on the same visit.
What happens after you call
Brief taken
Role, site, shift pattern and rate confirmed in one call — usually under 10 minutes.
Workers matched
We pull from candidates already vetted and right-to-work checked near your site.
Shortlist sent
80% of bookings get a confirmed shortlist within 24–48 hours; urgent cover can be same-day.
Worker on site
Confirmed start time, single point of contact, and cover backed by our service guarantee.
Five things that get your shift filled faster
Give a real postcode, not just a city
We match on travel time as much as skill — an exact site address speeds up who we shortlist first.
Confirm the rate up front
Candidates apply faster to adverts with a rate shown. A vague "competitive" band slows a shortlist down.
Flag any licence or ticket needed
CSCS, forklift licence, food hygiene — tell us on the brief so we don't shortlist someone who gets turned away on site.
Name a single point of contact on site
One person to sign candidates in on day one keeps the first shift running to time.
Book ongoing cover as a pattern, not one-offs
A standing weekly or rolling booking means we hold candidates against it instead of starting from zero each time.
Use the helpline outside office hours
A no-show at 6am doesn't have to wait until 8:30 — the 24/7 line exists for exactly that call.
Book temporary staff by sector
Need cover in a specific city rather than a sector? We're currently placing in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Reading and Bristol, alongside London boroughs including Greenwich, Bethnal Green and North Wembley.
Request staff
Fill this in and a consultant calls you back — usually within the hour during office hours (Mon–Fri, 08:00–18:00). For anything outside those hours, or a shift starting within 4 hours, call the 24/7 helpline on +44 333 188 0008 instead; it's faster than the form.
Workers Direct — Head Office
Buckingham Palace Rd, Westminster, London, SW1W 9TROffice: 020 3086 9080
24/7 Helpline: +44 333 188 0008
Email: [email protected]
What employers say about booking with us
"Called at 9am about a no-show, had a replacement on site by 1pm. That turnaround is why we don't shop around."
"We book a standing weekly pattern for stock takes now instead of scrambling each month. Same faces most weeks, which helps."
"Emailed a brief for an event on the Thursday, had four confirmed staff by Friday lunchtime for a Saturday shift."
Booking questions, answered
How fast can Workers Direct actually get someone on site?
Urgent cover called through the 24/7 helpline has gone from call to worker on site in as little as 2 hours. Most standard bookings get a confirmed shortlist within 24–48 hours.
Is there a minimum booking length or a set-up fee?
No. You can book a single shift or an ongoing rolling pattern — there's no set-up fee and no minimum term. See our temporary staffing service for the full detail.
What information do you need from me to start a booking?
Role, number of workers, site postcode, shift times and start date. A rate range and any licence requirements (CSCS, forklift, food hygiene) speed things up further.
Are your temporary workers right-to-work checked before they arrive?
Yes — every worker on our books has already passed right-to-work and identity checks, so there's nothing for your site to verify on day one.
What happens if a booked worker doesn't turn up?
Call the 24/7 helpline and we start sourcing a replacement immediately — this is covered under our service guarantee.
Can I book staff for a one-off event rather than an ongoing role?
Yes — see event staffing for single-day and multi-day event cover, booked the same way as any other temporary role.
Need staff on site this week?
Call the booking desk or send a request — either way, a consultant starts matching straight away.
Tap to call 020 3086 9080