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Temporary Staffing Agency in London: Vetted Temp Staff, Often the Same Day
Someone's called in sick, a delivery's landed early, or the Christmas peak is six weeks out. Workers Direct supplies checked, briefed temporary workers to warehouses, building sites, offices, kitchens and venues across London. One call, a clear quote, and people who actually turn up.
- ✓ Right-to-work checked
- ✓ No upfront fees
- ✓ Payroll and holiday pay handled
- ✓ Temp-to-perm option
★★★★★ 4.8/5 | Buckingham Palace Rd, Westminster, London SW1W 0QP
10,000+
temp workers registered
2 to 4 hrs
typical emergency response
24/7
booking and support line
£0
upfront agency fees
A London Temp Agency That Works to Your Shift Pattern
Short answer: Workers Direct is a temporary staffing agency in London, based on Buckingham Palace Road in Westminster. We supply temp workers for warehouse, industrial, construction, office, reception, catering, event and driving roles. Most bookings are filled within 24 hours, and urgent cover is often on site the same day. Call 020 3086 9080, or the 24/7 line on +44 333 188 0008.
Most London employers don't ring a temp agency because things are going well. They ring at 5.40am because two pickers haven't shown, or on a Thursday afternoon because a client has just doubled Saturday's order. We've built the way we work around those calls. You speak to a person, not a form. We ask what the job actually involves, what PPE or tickets are needed, where the site is and how people will get there. Then we send workers who've been told all of that before they set off.
We cover the City, Westminster and every borough out to the M25, with East London support from our Ilford team. Some clients book one receptionist for a fortnight. Others book thirty warehouse operatives a night through November and December. Either way you get one point of contact, one invoice, and workers who are on our payroll, not yours. If you'd like to see someone working before you offer them a permanent contract, our temporary staffing service runs as temp-to-perm too.
Not sure we're the right fit? Read why businesses choose Workers Direct and the promises in our staffing guarantee .
Why Hiring Temp Staff in London Keeps Getting Harder
London has more people looking for work than anywhere else in the UK, yet employers still struggle to fill shifts. The problem isn't the number of applicants. It's finding people who are checked, available, local enough to arrive on time, and ready to start on Monday. Here's what our clients tell us, and what we do about each one.
The early-morning no-show
A missing operative at 6am stops a whole line.
What we do: our 24/7 line takes the call, and we keep standby workers for regular clients so a gap gets filled, not just logged.
Peaks you can see coming but can't staff
Black Friday, Christmas, stocktakes and summer events all land at once.
What we do: we plan headcount with you weeks ahead and pre-book a core team, then top up week by week.
Hundreds of CVs, nobody who can start
Job boards bring volume, then you lose days sifting and chasing.
What we do: you only see people we've interviewed, checked and matched to the shift.
Compliance you can't afford to get wrong
The Fair Work Agency started enforcement in April 2026, and holiday records now have to be kept for six years.
What we do: right-to-work checks, pay at or above legal minimums, holiday pay and Agency Worker Regulations tracking all sit with us.
A wage bill that keeps rising
The National Living Wage went up 50p to £12.71 in April 2026.
What we do: one transparent hourly charge rate per role, with no joining fees, so you can cost a shift before you book it.
London travel and late starts
A great worker who lives two hours away won't last on a 6am start.
What we do: we match by postcode, Tube and night bus routes, so people can reach you reliably.
Managers buried in admin
Timesheets, payslips and queries eat into the working week.
What we do: we run payroll and timesheets, see our payroll service . You approve hours and get one invoice.
Not sure if the role is permanent yet
Hiring permanently too early is expensive if the work dries up.
What we do: start on a temp basis, then move the right person onto your books when you're ready.
8 Questions to Ask Any London Temp Agency Before You Book
There are hundreds of temp agencies in London. Some focus on one niche, such as luxury retail or PAs; others take any job but answer the phone slowly. These are the questions worth asking whoever you call, with our straight answers.
| Question | Why it matters | Workers Direct answer |
|---|---|---|
| Can you cover a shift that starts in three hours? | Most gaps appear at short notice | Yes, usually. Emergency cover typically lands in 2 to 4 hours |
| Who answers at night and at weekends? | Night shifts and events don't stop at 5.30pm | A real person on +44 333 188 0008, 24/7 |
| Which sectors do you actually staff? | One agency for several sites saves time | Warehouse, industrial, construction, office, catering, events, schools and drivers |
| What checks do workers go through? | You carry the risk if checks are skipped | Interview, right-to-work, references, skills and ticket checks (CSCS, FLT and so on) |
| Is the hourly rate all-in? | Hidden extras wreck a budget | One charge rate covering pay, holiday pay, employer NI, pension and our margin |
| What happens if someone isn't right? | A poor fit costs a shift, not just an hour | Tell us and we arrange a replacement. See our guarantee |
| Can I hire the temp permanently? | The best temps often become staff | Yes, temp-to-perm is one of our most booked options |
| How do you handle the 12-week rule? | Agency Worker Regulations give equal pay rights after 12 weeks | We track every assignment and flag the date before it arrives |
Temporary Staffing Services We Cover in London
From a single shift to a full season, here are the roles London businesses book most often through our temporary staffing agency in London. Every link takes you to the full service page.
📦 Warehouse staff
Pickers, packers, loaders, stock controllers and goods-in teams for distribution centres in Park Royal, Enfield, Dagenham and beyond.
Hire warehouse staff →⚙️ Industrial staff
Production operatives, machine operators, hygiene teams and factory workers on days, nights or rotating shifts.
Hire industrial staff →🏗️ Construction staff
CSCS labourers, skilled labourers, traffic marshals, handymen and site cleaners for refurbs and new builds.
Hire construction staff →📋 Admin staff
Office temps for data entry, filing, post rooms, invoicing and project backlogs.
Hire admin staff →📞 Reception staff
Front-of-house cover for corporate offices, GP surgeries, hotels and schools, briefed on your visitor process.
Hire reception staff →💼 Personal assistants
Temporary PAs and executive support for diary, travel and board-meeting weeks.
Hire a temp PA →🍳 Catering staff
Kitchen porters, catering assistants, chefs and servers for restaurants, contract caterers and venues.
Hire catering staff →🎉 Event staff
Set-up and breakdown crew, stewards, registration teams and front-of-house for conferences and exhibitions.
Hire event staff →🚚 Van drivers
Multi-drop, courier and delivery drivers with licence checks for last-mile and trade deliveries.
Hire van drivers →📦 Packing staff
Packers for e-commerce, food packing and co-packing lines, including short-notice extra shifts.
Hire packing staff →🏫 School staffing
Cleaners, caretakers, catering and admin support for schools and colleges across term time.
School staffing →👥 All staffing services
Can't see your role? We fill plenty of jobs that don't fit a neat heading.
View every service →Fast-Turnaround Bookings London Employers Call Us For
⚡ Same-day emergency cover
Sickness, no-shows, a lorry that arrived early. Call before mid-morning and we'll usually have someone with you for the afternoon or evening shift.
📈 Bulk and seasonal hiring
Need 50 warehouse workers by next month? We'll agree a ramp-up plan, run group inductions and keep a waiting list so dropouts are replaced fast.
🏝️ Holiday and absence cover
Book cover for annual leave, parental leave or long-term sickness, with a handover so your temp knows the systems from day one.
🤝 Temp to perm
Try someone on real shifts before offering a contract. It's the lowest-risk way to hire when you're unsure about a role or a person.
🏗️ Labour hire for sites
General and skilled labourers with CSCS cards. See skilled labourer jobs in London for the roles we fill.
🕒 Quick hire booking
Already know what you need? Use our quick hire form for temporary workers and skip the back-and-forth.
How to Hire Temp Workers in London in Four Steps
1
Tell us the job
Role, site postcode, start time, number of people, PPE, tickets and dress code. A five-minute call is enough.
2
Get a clear quote
You receive an hourly charge rate per role before anything is booked. No upfront fee.
3
We match and brief
We pick checked workers who live within reach, then brief them on the site, the contact and the task.
4
Approve hours, get one invoice
You sign off timesheets. We pay the workers and send a single invoice. Scale up or down any week.
Typical lead times for London bookings
| Type of booking | Typical lead time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency cover | 2 to 4 hours | No-shows, sickness, sudden volume |
| Standard temp booking | Same day to 48 hours | Planned shifts, short contracts |
| Skilled or ticketed roles | 24 to 72 hours | FLT drivers, CSCS trades, PAs |
| Bulk or seasonal team | 1 to 4 weeks | Christmas peak, site launches, events |
Temp Staff Across Central London and Every Borough
Our temporary staffing agency in London is a short walk from Victoria station, which puts most of Central London within easy reach for briefings and site visits. We supply workers right across Greater London and out into Kent and Essex.
Central London
Westminster, Victoria, the City, Camden and temporary staff in Islington .
East London
Ilford, Barking, Bethnal Green warehouse staff and Romford warehouse staff .
West London
Northolt , Park Royal, Acton Green , Isleworth and North Wembley .
South London and Kent
Bermondsey , Greenwich , Bromley and warehouse staff in Kent .
Need staff outside London too?
Short-Staffed Today?
Ring the 24/7 line and tell us the shift. We'll tell you straight away whether we can cover it.
24/7: +44 333 188 0008 Office: 020 3086 9080London Temporary Staffing Facts and Figures for 2026
The numbers that shape what temp staff cost in London and why more firms are booking flexible cover this year. Figures checked October 2026; each row links to its source.
| Measure | Figure | What it means for employers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Living Wage (21+) | £12.71/hr from 1 April 2026 (up 50p, 4.1%) | The legal floor for most adult temps | GOV.UK |
| Minimum wage, ages 18 to 20 | £10.85/hr (up 8.5%) | Younger temps saw the sharpest rise | GOV.UK |
| London Living Wage 2026/27 | £15.45/hr (voluntary), announced 15 Oct 2026 | Accredited employers have until 1 May 2027 to adopt it | CIPP |
| London unemployment rate | 7.3%, highest of any UK region (ONS, June 2026 release) | Plenty of applicants, but screening takes time | FE News / ONS |
| UK vacancies | Lowest level in five years (ONS, spring 2026) | Firms hold back on permanent hires | ONS via Daily Sabah |
| Temp billings | Strongest rise in over three years (May 2026); fourth monthly rise in a row by July | Employers are choosing flexible staff over fixed headcount | KPMG and REC |
| Fair Work Agency | Launched 7 April 2026 | One body now enforces agency worker rights and labour licensing | REC |
| Holiday pay records | Must be kept for six years from 6 April 2026 | More admin if you employ temps directly | Citation |
| Minimum wage penalties | Up to 200% of arrears, capped at £20,000 per worker | Underpaying by mistake is still costly | Employment Law Solicitors |
| Agency Worker Regulations | Equal basic pay and conditions after 12 weeks in the same role | Plan long assignments with the agency | GOV.UK |
Guide Pay Rates for Temp Workers in London (2026)
These are typical hourly rates paid to the worker. Your charge rate also covers holiday pay, employer's National Insurance, pension and our margin, and we'll quote it per role.
| Role | Typical pay per hour | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse operative / picker packer | £12.75 to £14.25 | Night shifts often pay more |
| Forklift driver (counterbalance, reach) | £14.00 to £16.50 | Valid licence required |
| General labourer (CSCS) | £13.50 to £15.50 | Card type affects rate |
| Traffic marshal / banksman | £13.75 to £15.00 | Ticketed roles |
| Office temp / administrator | £13.00 to £16.00 | Software skills raise the rate |
| Receptionist | £13.25 to £16.00 | Corporate front of house at the top end |
| Kitchen porter | £12.75 to £14.00 | Late finishes common |
| Event crew / steward | £13.00 to £15.50 | Weekend and overnight premiums vary |
Latest Temporary Jobs in London
Looking for temp work rather than staff? Here's a snapshot of current roles. Pay is a guide and confirmed when you're booked. Updated October 2026.
| Job | Location | Guide pay | Shift | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Site Labourer | Central London | £13.50 to £15.00 | Mon to Fri, days | View job |
| Warehouse Operative | Enfield | £12.90 to £13.80 | Days and nights | View job |
| Store Assistant | North Wembley | £12.80 to £13.40 | Rota incl. weekends | View job |
| Warehouse Staff | Bermondsey | £12.80 to £13.75 | Early and late | View job |
| Warehouse Staff | Bethnal Green | £12.80 to £13.75 | Days | View job |
| Traffic Marshal | Acton Green | £13.75 to £14.75 | Site hours | View job |
| Traffic Marshal | Brentford | £13.75 to £14.75 | Site hours | View job |
| Handyman | London | £14.50 to £17.00 | Days, flexible | View job |
| Warehouse Operative | Romford | £12.80 to £13.75 | Days and nights | View job |
| Temporary roles (various) | Northolt | From £12.75 | Various | View jobs |
| Temporary roles (various) | Greenwich | From £12.75 | Various | View jobs |
| Warehouse Operative | Luton | £12.75 to £13.50 | Shifts | View job |
Looking for temp work in London?
Register once and we'll match you to shifts near home. You'll be paid at least the National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour if you're 21 or over, plus holiday pay, and after 12 weeks in the same role you get the same basic pay and conditions as permanent staff.
Bring proof of right to work, and tell us about any cards or licences such as CSCS or forklift.
Browse more jobs
Free Resources for London Employers
Use these whether you book with us or not. Bloggers, journalists and HR teams are welcome to cite the facts table above with a link back to this page.
✅ The temp booking brief checklist
Have these ready and any agency can fill your shift faster:
- Job title and the three main tasks
- Site address, postcode and where to report
- Start time, finish time and break pattern
- Number of workers and expected length of booking
- PPE, uniform and any tickets (CSCS, FLT, food hygiene)
- Name and mobile of the on-site contact
- How timesheets will be signed off
💷 What sits inside a temp charge rate
| Worker's hourly pay | At least £12.71 (21+) |
| Holiday pay | Usually about 12.07% of pay |
| Employer's National Insurance | Paid by us |
| Pension auto-enrolment | Where the worker qualifies |
| Agency margin | Quoted upfront per role |
📚 Guides and tools
- UK salary calculator
- Background check services for employers
- Receptionist temp agency services in the UK
- Live answering services for your business
- How our London temp agency works
Citing our data? Please credit "Workers Direct, London Temporary Staffing Facts 2026" and link to this page.
What Typical London Bookings Look Like
Example scenarios based on the requests we handle most often. They show how we work, not results for a named client.
East London distribution centre, Christmas peak
The ask: grow a night team from 40 to 110 pickers over three weeks.
How we'd handle it: group inductions twice a week, a standby list of 15, and weekly headcount reviews so the team shrinks again in January without fuss.
Westminster office, reception gap
The ask: a receptionist from 8am tomorrow while a recruitment drive runs.
How we'd handle it: a briefed temp on the desk next morning, rolling week by week, with the option to hire them permanently.
West London refurb, short-notice labour
The ask: four CSCS labourers and a traffic marshal for a two-week strip-out.
How we'd handle it: card checks before booking, a named lead on site, and same-day replacements if anyone drops out.
See Workers Direct in Action
Short videos on how we find, check and place temp workers.
Why London Businesses Choose Workers Direct
One call, real person
No ticket queues. You speak to someone who can book.
Checked before booked
Interviews, right-to-work and references as standard.
Local matching
Workers chosen by how they'll get to you, not just their CV.
Clear pricing
An hourly charge rate per role. No joining fees.
Compliance handled
Pay, holiday, AWR and record-keeping sit with us.
Every sector, one supplier
Warehouse to reception under one account.
Open all hours
24/7 line for night shifts and weekend events.
Rated 4.8 out of 5
From employers reviews. Backed by our guarantee .
Temporary Staffing in London: Your Questions Answered
How quickly can you supply temporary staff in London?
Emergency cover typically arrives within 2 to 4 hours. Standard bookings are usually filled the same day or within 48 hours, and skilled or ticketed roles within 72 hours. Call 020 3086 9080 or the 24/7 line on +44 333 188 0008.
How much does it cost to hire a temp worker in London?
You pay one hourly charge rate per role. It covers the worker's pay (at least £12.71 an hour for anyone 21 or over), holiday pay, employer's National Insurance, pension where due and our margin. There are no upfront fees, and we quote before you book.
What types of temporary workers do you supply?
Warehouse operatives, picker packers, forklift drivers, production staff, CSCS labourers, traffic marshals, office temps, receptionists, PAs, kitchen porters, catering assistants, event crew, school support staff and van drivers.
Do you check right to work and references?
Yes. Every worker is interviewed and goes through right-to-work checks, reference checks and a review of any cards or licences the job needs, such as CSCS or forklift tickets.
How do the Agency Worker Regulations affect my business?
After 12 weeks in the same role, an agency worker is entitled to the same basic pay and conditions as a comparable permanent employee. We track every assignment and tell you before that date arrives so there are no surprises.
What does the Fair Work Agency mean for businesses using temp staff?
The Fair Work Agency launched on 7 April 2026 and now enforces agency worker rights in one place, with minimum wage enforcement moving over from HMRC in 2027. Using a compliant agency keeps pay, holiday and record-keeping duties with a specialist.
Can I take on a temp permanently?
Yes. Temp-to-perm is one of our most booked services. You see someone working real shifts first, then offer them a contract when you're ready. Ask us about the terms when you book.
Which areas of London do you cover?
All 32 London boroughs and the City, from Westminster and Islington to Ilford, Romford, Enfield, Northolt, Brentford, Greenwich and Bromley, plus Kent and Essex. We also supply staff in Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds and other UK cities.
Can you supply staff for night shifts and weekends?
Yes. Our booking line runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and many of our warehouse and event bookings are nights or weekends.
What happens if a temp isn't right for the job?
Tell us as soon as you can and we'll arrange a replacement. Our staffing guarantee sets out exactly how this works.
How do I find temp work in London with Workers Direct?
Browse our temporary jobs, apply for the roles that suit you, and bring proof of your right to work to registration. Tell us your postcode and the shifts you can do, and we'll match you to work nearby.
How much do temp jobs in London pay?
Workers aged 21 and over earn at least £12.71 an hour. Most London temp roles we fill pay between £12.75 and £16.50, depending on the job, shift and any licences or cards you hold, plus holiday pay.
Popular Workers Direct Pages
Need Temp Staff in London This Week?
Tell us the role, the site and the start time. As a temporary staffing agency in London with a 24/7 line, we'll come back with a price and people, often the same day.
Book Temp Staff Call 020 3086 9080 Email UsWorkers Direct London
Buckingham Palace Rd, Westminster, London, SW1W 0QP
Phone: 020 3086 9080
24/7: +44 333 188 0008
Email: [email protected]
