Hiring staff in East London shouldn't be this hard
We're a staffing and recruitment agency on Preston's Road, a few minutes from the towers of Canary Wharf. Most employers call us after something has gone wrong. A driver's called in sick. A site is short. A job board gave them 200 CVs and nobody who can start tomorrow. Here's what we hear most, and what we do about it.
“I need someone today”
We keep ready, checked workers on our books. Ring with your site, shift and headcount and we start matching straight away.
“Last agency let us down”
If someone doesn't show, we start finding a replacement within two hours. You get one named contact, not a call queue.
“Compliance worries me”
ID, right-to-work and reference checks are done before anyone reaches you. We also cover PAYE, holiday pay and insurance.
“Costs are unclear”
One hourly charge rate. We quote before anyone starts, so there are no surprise add-ons on the invoice.
“Demand keeps changing”
Book by the day, week or month. Scale up for a peak, scale down after, and move good people to permanent when you're ready.
“Nights and weekends are a gap”
Our desk never closes. Night shifts, Sundays and bank holidays get the same answer as Tuesday morning.
Temporary and permanent staff we supply
Every worker is ID-checked, reference-checked and right-to-work verified before they reach your site. Browse our full temporary staffing service or pick a sector below.
Warehouse & Logistics
Forklift drivers, pickers, packers, shift supervisors, goods-in and despatch teams.
Construction
General labourers, CSCS card holders, plant operators, steel fixers, site cleaners.
Hospitality & Catering
Chefs, kitchen porters, waiting staff, bar staff, event and banqueting crews.
Office, Admin & IT Support
Receptionists, data entry, PA cover, customer service and first-line IT support temps.
Driving & Transport
Van drivers, HGV drivers, delivery drivers, couriers and driver's mates.
Cleaning & Facilities
Commercial cleaners, site maintenance, porters and facilities support staff.
Three steps, one phone call
Tell us what you need
Shift, site, tickets, headcount. Two minutes on the phone or one short form.
We match pre-vetted staff
From people already on our books, not a cold job board.
They start. We handle the rest.
Payroll, PAYE, insurance, holiday pay and compliance, plus a replacement if anything goes wrong. See our no-show guarantee.
Why employers stay with us
Temp staffing facts every UK employer should know
Short, plain answers to the rules and numbers we get asked about most. Feel free to share or link to this table.
| Fact | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| 12-week rule | After 12 weeks in the same role, agency workers get the same basic pay and conditions as your direct staff (Agency Workers Regulations 2010). |
| 5.6 weeks | Statutory paid holiday for a full-time worker each year. Agency workers build it up as they work. |
| National Living Wage | £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over from April 2026. Younger workers have lower legal minimums. |
| Employer NI | 15% on pay above £5,000 a year per worker. It's built into our hourly charge rate. |
| Right-to-work fines | Up to £60,000 per illegal worker for a first breach. We check documents before placement. |
| Our desk hours | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including bank holidays. |
What's inside our hourly charge rate
| Cost | Included in one hourly rate? |
|---|---|
| Worker's hourly pay | ✓ Yes |
| PAYE and employer National Insurance | ✓ Yes |
| Holiday pay and pension contributions | ✓ Yes |
| Insurance and payroll admin | ✓ Yes |
| Vetting, replacement cover and our margin | ✓ Yes |
Rates and rules change. Check gov.uk for current figures.
Checklist: before a temp starts on your site
Use this whether you hire through us or not. If you use us, we do every item for you.
Latest jobs near Canary Wharf
Fresh shifts from East London sites. Start within 24 hours
| Job | Area | Shift | Pay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warehouse Picker | Canary Wharf | Days, 6am to 2pm | £12.95 /hr | Apply |
| Van Driver | Newham | Full-time, immediate start | £13.50 /hr | Apply |
| General Labourer (CSCS) | Stratford | Mon to Fri, 7am to 4pm | £13.00 /hr | Apply |
| Kitchen Porter | Docklands | Evenings and weekends | £12.92 /hr | Apply |
| Office Receptionist | Canary Wharf | Temp cover, 9am to 5pm | £14.00 /hr | Apply |
Looking for work this week?
We place people into immediate-start jobs across London every day. No long forms, and no waiting for a callback that never comes.
Bring photo ID, your right-to-work documents and any tickets. We'll tell you what's available and when you can start.
Where we place staff
We're based in Canary Wharf and run a temp agency across East London and beyond. We place staff in Docklands, the Isle of Dogs, Tower Hamlets, Stratford, Hackney, Newham and the City. See the full list on our temporary staffing page, or read about us.
Questions we get asked
How quickly can you supply temporary staff in London?
Often the same day. Call 020 8154 5427 with your site, shift times and headcount, and we'll match vetted workers who are already on our books. Morning calls usually get staff on site that afternoon or for the next shift, depending on the role and any tickets needed.
How much does a temp agency charge in London?
You pay one hourly charge rate. It covers the worker's pay, employer National Insurance, holiday pay, pension contributions, insurance and our margin. The rate depends on the role, shift pattern and how long you need cover. We send a clear quote before anyone starts.
How do you vet your workers?
Every worker goes through ID and right-to-work checks, reference checks and an interview before they're placed. For skilled roles we also check tickets such as CSCS cards, forklift licences, food hygiene certificates and driving licences, so the person who turns up can do the job.
What happens if a temp worker doesn't turn up?
We start sourcing a replacement within two hours of being told. Our desk runs 24/7, so a no-show at 6am gets the same response as one at midday. Your named contact keeps you updated until the shift is filled.
Can I take a temp worker on permanently?
Yes. Lots of clients use temp-to-perm to try someone out before offering a contract. If a worker fits your team, tell us and we'll handle the move. Any transfer fee depends on how long they've worked for you, and it's set out in your terms upfront.
Which areas of London do you cover?
We're based at 10 Preston's Rd in Canary Wharf, E14, and place staff across all London boroughs. Most of our work is in East London, including Docklands, the Isle of Dogs, Tower Hamlets, Stratford, Newham and Hackney, plus the City.
How do I find immediate start jobs with Staff-Direct?
Apply online through our jobseekers page. It takes a few minutes. Have your photo ID, right-to-work documents and any certificates ready. Once we've checked them, we can offer you shifts, often starting within 24 hours.
Do you supply staff at night and weekends?
Yes. Our desk is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including bank holidays. Night shifts, weekend cover and short-notice bookings are a big part of what we do.
Short of staff? Ring us now.
Tell us the site, the shift and how many people. We'll take it from there.
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