Six reasons employers stay with us
We pick up, day or night
Our desk never closes. Nights, Sundays and bank holidays get the same answer as Tuesday morning.
Workers are checked first
ID, right-to-work, references and tickets are done before anyone reaches your site.
No-show cover
If someone doesn't turn up, we start finding a replacement within two hours. See our guarantee.
One clear rate
A single hourly charge rate, quoted before anyone starts. It covers pay, PAYE, holiday pay and insurance.
Flexible contracts
Book by the day, week or month. Scale up for a peak and scale down after. See temporary staffing.
A named contact
One person who knows your site, your shifts and what a good fit looks like for you.
How we compare
A plain look at three ways to fill a shift. This is a general comparison, not about any named company.
| Posting on a job board | A typical agency | Staff-Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to first worker | Days to weeks: advertise, shortlist, interview | Varies, often a day or more | Often the same day |
| Checks | You do them yourself | Usually done; standards vary | ID, right to work, references and tickets before placement |
| If someone doesn't show | You start again | Depends on the agreement | We start sourcing a replacement within 2 hours |
| Out-of-hours help | None | Office hours are common | Desk open 24/7 |
| Payroll and holiday pay | Your admin | Agency handles it | We handle PAYE, holiday pay and insurance |
| Cost clarity | Ad fees plus your time | Varies | One hourly rate, quoted before anyone starts |
What we do when things go wrong
A worker doesn't show
Ring us. We start sourcing a replacement within two hours, and your named contact keeps you updated until the shift is filled.
You need five more people by Monday
Give us the site, the shifts and the tickets. We match from workers already on our books, so you're not starting from a blank page.
A temp fits in and you want to keep them
Tell us. Temp-to-perm lets you move a good worker onto your payroll, with terms set out upfront.
Staff-Direct by the numbers
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Desk hours | 24/7, including bank holidays |
| Workers on our books | 1,000+ |
| No-show response | Replacement sourcing starts within 2 hours |
| Sectors covered | 6: warehouse, construction, hospitality, office, driving, cleaning |
| Core areas | 8 East London areas, plus the rest of the capital |
| Contract lengths | Daily, weekly or monthly |
Checklist: 6 questions to ask any agency before you sign
Use this whether you pick us or not. A good agency answers all six without hesitating.
Questions we get asked
Why use a staffing agency instead of hiring directly?
An agency can get checked workers on site much faster than advertising, shortlisting and interviewing. We also handle payroll, holiday pay and compliance, and we cover for no-shows, so you can scale up or down without adding permanent headcount.
What makes Staff-Direct different from other London temp agencies?
A real person answers our phone 24/7, we start finding a replacement within two hours if someone doesn't show, and you get one named contact who knows your site. Our workers are ID, right-to-work and reference checked before they reach you.
Do I have to sign a long contract?
No. You can book by the day, week or month. Your terms are set out before anyone starts, so you know the rate and the rules upfront.
Can I try a temp before offering a permanent job?
Yes. Temp-to-perm lets you see how someone fits before you commit. Any transfer fee depends on how long they've worked for you, and we set it out in your terms upfront.
How quickly can I get started?
Often the same day. Call 020 8154 5427 with your site, shift times and headcount, and we'll start matching vetted workers straight away.
See the difference for yourself.
Tell us the site, the shift and how many people. We'll quote before anyone starts.
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