More Information
Salaries And Costs
Admin pay in Chatham tracks wider Medway rates, with entry level administrators on £21,000 to £25,000, experienced office administrators £25,000 to £30,000, receptionists £12 to £15 per hour, and senior PAs or office managers £30,000 to £38,000. Temp agencies set hourly charge rates that include holiday pay, pension, National Insurance, and their margin, so a £14 per hour receptionist might bill at £18 to £22 depending on notice, shift pattern, and site location. Employment firms quote permanent recruitment fees that sit around 12 percent to 20 percent of first year salary for standard roles, executive search for senior office leadership can rise higher, and recruitment consultants will usually discuss rebates or a sliding guarantee period. Talk early about agency costs, preferred supplier terms, and likely start dates, it helps you plan budgets and retention.
Local Hiring Picture And Geography
Chatham sits within the Medway towns, with commuter links that keep the candidate pool broad. Trains to London give many administrators the option to split searches between local employers and the capital, road access via the M2 and A2 supports drive to work patterns, and bus routes connect Chatham with Rochester, Strood, and Gillingham. Business parks that feed steady admin demand include Medway City Estate, Chatham Maritime and Dockside, plus offices around the Historic Dockyard and Chatham Waterfront. Recruiters tend to know which parts of town draw car drivers, and which roles suit public transport, so mention parking, start times, and hybrid options when you brief.
Qualifications And Skills
For day to day office work, agencies look for solid Microsoft 365 skills, accurate typing, and clear phone manner. City and Guilds Business Administration at Level 2 or Level 3 still carries weight, apprenticeships remain popular, and Level 4 suits office supervisors who manage processes, budgets, or small teams. Payroll admin or HR admin roles may ask for Sage or Xero exposure, customer contact jobs value CRM experience, and minute taking is prized across healthcare, education, and engineering offices.
Compliance And Checks
Right to work checks are a given for all recruiters. A basic DBS can be requested for trust based positions, standard or enhanced checks are common for school offices, GP practices, and social care settings. For roles handling personal data, ask staffing agencies how they brief candidates on GDPR, confidentiality, and handling of records. Public sector and council suppliers may add onboarding steps such as identity verification, references, and training on safeguarding.
Contract Types And Availability
Recruiters in Chatham cover temporary, permanent, and contract work, and many local employers mix these to handle peaks. Temps help with cover for sickness, annual leave, or project admin, and are useful when you need fast start dates. Fixed term contracts suit maternity leave or funded projects that run for set periods. If you plan to find employees who start as temps and convert later, agree temp to perm terms at the outset and review pay rates at the 12 week mark.
Common Roles And Hard To Fill
Agencies handle receptionist, office administrator, data entry, customer service administrator, sales administrator, PA, office manager, and document control. Hard to fill roles tend to blend admin with sector systems, for example GP surgery administrators who know EMIS, school office staff used to SIMS or Arbor, engineering document controllers with drawing control experience, and PAs supporting multi site leadership. Local recruiters can surface candidates who know the software, which cuts training time and supports retention.
Key Sectors And Employers In The Area
Medway’s mix includes logistics, manufacturing, higher education, healthcare, retail, and visitor attractions. That breadth keeps admin jobs moving, from front of house at Dockside and the Historic Dockyard, to schedulers in warehouses on Medway City Estate, to programme support across education sites. Local businesses value reliable office support, and candidates gain exposure to different systems and teams without a long commute.
Seasonal Notes
January brings hiring catch up after year end, Easter to summer needs more temp cover for reception and customer service, and September is busy for school and college offices. Year end finance cycles can drive short term assignments for data entry and invoicing, and retail peaks around the Dockside area can pull in extra admin for customer contact and returns.
Fees, Pay And Negotiation Tips
Be clear on the salary range, pay rates, and grade before you brief, recruiters can then calibrate the shortlist. If your role is time sensitive, a small uplift on the hourly rate or a sign on bonus can widen the pool. If you value longevity, highlight training, team stability, and parking, candidates weigh those against an extra £1 per hour. Agree who signs off timesheets and how invoices are approved, it keeps the workflow smooth for both sides.
Quick FAQs
How fast can admin temp staff start in Chatham.
Same day starts happen for reception and data entry, next day is common once right to work is cleared and references are in place.
Do admin recruitment agencies handle payroll for temps.
Yes, staffing agencies pay temps weekly or monthly, then invoice your business at the agreed charge rate.
Can we hire a temp after a trial period.
Yes, agree a temp to perm route, many recruiters offer reduced recruitment fees after a set number of weeks.
What software do local candidates tend to know.
Microsoft 365 is the baseline, many candidates know SharePoint, Teams, and common CRMs, sector tools vary by employer.
How do we register as a candidate.
Jobseekers can send a CV to local recruiters, book a video call with recruitment consultants, and set alerts for admin roles across Medway.
Final Notes For Employers And Candidates
Local employers use recruitment agencies to hire staff quickly and with less risk, candidates and jobseekers register to find roles that fit skills and commute. If you need admin recruitment agencies in Chatham, set out duties, hours, site location, hybrid rules, and target start date, then pick one or two recruiters who know the Medway job market and can move at your pace.