Salaries and costs
Pay rates vary by skill and sector. Entry-level admin and reception roles often sit near £12 to £14 per hour for temp work, with experienced PAs, payroll, and specialist admin reaching £16 to £20 per hour. Permanent salaries for office administrators usually range from £22,000 to £28,000, while office managers, legal secretaries, and EAs typically fall between £30,000 and £40,000, depending on scope. Recruitment fees for permanent hires are commonly a percentage of the starting salary, and many recruitment agencies use fee bands that reflect scarcity and seniority. Agency costs on temp cover blend pay, holiday, and margin, so it helps to confirm the charge rate and any minimum hours before booking.
Temporary, permanent, and contract options
Temp agencies handle same-day reception, holiday cover, and peak workloads, which suits businesses that need quick fixes or want to try before they buy. Contract work covers fixed projects such as systems migrations, backlog clearance, or maternity leave. Permanent hiring works best when you need continuity, culture fit, and progression paths. Candidates can register with an agency for one route or several, and recruiters will match availability, notice periods, and expected hours with the workload on offer. This mix lets local employers hire staff at the right speed without overcommitting budgets.
Regional and commuter notes
Epsom benefits from rail links to London Waterloo and London Victoria, with many candidates living along the South Western Railway line. The A24 and nearby M25 remain accessible to drivers from Ewell, Ashtead, Banstead, and Leatherhead. Business parks and retail hubs around Longmead and the town centre make lunchtime interviews and phased starts easy to arrange. Recruiters often schedule early-morning registrations to suit commuters, which shortens lead times for urgent bookings by local businesses.
Regulatory and compliance standards
GDPR awareness, accurate data handling, and tidy record keeping sit at the centre of admin roles. For roles in healthcare or schools, DBS checks and reference tracing are standard, with safeguarding training valued by employers. Right-to-work checks and proof of address are required for every registration with staffing agencies. Where finance tasks are involved, basic reconciliation skills and a careful approach to approvals help reduce errors and support audit trails. Recruitment consultants will flag any compliance steps early to avoid delays in start dates caused by missing paperwork.
Common job roles agencies recruit for in this area
Admin recruitment agencies in Epsom cover receptionist, office administrator, sales administrator, PA, EA, office manager, HR administrator, payroll assistant, legal secretary, medical secretary, data entry clerk, and document controller roles. Executive search teams may handle practice managers or senior EAs for local professional services firms. Employment firms match candidates who know call handling, inbox management, spreadsheet reporting, and CRM updates, which keeps business operations steady and clients well served.
Quick facts and frequently asked questions
Do agencies in Epsom place both temps and perms?
Yes, most recruitment agencies cover temporary, permanent, and contract work, with different teams handling each stream.
What information helps a recruiter brief candidates well?
Clear duties, systems used, hours, on-site or hybrid pattern, and your pay range or salary band help recruiters target shortlists fast.
How fast can a temp start?
Same-day starts are common for reception and admin cover, provided right-to-work checks and references are ready.
What are typical interview steps for office roles?
Shortlisted candidates may complete skills tests, followed by a phone screen and one or two interviews, with tasks such as typing or Excel included.
How do I register with an agency as a candidate?
Bring proof of ID, right to work, an updated CV, and referee details, and be ready for basic tests in Word and Excel.