Recruitment Agency Portsmouth
Staff you can rely on, sourced right here in Portsmouth
Whether you need staff for a single weekend shift or a full permanent hire, Staff Direct is the local staffing agency Portsmouth businesses call when they need people fast, properly vetted, and backed by a genuine no-show guarantee.
Which of these sounds like you?
- "We need staff for tomorrow's shift and nobody's confirmed."
- "We're hiring temporary staff for a seasonal peak."
- "We're looking for staff with a specific trade or licence."
- "Our current staffing agency keeps letting shifts go uncovered."
Need staff, or looking for staff? Whichever side of the hire you're on, our Portsmouth team can help — from find staffing solutions for a single vacancy to full staffing contract cover for a whole site.
For EmployersDirect staffing, done properly
A direct staffing agency built around Portsmouth employers and jobseekers
Finding the right people is hard when you're doing it alone — that's what recruitment agencies exist to fix. Staff Direct has worked as a staff recruitment agency in Portsmouth since 2017, growing from a small local outfit into one of the more reputable staffing agencies operating across Hampshire and the wider UK. We're not a call centre reading from a script: our Portsmouth consultants know the port, the retail parks, the hospitals and the hospitality strip along Gunwharf, and they use that knowledge to make faster, better matches.
If you've searched for a "staff recruitment agency near me", "recruitment agencies Portsmouth" or simply "agency staff hiring", the short version is this: we plan the role with you, source and screen candidates from our own database, shortlist the best fit, and manage the booking end-to-end — all under our service guarantee. You can read more about how we work on our approach and experience pages, or meet the team behind it on Our Staff.
Staffing solutions by sector
Industries we recruit for across Portsmouth
From manufacturing staffing agencies handling shift patterns to healthcare IT staffing agencies filling niche technical roles, Staff Direct runs dedicated desks so your booking goes to a consultant who actually understands the sector.
Warehouse & Logistics
Pickers, packers, forklift operators and warehouse operatives for Portsmouth's distribution and port-side sites.
Warehouse & logistics staffing →Construction & Trades
Handymen, electricians and multi-skilled tradespeople for property turnaround and commercial jobs.
Handyman roles in Portsmouth →Hospitality & Catering
Kitchen porters, waiting staff and event teams — find hospitality staff fast for busy service periods.
Kitchen porter jobs →Healthcare
Bank and agency nurses and care support staff, screened for compliance-sensitive healthcare staffing.
Nurse jobs in Portsmouth →Retail & Stock Control
Stocktakers and retail support staff for shops and warehouses across the city.
Stocktaker jobs in Portsmouth →Admin, IT & Legal Support
Administration and customer service cover, plus technical staffing agencies-style support for IT and legal teams that need vetted temporary specialists.
All Portsmouth temp roles →Why businesses choose us
The staffing benefits of working with a direct staffing agency
Competitive advantage
The right people are still your biggest edge over the competition. We help you find staff who lift performance from day one, not just fill a rota gap.
Tailored staffing contract
Temporary, contract or permanent — every staffing solution is built around your shift pattern, budget and notice period, not a one-size template.
Legal & compliance cover
National minimum wage, pension auto-enrolment, working time and equal pay rules are handled for every worker we place, so you're never exposed.
Real cost savings
A bad hire is expensive. Our screening process is built to get the fit right first time, cutting the cost of rehiring and retraining.
Facts & statistics
Portsmouth staffing, by the numbers
Two views on the Portsmouth job market — how Staff Direct performs as a local staffing agency, and what the wider labour market in the city currently looks like.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Operating in Portsmouth since | 2017 |
| Postcodes actively covered | PO1–PO6 |
| Client rating | 5.0 / 5 (3 reviews) |
| No-show guarantee | Free replacement, same day |
| Sectors staffed locally | 6+ (logistics, trades, hospitality, healthcare, retail, admin) |
| Typical urgent-cover response | Within 24 hours |
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Portsmouth population | 214,321 (ONS, mid-2024 estimate) |
| Employment rate, ages 16–64 | 80.4% (ONS, year to Dec 2023) |
| South East England employment rate | 79.3% (same period) |
| Working-age residents (18–64) | ~139,305 (ONS, 2024 estimate) |
| Key local employment drivers | Naval base & defence, port & logistics, University of Portsmouth, NHS, retail & hospitality |
Portsmouth labour market figures sourced from the Office for National Statistics (ONS Local Labour Market and mid-year population estimates). Staff Direct figures reflect our own Portsmouth operations and are updated periodically — figures are provided as a general guide to our service.
Live vacancies
Latest jobs in Portsmouth
A snapshot of current roles we're recruiting for locally. New vacancies are added every week, so if you don't see the right fit, upload your CV and we'll match you as soon as one opens.
| Role | Sector | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warehouse Operative | Warehouse & Logistics | Temporary | Portsmouth |
| Stocktaker | Retail & Stock Control | Temporary | Portsmouth |
| Approved Electrician | Construction & Trades | Contract | Portsmouth, PO1 |
| Kitchen Porter | Hospitality | Temporary | Portsmouth |
| Bank & Agency Nurse | Healthcare | Temporary | Portsmouth |
| Certified Handyman — Void Turnaround | Construction & Trades | Contract | Portsmouth |
| Warehouse Staff (Multiple Roles) | Warehouse & Logistics | Temporary | Portsmouth |
Serving Portsmouth & Hampshire
Find us in Portsmouth
Recruitment agency Portsmouth, PO1–PO6
We place candidates across Portsmouth city centre, Portsea, Southsea, North End, Cosham and the surrounding Hampshire commuter belt. If you're hiring staff outside Portsmouth, we also cover branches across the UK.
How it works
Our recruitment process
Plan
We define the role with you — title, shift pattern, must-have skills and start date.
Source
We search our Portsmouth candidate database and screen every applicant against the brief.
Shortlist
Only candidates who match on experience, qualifications and reliability go forward.
Place
Background checks are completed and the offer is extended — with our no-show guarantee attached.
Guides & linkable resources
Learn more about hiring and working with Staff Direct
What happens if a booked worker doesn't turn up, and how we fix it same day.
How our approach translates to another UK staffing hub.
A closer look at hiring and job-seeking support in Hull.
The same rigorous process, adapted for Leeds employers.
See us in action
Meet Staff Direct
Rated by clients
5.0 out of 5 (30 ratings)
Portsmouth employers come to us because we behave like a reputable staffing agency should: we answer the phone, we cover the shift, and if something goes wrong we fix it — no arguments. That's the whole pitch behind "staff direct".
FAQs
Common questions about our Portsmouth recruitment agency
How do I find a reliable recruitment agency in Portsmouth?
Staff Direct is a staff recruitment agency based in and around Portsmouth, PO1–PO6. Tell us the role, the shift pattern and the start date on our contact page, and a local account manager will call you back the same working day.
Can you supply temporary staff at short notice?
Yes — hiring temporary staff at short notice is one of the most common reasons Portsmouth businesses contact us. We keep a live, pre-vetted candidate pool across warehousing, hospitality and admin, so cover can often be arranged within 24 hours.
What happens if agency staff don't show up?
Every booking is covered by our zero no-show guarantee. If a worker fails to arrive without notice, we replace them at no extra charge.
Which industries does Staff Direct recruit for in Portsmouth?
We provide staffing solutions across warehouse & logistics, manufacturing, construction and trades, hospitality, healthcare, and administration & customer service, plus specialist support for IT and legal teams that need technical staffing agencies they can trust.
How much does it cost to use a staffing agency?
Temporary staffing is charged as an hourly rate covering wages, holiday pay, National Insurance and pension contributions. Permanent recruitment is charged as a one-off placement fee. Contact us for a same-day quote.
How do I register with Staff Direct to find work in Portsmouth?
Upload your CV through our online form and a consultant will match you against current Portsmouth vacancies — from warehouse operative and stocktaker roles to nursing, electrical and kitchen porter positions.
Ready to find staff, or find your next job?
Whether you're a Portsmouth employer needing staffing solutions this week, or a jobseeker ready to register, Staff Direct is one message away.