Updated: June 2026
What does a recruitment agency do for job seekers?
A recruitment agency helps you find work. It takes your details, learns what you’re after, and puts you forward for roles with local employers. Registering is free, and for temporary work the agency employs and pays you while you’re on assignment.This guide covers how to register with an agency, whether it’s free, temp versus permanent work, your pay and rights, and how quickly you can start.
Looking for work can be slow and disheartening — sending CVs out and hearing nothing back.
A local agency does the legwork for you: it knows who’s hiring, puts you in front of them, and it’s free to register.
Looking for work in Lancashire?
Register with a local team who'll help you find the right role — temporary or permanent.
How do I register with a recruitment agency?
Registering is simple and free. Get in touch or book an interview, bring your ID and right-to-work documents, tell us the kind of work, hours and pay you’re after, and we’ll put you forward for suitable roles as they come in. You can usually register in a single visit.
It helps to bring a few things along:
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- Photo ID — passport or driving licence.
- Proof of your right to work in the UK.
- Your National Insurance number.
- A CV if you have one — useful, but we can help if you don’t.
Once you’re registered and your checks are done, we can put you forward straight away. See our step-by-step guide to how to register with a recruitment agency, or book an interview and we’ll take it from there. Need a CV first? Use our warehouse CV template.
Do recruitment agencies charge job seekers a fee?
No. Reputable recruitment agencies are paid by the employer, never the candidate — registering and finding work through us is free. A fee charged simply to find you a job is a red flag and isn’t allowed. The only thing it costs you is a little time to register.
If an agency ever asks you to pay to be found work, walk away. There’s more on this in do recruitment agencies charge job seekers?
Temp vs permanent work — which is right for you?
It depends on what you need right now. Temporary work offers flexibility, variety and often a quick start, with weekly pay — good if you want to get earning fast or try different workplaces. Permanent work offers stability and a single employer. Many people start on temp and move into a permanent role.
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- Temporary — flexible hours, weekly pay, a fast start, and a chance to try different sites before you settle.
- Permanent — one employer, steady hours, and the security of a permanent contract.
Not sure which suits you? We talk it through when you register. There’s more in temp vs permanent work explained.
How quickly can an agency find me work?
For warehouse, industrial and driving roles, a local agency with live vacancies can often get you started within days — sometimes the same week — once you’re registered and your checks are done. Specialist and permanent roles take a little longer. Registering early is what makes a fast start possible.
The sooner you register, the sooner we can put you forward. More on this in how quickly can an agency find me work?, or book an interview to get started.
Your pay and rights as an agency worker
As an agency worker you’re entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage and paid holiday from your very first day, and temps are paid weekly. After 12 weeks in the same role, you may qualify for the same basic pay and conditions as a permanent colleague doing that job.
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- Weekly pay for temporary workers.
- Paid holiday — at least 5.6 weeks a year, building up from day one.
- Equal treatment after 12 weeks in the same role, under the Agency Workers Regulations.
- Statutory Sick Pay if you meet the qualifying conditions.
For the full picture, see holiday pay and your rights as an agency worker.
Can a temp job become permanent?
Often, yes. Temporary work is a common route into a permanent job — it lets you and the employer try each other out. If it’s a good fit, many temps are taken on permanently. Tell us if that’s your goal and we’ll keep an eye out for temp-to-perm roles for you.
The work we recruit for across Lancashire
We recruit across the industrial and commercial sectors — warehouse, production, manufacturing, driving and office roles — for employers right across Lancashire. Read more about warehouse and industrial work in Lancashire.
We place people into roles across Preston, Blackburn, Burnley, Leyland, Blackpool, Chorley, Accrington, Nelson and Lancaster — wherever you are in the county, register with us and we’ll look for work to suit you.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to use a recruitment agency?
Yes. Using an agency to find work is free for job seekers — the employer pays the agency, never you. Be wary of anyone asking you to pay to be found a job.
Do you get sick pay as an agency worker?
You may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay if you meet the qualifying conditions. Agency workers are not automatically entitled to a hirer’s enhanced company sick pay.
What should I bring to register?
Photo ID, proof of your right to work in the UK, and your National Insurance number. A CV is useful if you have one, but we can help if you don’t.
Can I register for permanent jobs, not just temp?
Yes. We recruit for permanent roles as well as temporary and temp-to-perm. Tell us what you’re looking for when you register and we’ll match you to the right kind of work.
Do agency workers get holiday pay?
Yes. Agency workers build up paid holiday of at least 5.6 weeks a year from their first day, under the Working Time Regulations.
Related guides
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- New to agency work? Read what to expect in your first week as a temp.
- Got an interview coming up? See our interview tips for warehouse and driving roles.
- Want to drive a forklift? Read how to get into forklift work.
- Need a CV? Use our warehouse CV template.
- Are you an employer instead? See hiring staff in Lancashire.
A local team in your corner
We take the time to understand what you want — the hours, the pay, the type of work — then put you forward for roles that fit.
- ✓Local industrial & commercial roles
- ✓Temp, temp-to-perm & permanent
- ✓Honest advice on pay & roles
- ✓Weekly pay for temps
- ✓Always free for job seekers
Big enough to cope, small enough to care.
About Matrix Personnel Ltd — Lancashire Recruitment Specialists
Matrix Personnel Ltd is Lancashire’s local recruitment specialist — Lancashire people serving Lancashire businesses.
With decades of combined experience across the industrial and commercial sectors, we match the right people to the right roles — for temporary cover and permanent placements alike — right across Preston, Blackburn, Burnley, Blackpool, Lancaster and the wider Lancashire area.
We handle the screening, payroll, and compliance behind the scenes, so you get reliable staff without the hassle.
Areas we cover: Preston, Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, Lancaster, Chorley, Leyland, Accrington, Nelson, Colne, Clitheroe, Darwen, Ormskirk, Skelmersdale, Fleetwood, Lytham St Annes, Morecambe, Rossendale, Bolton, Wigan — and surrounding towns.
Looking to hire staff in Lancashire?
Whether you need temporary workers at short notice or a permanent hire who fits first time, we are ready to help. Get in touch today for a confidential, no-obligation chat.
Big enough to cope, small enough to care.
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