5 Best Recruitment Agencies in London to Kick-Start Your Career
I’ve been in and out of enough employment agencies to know that a polished office doesn’t always mean a useful recruiter. Finding the best recruitment agency in London can spare you plenty of dead ends and awkward follow-ups.
For job seekers, reputable agencies don’t charge you to find a role. For employers, they can make filling an urgent vacancy far less of a scramble.
Whether you’re changing careers, hunting for temp work, or trying to hire without losing half your week, the right recruiter helps. We checked out some of London’s top-rated agencies to see which ones are genuinely worth your time.
How much does it cost to use a recruitment agency in London?
For job seekers, recruitment agencies are usually free to use. Employers pay the agency once they hire a candidate.
Most standard placement fees in London range from 15% to 25% of the candidate’s first-year base salary. Executive search can climb to 25% to 33% or more.
| Role Category | Typical Fee | Example Salary | Agency Fee, Excl. VAT |
| Junior / Admin | 15%–18% | £30,000 | £4,500–£5,400 |
| Mid-Level / Tech / Finance | 18%–22% | £55,000 | £9,900–£12,100 |
| Specialist / Niche Engineering | 22%–25% | £85,000 | £18,700–£21,250 |
| Executive Search / C-Suite | 25%–33%+ | £150,000 | £37,500–£49,500+ |
Fees vary by role, seniority, and how difficult the vacancy is to fill. VAT is generally added on top of the agency fee.
1. Robert Half® Recruitment Agency
Address: 9th Floor, The Shard, 32 London Bridge St
Contact: 020 7389 6900
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 6 PM
Robert Half feels like the sort of agency you call when the role comes with a serious job title and an equally serious salary.
Its London team recruits across finance, accounting, technology, marketing, HR, administration, and other professional fields.
I like that it covers permanent, temporary, contract and interim hiring rather than sticking to one lane. That makes it handy for employers dealing with everything from long-term vacancies to sudden project gaps.
There’s plenty of pedigree here too, with Robert Half appearing on major workplace and business rankings in 2026. For candidates, that scale can mean access to a broad mix of established employers and specialist roles.
The catch is that its sweet spot is firmly corporate and professional recruitment. If you’re after hospitality, retail or trade work, a more specialised London agency may be a better shout.
Customer Reviews
Great Support Throughout the Job Search
I had a great experience working with Robert Half throughout my job search.
My recruiter was professional, patient, and highly responsive. They kept me updated at every stage of the recruitment process, followed up promptly, and were always available to answer my questions. Communication was clear, and I felt well supported from the initial conversation through to receiving my offer.
I really appreciated their guidance and dedication, and I would highly recommend Robert Half to anyone looking for a professional and reliable recruitment partner.
- SY Y, Google Review
Went Above and Beyond to Help Me Land the Right Role
I have had a fantastic experience with Robert Half, in particular working with Tony Koyratty, who was extremely professional, friendly, and enthusiastic. His communication was excellent – he regularly checked in with me and was always easy to contact with any questions. He went above and beyond to support me through every stage of the hiring process, and helped me to secure an exciting role which aligned with my career goals. He continued to support my transition to the new position, making it as straightforward as possible. I would highly recommend Tony and Robert Half!
- J P, Google Review
2. Command Recruitment
Address: 124 City Rd
Contact: +44 20 8099 4903 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 6:30 PM
Command Recruitment feels refreshingly hands-on, which I appreciate after dealing with agencies that seem to vanish once they’ve got your CV.
They’ve been recruiting since 2007 and work with a network that includes candidates you may not find elsewhere.
Their Career Calls are a nice touch, especially if you’re unsure what salary to aim for or how your experience stacks up. They’ll go through your CV, prep you for interviews, and give feedback afterwards rather than leaving you guessing.
I like that they provide an out-of-hours contact number too. That’s genuinely useful when workday schedules make recruiter calls awkward.
The downside is that their regular office hours are Monday to Friday only. So while you can reach them outside hours, weekend face-to-face admin isn’t really on the cards.
Customer Reviews
Fast, Friendly Help That Got Me the Job
I had a great experience with Command Recruitment. Carl was amazing—friendly, professional, and incredibly helpful throughout the whole process. He quickly arranged an interview for me, and I got the job! The team was fast, professional, and made everything so easy. I’m really grateful to Carl and everyone at Command Recruitment. Highly recommend!
- Daniel Dinu, Google Review
Great Guidance from Start to Finish
I had a great experience working with Carl throughout my job search. He was professional, supportive, and kept me updated at every stage of the process. I really appreciated his guidance and encouragement throughout the interviews and negotiation stages. Thanks to his dedication and expertise, I was able to secure a position I’m genuinely excited about. I would highly recommend Carl and Command Recruitment to anyone looking for a reliable and knowledgeable recruiter.
- Elena Minceva, Google Review
3. Love Success Ltd
Address: Capital Tower, 8th Floor, 91 Waterloo Rd
Contact: 020 7870 7177 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 6 PM
Love Success feels like a good fit if your hiring headaches involve PAs, HR, finance, customer service, or other business support roles.
Its recent industry awards give it a bit more credibility than the usual recruitment-agency sales pitch.
I like that it handles the fiddly temp details too, from payroll and holiday pay to statutory employment requirements. Employers can use temp-to-perm arrangements as a lower-risk way to see how someone performs before committing.
Permanent hires come with guarantee periods, which adds a useful safety net if things don’t work out. The agency’s wider business-support focus makes it handy for companies filling several office-based roles at once.
The catch is that it isn’t really geared towards heavy industrial or clinical recruitment.
It’s closed at weekends too, so weekday availability matters if you prefer sorting things face to face.
Customer Reviews
A Smooth Process and a Great Job Match
I had a great experience with Love Success. They were incredibly helpful throughout the process and kept me updated every step of the way. They took the time to understand what I was looking for and quickly found me a temporary role that was a great fit.
The whole process was professional, straightforward and well organised, and communication was excellent from start to finish. I’d happily recommend Love Success to anyone looking for work in London and wouldn’t hesitate to use them again in the future.
Thanks again to Margaret and the team for all your help.
- Eric Carroll, Google Review
A Recruiter Who Truly Goes the Extra Mile
I had a fantastic experience working with Margaret Scragg at Love Success. She was incredibly professional, supportive, and communicative throughout the entire recruitment process. Margaret took the time to understand my experience and career goals, and matched me with an opportunity that was a great fit.
Her guidance, responsiveness, and genuine care made the whole process smooth and stress-free. I really appreciated how proactive and encouraging she was at every stage.
I would highly recommend Margaret and the Love Success team to anyone looking for a recruiter who truly goes the extra mile. Thank you again for your help!
- Afs, Google Review
4. Reed Recruitment Agency
Address: Copenhagen House, 5-10 Bury Street
Contact: 020 7929 8662
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Reed’s been around since 1960, so it’s hardly the new kid handing out CV advice. Its Bury Street team recruits across 20 sectors, from admin and finance to engineering, legal, tech and construction.
I like that candidates get matched with specialist consultants rather than being funnelled through one generic desk.
Employers can use Reed for permanent, temporary and interim hiring, which keeps things nicely flexible.
There’s extra backup through Reed’s wider screening services too, including right-to-work and reference checks. That can save employers from juggling yet another provider during an already busy hire.
The downside is that the branch is closed on weekends.
And if you want a tiny boutique agency focused on one narrow niche, Reed’s broad reach may feel a bit less personal.
Customer Reviews
Fantastic Support from the First Call to My First Day
Chris Murthwaite was absolutely fantastic in landing me a great new role. He took into account all aspects of my CV and experience and paired me up with a great role with a great company. From the initial call to following up after I’d been offered the job and all through the process, including my first day, Chris has been 100% proactive and helpful. Couldn’t have been better. Thoroughly recommended
- Daniel Rogers, Google Review
Helpful Advice That Gave Me Confidence
I had a fantastic experience working with Daniel Rose. He was proactive, highly responsive, and kept me informed at every stage, which really helped ease the stress during an uncertain time.
He was supportive, kind, and offered valuable interview tips that boosted my confidence throughout the process.
Thanks to his guidance and encouragement, I secured a role that I am really enjoying!
I’d highly recommend him to anyone looking for a professional, responsive, and genuinely supportive recruiter. 🙂
- Max Wheatley, Google Review
5. Response Recruitment Ltd
Address: 51 Park Royal Road
Contact: 020 8965 1575 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Friday, 6:30 AM – 6 PM | Saturday – Sunday, 8 AM – 10 AM
Response Recruitment feels refreshingly focused if you need warehouse, production, packing or shift workers rather than another generalist agency.
Its GLAA licence adds useful reassurance around regulated labour supply and compliance.
I like that its vacancies can change throughout the day, which suits employers dealing with sudden staffing gaps. Registered candidates can be matched to assembly, food production, parcel sorting and other operational roles as work comes in.
The weekend opening is a handy bonus too, especially for businesses that don’t run Monday to Friday. Even a short Saturday or Sunday window can make urgent staffing admin less painful.
The limitation is that its strengths are firmly industrial and operational. If you’re recruiting executives, corporate specialists or senior office staff, you’ll probably want a different London agency.
Customer Reviews
Friendly Team That Helped Me Find a Long-Term Role
Super friendly team, who are very on top of securing you roles. I have directly worked with Nav, who has secured me a long-term role with a company in just a matter of a week, since I registered with them again. Highly recommended if you want to work with a team that is hands-on with securing you a job.
- Klaudia K, Google Review
They Helped Me Find Work When I Needed It Most
Response is very reliable and good company. I got a job when I had no job in the UK. I am studying a Master’s degree in London, and at the beginning, when I came to this country, I had no job and was struggling financially. I applied for a response, and I got a response within a week. They told me to bring all my documents and called me to visit the office, and after that they provided me with a flexible part-time shift because I am a student. I want to thank them from my heart and will forever be grateful that I worked there.
- PUJA CHHETRI, Google Review