TEMPING is becoming increasingly popular. It gives flexibility to both the employer and employee and can often lead to a permanent position. This week, local recruitment agencies are celebrating National Temporary Workers Week, a campaign organised by the UK Recruitment and Employment Confederation to recognise the contribution of more than one million temporary and flexible workers on assignments throughout the UK and Channel Islands.

‘Particularly at the moment we have noticed a big increase in the number of temporary assignments,’ said Jenny Mitchell, Situations Recruitment Agency director.

‘With one million people temping, it is almost an unacknowledged sector of the work force.’

She said that a lot of businesses were taking on people on short-term contracts, because they did not want the overheads of putting the staff on the payroll and other formalities, but they needed additional skills and someone with experience immediately.

‘Most of the people on our books have the experience and often an employer might take on someone on a temporary basis and it turns into a permanent position, once they have been tried and tested,’ said Miss Mitchell.

‘So it works well for both parties.’

She said that there were all sorts of reason people might choose to temp. People have been on the books because they have just come back from travelling and while they are looking for a permanent position they can earn money temping. Many students come back to the island during their holidays and temp, or there may be mothers who want to work on a part-time basis.

‘It is all about lifestyle and priorities,’ said Miss Mitchell.

‘Everyone tends to be fairly blinkered and thinks that finance is the only thing available. They think of the traditional secretary covering a two-week holiday or the office administrator helping out with filing, but temping is definitely not just office work and people are often quite surprised by the different jobs available.’

Situations recently found university student Geraldine Goldsby a job involving putting on a polar bear suit and giving out balloons during her holidays. Another temp, Glenda Stephens, came to the island with her boyfriend who was on a three-month secondment and was found work handing out Tropicana orange juice, stuffing envelopes and asking people at Checkers to try Pringles Dippers.

‘I was happy to have a go at anything and am so grateful to Situations for finding me so many varied and interesting assignments,’ she said.

National Temporary Workers’ Week ends today.