Just thought I’d pop a link from the main forum in here as a lot of Newbie’s ask the question on whether agencies are good or bad…
I thought it was a TNUK official statement that agencies are all bad and should be avoided at all costs? 
Having read that post I am wondering if they might be worth a shot although finding the decent ones is the next nightmare. Maybe we need a thread somewhere detailing what people regard as good agencies around the UK as there are so many useless ones.
Having done enough agencies I have my tin hat on lol.
Agencies are sometimes the only route to work when just passed also the big advantage is being able to try different companies and types of work,when I just passed my class2 in 1 week did home delivery work store delivery and steel work and a day on tippers ( 1 day was enough lol).
Although the Umbrella paye farce is a major ball ache that agencies need to sort soon as.
Yeah thinking about doing a few days here and there just to keep my experience ticking over,
Agencies can be good and bad, its often give and take, generally ok.
Let’s be clear, some agencies are crap, some are OK and some are good. Correction, MOST agencies are crap!!! 
But there are a few that don’t treat you like a clown, a bum on a seat bringing them in a few quid an hour. Some (probably not many) do appreciate their GOOD drivers, and not because of your magnetic personality… They appreciate their GOOD, PRESENTABLE, COMPETENT & RELIABLE drivers because it’s good business sense! Think of it from their point of view, they get a new contract and had to fight hard to win it against competing agencies, so ask yourself who they are going to put on this new premium contract? Will it be the driver that’s been kicking around for donkeys years that stinks of BO, thinks he knows better than everyone else, bores the crap out of everyone who will listen, does more damage than a bull in a china shop, and turns up sporadically and when he’s/she’s not in rehab? Or do they choose the professional driver that does the job well, doesn’t offend the client, turns up when expected and doesn’t while like a ■■■■■ with a skimmed knee about everyone and everything?
Who do you think■■?
Obviously the agency put their BEST men/women into the new, and possibly premium roles, as they want to keep the contract and not have bellends on the contract that are liabilities screw it up! The agency is going to have quite a selection of drivers to choose from, and if you don’t realise that they choose WHO they place where, based on their perception of YOU, then you’re not being smart. Cavey has obviously worked diligently and got his rewards, as there are good jobs out there! They just don’t get advertised normally, and unless you do your job well, you’ll probably never hear about them…
Clearly for a Newbie it takes time to build up your reputation and prove yourself to be a reliable, competent worker. So you’re clearly not going to get the best work straight away, but if you give it some time and prove yourself, the agency (or a good agency) will start to think about you for the better jobs on it’s books. Yes you will get let down, messed about and shafted quite a few times, but that’s life! It will take some time to get to the better work, or even find a decent agency that values you, but perseverance is what it’s all about and I thought I’d just post this rambling nonsense to try and give a bit of balance to all the agency bashing that generally goes on in this forum.
Finally, (as I understand it) some companies ONLY take on new staff through agencies, as they get to see you in action for a few months, and not based on a gut feeling from an interview, which makes good sense to me. I believe Royal Mail do it this way, and I suspect quite a lot of other big firms do it as well, so yes you can get lucky knocking on doors, but agencies are another way in to some jobs…
Anyway, enough bollox from me, I better go to work and keep hunting for my own dream job! 
But I’m working on it… 
Being agency has allowed me to work for all the local firms and get an insight to how crap they are paid mostly salerys and the hours they end up doing. And how hard it is to get time off, always signs up saying no holiday this week or next and arguments in office about it. Ill happily stay on agency knowing a week or two in advance what im doing as its a decent agency and carry on taking home £500+ for a 3 or 4 day week. Mugs game this FTW stuff.
So is talking absolute ■■■■■■■■.
£500 take home for 3 days work, lol. Some wee has come out, better go and change my kecks.
I got £374 for one days work once. It was a 15 hour day on a Bank Holiday Monday.
£500+ for 3 or 4 days work? Crack on fella yeah right lol,just remind yourself of that as being full time I can earn that being on holiday for a week sick paid as well and I don’t mind jan and feb wondering if my phone will ring for an odd day here and there
AND I don’t carry work stuff in a carrier bag and I don’t have a limp
Easily.
4× 12 hour shift - average
So thats 48 hours £11 to £15 so £12.50 average
So £600 paid. Done through umbrella leaves £500 to £540
So yes 4 days £500 take home.
Thanks for your concerns about jan/feb but this year was same as the rest know week or two in advance only phonecall was start time.
Daytrunker:
AND I don’t carry work stuff in a carrier bag and I don’t have a limp
Yawn another sheep with no originality as expected from a one trick company pony thats obvious with that name.
Put the handbags away people, let’s not let this turn into an Agency V’s FTW thread…
I merely wanted to point out that for a NEWBIE, agency isn’t necessarily as bad as it’s generally made out to be!
But as we are brushing on the topic of money, it’s worth noting that the government look like they are stopping the travel and meal allowance for agency staff next month…
I see the " 3 or 4 days a week " is now 4 days a week. And I am not even sure that is true either.
eagerbeaver:
I see the " 3 or 4 days a week " is now 4 days a week. And I am not even sure that is true either.
People need to quote what they average, and not just pick out the very best bits/weeks they have had as examples…
I’m on a good little earner at present, but it’s not representative as the work won’t be ongoing, plus it’s bloody killing me!
Evil8Beezle:
eagerbeaver:
I see the " 3 or 4 days a week " is now 4 days a week. And I am not even sure that is true either.People need to quote what they average, and not just pick out the very best bits/weeks they have had as examples…
I’m on a good little earner at present, but it’s not representative as the work won’t be ongoing, plus it’s bloody killing me!
that was an average i quoted, and three days is weekend work.
Here we go again… yet another dig at people who work for Agencies… Some people really need to get a life