Recruitment costs are easier to judge when you can see what sits behind them. For an employer comparing agencies, knowing the charge is useful, but understanding how temporary staffing costs are built and when permanent recruitment fees apply gives you a stronger basis for the decision.
Orchard Professional Solutions takes an open-book approach to temporary and Temp to Perm pricing. The Beverley-based recruitment company can show employers the deductions and margins within those costs, while permanent vacancies follow a separate pricing structure.
Open-Book Pricing Makes the Cost Easier to Examine
A temporary staffing charge covers more than the worker’s hourly pay. Orchard Professional Solutions’ temporary staffing terms explain that hourly charges are based on the hours worked and mainly comprise the temporary worker’s remuneration alongside the agency commission and employer National Insurance contributions. Agreed travel, hotel or other expenses may also form part of the charge where applicable.
Orchard’s open-book approach gives employers a way to see the deductions and margins within temporary and Temp to Perm costs rather than receiving only a final figure. That can make commercial conversations more useful because the employer can consider what contributes to the charge alongside the staffing requirement itself.
For a business budgeting for temporary labour, that breakdown can be particularly relevant when working out the real cost of covering an absence, adding short-term capacity or bringing somebody into a Temp to Perm role.
Temporary Charges Follow the Hours Worked
Orchard Professional Solutions calculates temporary staffing charges according to the number of hours worked by the temporary worker. Its published terms state that those charges are invoiced weekly and are payable within 30 days.
That structure connects the employer’s recruitment cost directly to the assignment rather than presenting temporary staffing as a single permanent-placement fee. For businesses where hours may differ between assignments, it also gives the commercial arrangement a clear unit: the agreed hourly charge applied to the time worked.
The temporary staffing terms also explain that Orchard takes responsibility for paying the temporary worker’s remuneration and, where applicable, deducting and paying Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Income Tax and National Insurance contributions. Those responsibilities help explain why the client charge extends beyond the worker’s headline hourly pay.
Temp to Perm Has Its Own Commercial Logic
Temp to Perm recruitment sits between temporary staffing and direct permanent recruitment. The candidate begins by working within the employer’s environment, giving the business time to assess performance in practice before a potential move into direct employment.
Before confirming a Temp to Perm candidate, Orchard Professional Solutions agrees practical details with the employer, including the pay or charge rate, contract length and start date. The open-book pricing approach also applies to Temp to Perm contracts, allowing the employer to see the deductions and margins within the cost.
There are additional commercial considerations if a temporary worker later becomes directly engaged by the employer. Orchard’s published temporary staffing terms set out transfer and introduction provisions for those circumstances, so employers considering that route can review the applicable terms before making the change.
That makes Temp to Perm a distinct recruitment arrangement rather than temporary staffing with an informal promise of permanent employment. The working period, agreed charge and possible transition into direct employment all form part of the commercial picture.
Permanent Recruitment Uses a Separate Pricing Structure
Permanent recruitment works differently because the employer is hiring the successful applicant directly rather than paying an hourly charge for a temporary assignment. Orchard Professional Solutions therefore uses a separate pricing structure for permanent vacancies.
Its published permanent staffing terms state that the recruitment fee becomes due when an introduction results in an engagement. Except in circumstances separately addressed by those terms, no fee is incurred until the applicant begins the engagement.
The fee is calculated with reference to the remuneration applicable during the first 12 months of the engagement. For a fixed-term appointment lasting less than 12 months, the published terms provide for the fee to be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
This separates the commercial logic of permanent recruitment from temporary staffing. One is built around hourly charges for an assignment, while the other relates to a successful introduction that leads to the applicant starting work with the employer.
Pricing Also Reflects Work Orchard Handles Around the Hire
Price is easier to assess when it is considered alongside the recruitment activity attached to it. Orchard Professional Solutions gathers vacancy information, advertises roles across major job boards and can contact candidates already within its recruitment system.
Potential candidates can then progress through telephone screening, registration and further assessment before eligible profiles are presented to the employer. Orchard also handles relevant Right to Work, background and skills checks as part of its employer recruitment service.
For temporary and Temp to Perm placements, Orchard assumes responsibility for paying the temporary worker under its published terms. For permanent recruitment, the agency works towards an introduction that results in the employer directly engaging the applicant.
Those are different service and payment models, which is why comparing recruitment costs solely by looking for a single agency percentage can miss useful context.
Compare the Commercial Structure With the Staffing Requirement
The most relevant pricing question changes with the type of recruitment being considered.
| Recruitment route | Pricing basis to consider | Commercial question |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary | Hourly charges based on hours worked | What makes up the agreed hourly charge for the assignment? |
| Temp to Perm | Temporary assignment costs plus applicable terms if the worker moves into direct employment | What will the working period cost and what applies if the candidate is hired directly? |
| Permanent | Separate recruitment fee linked to an engagement | When does the fee become payable and what remuneration is used to calculate it? |
The table does not replace the terms agreed for an individual requirement. It gives employers a practical way to separate three different cost structures before comparing them.
An employer seeking one week of absence cover is making a different commercial decision from a business assessing somebody through Temp to Perm or recruiting directly into a permanent role. Orchard Professional Solutions’ pricing approach reflects those differences.
Transparency Supports a Better Recruitment Conversation
Open-book pricing is most useful when it makes the commercial arrangement easier to discuss rather than simply turning cost into another marketing claim. Orchard Professional Solutions gives employers visibility into the deductions and margins associated with temporary and Temp to Perm recruitment, while keeping permanent recruitment under its own pricing structure.
That approach lets a business connect recruitment cost with the actual service being used. You can consider the hours required, the type of placement, the work Orchard handles around the recruitment process and any terms that apply if the employment arrangement later changes.
For employers comparing recruitment partners, those details provide concrete questions to ask before work begins. Instead of relying on a headline rate alone, you can assess how the charge is structured and how it relates to the staffing solution you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does open-book pricing mean at Orchard Professional Solutions?
Orchard Professional Solutions can provide the costs for temporary and Temp to Perm contracts while showing the deductions and margins within those charges. This gives employers more information about how the commercial arrangement is structured.
How are temporary staffing charges calculated by Orchard Professional Solutions?
Orchard Professional Solutions calculates temporary staffing charges according to the number of hours worked. Its published terms state that the charge mainly includes the worker’s remuneration, the agency commission, employer National Insurance contributions and applicable agreed expenses.
How often does Orchard Professional Solutions invoice for temporary staffing?
Orchard Professional Solutions’ published temporary staffing terms provide for weekly invoicing. Those terms state that invoices are payable within 30 days.
Does Orchard Professional Solutions price permanent recruitment differently?
Yes. Orchard Professional Solutions uses a separate pricing structure for permanent vacancies because the employer directly engages the successful applicant rather than paying an hourly temporary staffing charge.
When is a permanent recruitment fee incurred with Orchard Professional Solutions?
Orchard Professional Solutions’ published permanent staffing terms state that, except in circumstances separately addressed by those terms, no fee is incurred until the applicant begins the engagement. The permanent recruitment fee is then calculated with reference to the remuneration applicable to that engagement.
Recruitment pricing is easier to evaluate when the cost structure matches the way you intend to hire. Orchard Professional Solutions separates temporary, Temp to Perm and permanent pricing while giving employers greater visibility into the commercial structure of temporary staffing.
Review Orchard’s employer recruitment options and open-book pricing before discussing the staffing requirement that fits your business.
