In the UK, there are many employment agencies which employ individuals to work on a contract they have with a company, or fill a vacancy for a company, who will then employ an individual directly. These vacancies can be permanent or temporary, and there are agencies that specialize in specific occupational areas. It is not unusual for 'temps' to find full time work through agencies. Employers may well treat a temporary contract as a 'probationary' period.

Read more at http://ebookee.org/Going-Global-Presents-Career-Information-and-Resources-for-United-Kingdom_292770.html#DDf54OMixgVDIU3o.99