Oriel Partners is a specialist PA, EA, business and administrative support recruitment consultancy. We place permanent and temporary candidates across corporate and private office environments, from receptionist level through to C-suite EA, on behalf of clients across London and the UK.
Founded in 2018 by Auria Heanley and Olivia Coughtrie, we are a REC member (since 2019) and were shortlisted for three categories at the Recruiter Awards 2024: best recruitment agency under 10 people, best candidate care and best client service. Some roles we work on are confidential and not publicly advertised.
We recruit across all sectors where PA, EA , admin, and business support roles arise. Our client base includes finance, private equity, banking, executive search, management consultancy, property, hospitality, media, luxury retail, IT, creative industries, UHNW and private household. Our specialism is the function, rather than particular industry verticals.
We specialise in office support roles at all levels, from Office Junior and Administrator through to Chief of Staff. This includes PAs, EAs, Private Household PAs, Team Assistants, Office Managers, Virtual Assistants, Marketing Assistants, HR Assistants, Events Coordinators and Receptionists.
A PA (Personal Assistant) typically provides direct, one-to-one support to a specific individual, managing diaries, correspondence and day-to-day logistics. An EA (Executive Assistant) tends to work at a more senior level, often supporting C-suite executives, and may take on broader responsibilities including project coordination, stakeholder management and business operations.
In practice, the boundary between the two roles varies by organisation, and we recruit across both, as well as hybrid roles that combine elements of each.
Read our full guide to the differences between a PA and an EA for more information.
Yes. We recruit for permanent, temporary and contract roles, as well as temp-to-perm arrangements.
Our working target for permanent briefs is a first shortlist within 48 hours; for temporary cover, a first suitable candidate within 2 working hours of briefing. Around 80% of our temp-to-perm placements convert to permanent within 6 weeks.
Yes. We are London-headquartered but support briefs across the UK. Our candidate network extends well beyond London and we work regularly on roles in other locations both in the UK and internationally, including remote and hybrid positions.
Some of our roles are confidential and not publicly advertised. Clients brief us exclusively so that the search is managed discreetly, which is particularly common in private household, UHNW and senior corporate environments. Candidates registered with us may therefore have access to opportunities that are not listed on job boards.
Our working target is to acknowledge any new brief within one business hour and provide a first suitable candidate within two hours.
Around 95% of temporary assignments are filled same-day or next-day. Timeframes depend on the specifics of the role and current candidate availability, and we will always give you a realistic picture straight away.
Nothing if you are the candidate.
We work on a contingency basis with clients, which means no fee is charged unless we successfully place a candidate. For permanent placements, our fee is a percentage of the annual salary. For temporary and contract placements, clients are charged an hourly rate.
Yes. We operate a 12-week refund and replacement clause for permanent placements.
For temporary assignments, if a placement is not working out, please contact us promptly and we will work to find a resolution or replacement as quickly as the circumstances allow.
Every candidate is assessed directly by one of our consultants before being presented to a client. For candidates new to our network this includes a detailed conversation and an in-person or video meeting.
We verify right-to-work and check references before placement for all temporary candidates.
Around 75% of the candidates we present are invited to interview by our clients, and 90% of our permanent placements are still in post at 12 months.
Once we have received your CV, either through a job board application or directly via our website, a consultant will review your experience and be in touch if we feel we can help. We will arrange a time for you to come in and meet the team, at which point we will discuss your experience, your ambitions and any suitable roles.
Please note that due to the volume of CVs we receive, we are not always able to respond to every application.
Our first meeting is an informal chat of around 30 minutes, but first impressions do count and we would ask you to be smartly presented and punctual. Please bring your passport and any relevant certificates or references.
Take a look at our CV advice and templates to help you prepare.
We want to be part of your career journey, not just place you in the next available role. Every candidate is assessed directly before being put forward, and we will always speak to you before submitting your CV anywhere.
Around 75% of the candidates we present are invited to interview by our clients. We can help with CVs, interview preparation, market advice and company insight.
Read about what it is really like to be a personal assistant.
When a suitable role comes up, we will contact you directly. We brief you on the role before putting you forward, manage all interview scheduling on your behalf, keep you updated at every stage, and give you honest feedback after interviews. The relationship does not end at placement.
We will contact you directly when a suitable role comes up. We also advertise on our website and across job boards, and we’re active on LinkedIn, so it’s worth following us for updates.
Visit our contact page, call us on 0207 101 9229, or auria@orielpartners.co.uk or olivia@orielpartners.co.uk. We would love to hear from you.