Should You Hire a Part Time or Full Time PA in London

Hire a part time PA when the support workload is defined and predictable, and a full time PA when you need continuity, capacity and a single point of ownership across the working day. The right choice turns on how much of the week the role genuinely fills, not on job title.

Key Takeaways

• A part time PA suits a defined, predictable workload and costs pro-rata, while a full time PA suits continuous demand and single-point ownership.
• Part time support demand is real, with "part time PA" drawing 170 UK searches a month and "part time PA jobs London" 260 (Semrush, UK).
• Business support pay is rising 3.8% for the year ahead, above the 2.2% all-profession average, so both arrangements cost more to fill than a year ago (Hays UK Salary & Recruiting Trends Guide 2026).
• Around 80% of business support roles are office-based, which shapes how part time hours are structured across the week (Reed, 2026).
• UK temp and flexible billings hit a three-year high in 2026, so flexible PA cover is easier to source than at any point in the past three years (KPMG/REC Report on Jobs, Aug 2026).

When a Part Time PA Is the Right Call

A part time PA is the right call when the support workload is defined, predictable and fills fewer than five days, so paying for a full-time seat would buy idle hours. Cost is the clearest driver, because part time pay is pro-rata, and a role that genuinely needs three days should not carry a five-day salary. The saving is real only when the workload truly fits the hours.

Part time also suits a growing business testing the need for support before committing to a full seat. Demand for the arrangement is established, with "part time PA jobs London" pulling 260 searches a month and "part time personal assistant" 210 (Semrush, UK), so the candidate pool exists. Flexible cover is easier to source than it has been, with UK temp and flexible billings at a three-year high in 2026 (KPMG/REC, Aug 2026). A part time PA can grow into a full time seat as the workload does, and the true cost of executive support is what the decision should turn on.

How many hours does a part time PA cover?

A part time PA typically covers two to four days a week, or a set number of hours across five shorter days, matched to when the support workload actually falls. The structure depends on the tasks, because diary and inbox cover suits shorter daily hours while project support suits full days. Around 80% of business support roles are office-based, which shapes how those hours sit in the week (Reed, 2026).

Does a part time PA cost less than a full time one?

A part time PA costs less than a full time one only when the workload genuinely fits the reduced hours, because pay is pro-rata to the days worked. A three-day PA on the same daily rate costs roughly 60% of the full time equivalent. The saving disappears if the role quietly needs five days, since overflow work then falls on higher-paid staff at a greater cost.

When a Full Time PA Earns Its Cost

A full time PA earns its cost when support demand is continuous, unpredictable or spread across the whole working day, so the value comes from constant availability and single-point ownership. A senior principal who needs cover from first meeting to last email cannot run on part time hours without gaps. Continuity is the return the full time salary buys.

The case strengthens with seniority and confidentiality. A PA supporting a busy executive holds context, relationships and confidential detail that fragment when the desk is empty two days a week, and a second part time hire rarely closes that gap cleanly. As executive support roles evolve toward hybrid and full-spectrum coverage, the continuous seat holds its value. Business support pay is rising 3.8% for the year ahead (Hays 2026), so the full time decision is a larger commitment than a year ago and worth scoping carefully.

When does a business need a full time PA?

A business needs a full time PA when a principal or team requires support across the whole working day, when the workload is unpredictable, or when confidentiality and continuity matter more than the salary saving. A senior executive with constant diary, travel and inbox demand is the clearest case. If the desk regularly runs into overflow on its off days, the role has outgrown part time.

What do you lose with a part time PA?

With a part time PA you lose continuous availability and single-point ownership on the days the desk is empty, so urgent diary changes, inbox triage and visitor coordination fall to others or wait. The gap is manageable for predictable workloads and costly for reactive ones. A principal who needs same-day response every day loses more from the gap than the pro-rata saving returns.

How to Decide Between Part Time and Full Time for Your London Office

Decide by measuring the genuine weekly workload before you fix the hours, because the arrangement should follow the demand rather than the budget. Map the tasks the role must own, estimate the hours each takes, and check whether the total fills two, three or five days. The honest hours count settles the question.

Weigh continuity against saving next. If the workload is defined and predictable, part time captures the pro-rata saving cleanly; if it is continuous or reactive, full time protects the coverage that a gap would cost you. Understanding how a personal assistant differs from an executive assistant sharpens the brief, because the level of the role affects how much continuity matters. A specialist recruiter can benchmark both against the live market before you commit.

How do you work out the right PA hours?

Work out the right hours by listing every task the role must own, estimating the time each takes across a typical week, and totalling it against a five-day baseline. A total near three days points to part time; a total at or above five, with reactive spikes, points to full time. Build in the unpredictable work, because reactive demand is what pushes a part time seat into overflow.

How to Hire the Right PA Arrangement in London

Step 1. Measure the true workload. List the tasks the role must own and total the hours across a typical week before choosing the arrangement.

Step 2. Test the pro-rata saving. Confirm the reduced hours genuinely cover the workload, because a part time seat that spills into overflow removes the saving.

Step 3. Weigh continuity against cost. Choose full time where availability, confidentiality and single-point ownership matter more than the salary saving.

Step 4. Scope the role level. Define whether you need a PA or a more senior executive assistant, because the level affects how much continuity the seat requires.

Step 5. Brief a specialist recruiter. Give an agency the measured hours and the level, so the shortlist matches both the arrangement and the market rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a part time PA cheaper than a full time PA?

A part time PA is cheaper only when the workload genuinely fits the reduced hours, because pay is pro-rata to the days worked. A three-day PA costs roughly 60% of the full time equivalent on the same rate. The saving disappears if the role quietly needs five days, since overflow then falls on higher-paid staff.

How many days a week does a part time PA work?

A part time PA usually works two to four days a week, or set hours across shorter days, matched to when the support workload falls. Diary and inbox cover suit shorter daily hours, while project support suits full days. Demand is established, with "part time PA jobs London" at 260 searches a month (Semrush, UK).

When should I hire a full time PA instead?

Hire a full time PA when support demand is continuous or unpredictable across the working day, or when confidentiality and continuity outweigh the salary saving. A senior executive needing cover from first meeting to last email is the clearest case. If a part time desk regularly runs into overflow, the role has outgrown the reduced hours.

Can a part time PA become full time later?

A part time PA can become full time as the workload grows, which is why a growing business often starts part time to test the need before committing to a full seat. Flexible cover is easier to source than it has been, with UK temp and flexible billings at a three-year high in 2026 (KPMG/REC, Aug 2026). Scope the growth path at hire.

Does a part time PA affect continuity?

A part time PA affects continuity on the days the desk is empty, when urgent diary changes and inbox triage fall to others or wait. The gap is manageable for predictable workloads and costly for reactive ones. A principal needing same-day response every day loses more from the gap than the pro-rata saving returns.

About the Author

Tina Ablitt is an Executive Support Recruitment Specialist at Morgan Spencer with more than 25 years of recruitment experience in London. She specialises in Personal Assistant recruitment, Executive Assistant recruitment and business support recruitment, helping organisations secure exceptional PA, EA, Office Manager and administrative talent across the capital.

Over the course of her career, Tina has partnered with SMEs, professional services firms, financial services organisations, property companies and global businesses to recruit high-performing executive support professionals. Her expertise covers permanent and temporary PA recruitment, salary benchmarking, market trends, workforce planning and executive support hiring strategies.

Recognised for her deep knowledge of the London PA and EA recruitment market, Tina advises employers on building effective support functions, attracting top executive support talent and determining the most suitable hiring solution, whether part-time, full-time or flexible support arrangements.

Drawing on more than two decades of hands-on recruitment expertise, Tina regularly shares insights on Personal Assistant recruitment, Executive Assistant hiring, business support careers, salary trends and best practice recruitment across London.

Morgan Spencer benchmarks part time and full time PA arrangements against the live London market and places both from a pre-vetted pool, with shortlists usually delivered within 48 hours. Speak to a consultant about scoping the right arrangement this week.