Q1 Wrap-Up: Insights from the Marketing, Sales & Events Team
By Andrea Pell, Director at Handle Recruitment
As we wrap up Q1, and after a comparatively slow start to the year, the market seems to be building momentum back to nearly historic vacancy levels.
While the market has faced initial headwinds, hiring in marketing, sales, and events has been gradually gaining traction again and companies are starting to invest more strategically in key roles.
We’ve been having plenty of conversations with clients navigating a competitive and shifting market, and it’s clear from Q1 that having a razor focus on talent and the quality of hire has never been more important.
Here’s what we’ve seen in Q1:
Even with budget pressures, businesses that stay proactive, decisive, and flexible are the ones securing the best talent. Whether it's Business Development specialists, interim marketing support for events, or Event Producers, the demand for skilled professionals isn’t slowing down - especially with the busy events season through Q2! The companies that can adapt and move fast are in the best position to attract the right people.
A few of our clients are taking the leap into launching internationally which is great to see as this creates further opportunities for placed candidates to develop knowledge and allows further scope for their careers.
A key highlight for us of Q1 has been the work that we’ve done on supporting a large number of candidates - particularly entry-level grads - into their first temporary creative industry roles. It’s been rewarding to see fresh talent making their way into marketing, sales, logistics, or awards support, which speaks to the continued vitality of the industry.
Speed is the Name of the Game
If there's one thing we've noticed in Q1, it’s that hiring decisions are happening faster than ever. Even in a market perceived as ‘candidate-heavy,’ top talent isn’t sticking around for long. The businesses that are thriving are those moving swiftly and confidently - streamlining their interview processes, making quick but informed offers, and maintaining clear communication from the outset.
The ability to act quickly and decisively is becoming increasingly critical to securing the best candidates before they move on to other opportunities. Strong candidates are now involved in multiple hiring processes, juggling several interviews at once. Last year, a single interview often led to an accepted offer, but that’s changed - which is a positive shift for the market. However, clients and candidates can no longer afford to put all their eggs in one basket!
Balancing Expectations: What Candidates Want vs. What Employers Can Offer
Budgets are still under scrutiny, but candidates haven’t lowered their expectations. After a surge in living costs and an uncertain economy, candidates are increasingly clear on what they want and need from their next role. As a response we’re having beneficial conversations with clients about their long-term hiring strategies and market alignment. The solution lies in maintaining transparency throughout the process, making sure there's clear communication about what's possible while also managing expectations on both sides.
The ongoing debate between hybrid vs. full-time office hours also continues to play a significant role in the decision-making process for both employers and candidates. Ultimately, recognising what works for individual businesses is key to striking a balance that aligns both sides' needs.
Salary Adjustments & Budget Rebalancing
The recent increase in the London Living Wage, which rose to £13.85 per hour in October 2024, has brought salary discussions to the forefront, prompting employers to reassess their compensation strategies. Businesses have until May 1st 2025, to implement the new rate.
At the same time, the employers' National Insurance Contributions (NICs) rate will increase from 13.8% to 15% on April 6th 2025. These changes highlight the importance of careful budgeting as businesses work to balance rising expenses with competitive compensation packages.
It's a great time for employers to establish their needs, requirements, and skill level expectations for incoming roles, making sure they align with market conditions and long-term business success. Salary structures should reflect both current market conditions and the need for long-term sustainability - this could mean bringing in more junior talent at the start of their careers to fill gaps while using that first year to develop their skills.
The Rise of Temporary & Flexible Roles
We're seeing an increase in candidates who initially sought permanent positions opting for temporary roles, recognising the benefits of securing the right role rather than waiting through the permanent hiring process. This eases the financial pressure for individuals and minimises the disruption to both candidates and clients if the permanent opportunities on offer are not quite right! We're actively engaging with candidates to emphasise the importance of waiting to find the right roles rather than seeing them jump from job to job.
Events and exhibitions, in particular, are making greater use of contingent workforces, scaling up and down as needed to meet demand. These shifts reinforce the growing need for flexibility from both employers and job seekers and reflect the broader changes in how candidates approach career opportunities.
Looking Ahead to Q2
Q1 has shown us that hiring in 2025 is all about balance - between budgets and expectations, speed and quality, flexibility and stability. Companies that are adapting and continue to adapt to these market shifts are coming out ahead, securing the best people while keeping hiring strategies cost-effective. For Q2, we’re aiming to promote focus on proactive positivity rather than cautious reactivity to market conditions.
If you’d like to chat through your hiring strategy for the year ahead or discuss finding the right talent for Q2 feel free to contact me for a chat.
Let’s make Q2 a strong one!
Andrea Pell
Director | Sales, Marketing & Event Operations
☎️ 020 7569 9978
📩 andrea.pell@handle.co.uk
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About Handle Recruitment
We opened the doors in 1978 and built our reputation in the music industry. We quickly realised that a great brand is not always a household name. A great brand is something people connect with, not just a place they work. Somewhere that helps them become better at what they do. It could be a record label, it could be in media, it could be a tech start-up.
Supporting Great People in Marketing | Finance | HR | Office Support | Sales | Legal | Event Operations | Post-Production.
The Talent Solutions we provide, Permanent, Temporary and Interim Recruitment | People Consultancy | Outsourced Freelancer Payroll & Compliance.
The Industries we support: Music | Film | TV | Entertainment | Fashion | Live Events | Sport | Publishing | Post-production.