Our annual UK salary survey for the Communications, Public Affairs and Digital Marketing sectors is out!

At Hanson Search, we help organisations recruit business-critical roles that drive revenue, reputation, and risk – from strategic communications and public affairs, to digital marketing, sales and sustainability leadership. Our 2025 UK Salary Survey for the communications, public affairs and marketing industries  provides up-to-date insights into the evolving talent landscape, shaped by real-time data from Q1 and informed by the priorities of both clients and candidates.

Our newly released 2025 UK Salary Survey offers fresh, data-led insights into the evolving talent landscape. Based on real-time data from Q1, this report reflects the priorities of both clients and candidates across the UK.

If 2024 was the year of resilience, 2025 is already shaping up to be a year of recalibration and cautious progress. Businesses are reassessing priorities, realigning teams, and preparing for future growth – even amid continued macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty.

In this context, demand for senior-level talent with the skills to lead transformation, manage complex stakeholder environments, and drive commercial impact remains high. While salary inflation has cooled, competition for top performers is still fierce – and total compensation packages, including equity, performance bonuses, and flexible benefits, are playing a bigger role in attracting and retaining talent.

Key Talent Trends in 2025 from our UK salary survey:

• Employers are hiring with precision, prioritising roles that directly contribute to growth, brand resilience, and risk mitigation.
• Executive search briefs are increasingly focused on hybrid skill sets – particularly at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and sustainability.
• Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) continues to matter. Even where investment has been dialled back globally, UK talent remains values-driven – and the organisations that stay committed to inclusive hiring are better placed to attract and retain the best.
• Interim and freelance hiring is rising – offering businesses flexibility while ensuring access to specialist expertise and leadership during periods of change.

After a prolonged period of uncertainty, the UK market is starting to turn a corner. We’re seeing a shift towards quality over quantity in hiring – and businesses are leaning on trusted partners to help them secure transformational talent.

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