UK talent agencies increased staff by 13% last year

The UK film and TV industry has faced a tough year, with many layoffs. Despite this, a new report shows that talent agencies have been hiring more staff. From February 2024 to February 2025, UK management companies increased their workforce by 13%. This growth averages to about eight new hires per agency. The report, by talent agency recruiter Sumo, highlights that smaller and medium-sized agencies grew faster than larger ones. They saw growth rates of about 16% to 17%, while large agencies only increased by 2.3%. However, employees at smaller agencies typically stay for about two years, compared to four years in larger firms. The report also notes some challenges for big agencies, with a slight decline in their workforce due to restructuring. Sumo emphasized the importance for smaller agencies to focus on retaining employees to compete with larger firms. Additionally, the digital agent market is thriving, with agencies in this area increasing staff by around 15%. This growth is much higher compared to unscripted and scripted agencies. Although scripted agencies are growing more slowly, they tend to have more stability, with staff staying for an average of six years. Overall, the report highlights a stark contrast between agency growth and the difficulties within the broader film and TV industry. Many workers are feeling uncertain, with nearly half of survey respondents from the broadcasting union Bectu reporting they are currently out of work. Furthermore, 38% of them plan to leave the industry within the next five years.