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The State of UK Marketing Jobs in 2025

November 20, 2025

The marketing job landscape across the UK has shifted dramatically over the past year. While demand for marketing skills remains high, many businesses are reducing permanent roles, restructuring teams, and searching for more flexible ways to keep campaigns moving.

At Lead Kinetics, we help businesses maintain momentum by connecting them with freelance marketing specialists, from marketing graduates to experienced freelancers who can step in to support across social media, content, SEO, design, video, and more.

In this blog, we’ll explore the current state of UK marketing jobs, why consistent marketing output is still vital, and how the move toward flexible freelance support is shaping the year ahead.

The Rise in Redundancies and Team Restructuring Across UK Marketing Departments

The UK labour market continues to cool. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), total vacancies fell by 63,000 (-7.9%) between March and May 2025 compared with the previous quarter, dropping to 736,000.

Redundancies also continue to rise, with the redundancy rate reaching 3.8 per 1,000 employees for June-August 2025.

Within marketing, the trend is similar. A Marketing Week survey revealed that 19.2% of marketers said their organisation plans job cuts in the next 12 months, and nearly one in four have seen senior roles removed without replacement.

Major media and advertising groups, including GroupM UK, have also announced restructures and redundancies.

In short, marketing teams are shrinking but expectations for content, campaigns, and brand visibility are not.


Why Businesses Still Need Consistent Marketing Output

Even as headcounts fall, the need for consistent, creative marketing doesn’t go away.

  • Brand visibility can’t stop. In competitive industries, pausing marketing efforts can cause businesses to lose valuable ground.
  • Seasonal peaks still demand attention. From Black Friday and Christmas to summer campaigns, businesses still need content, ads, and engagement.
  • Marketing roles are evolving. Skills in AI, analytics, and automation now sit alongside creativity, making the talent gap even harder to fill.
  • Budgets are tighter. With less room for new hires, outsourcing becomes a practical way to stay active without overcommitting.

That’s why many brands are turning to freelance marketing support, not as a last resort, but as a smarter, more flexible way to deliver consistent output.


The Shift Toward Freelance Marketing Support

Across the UK, more businesses are blending in-house teams with trusted freelancers to stay agile and cost-efficient.

Here’s why that shift makes sense:

  • Cost control: Freelancers provide on-demand expertise without the long-term overheads of full-time employment.
  • Scalability: You can scale up during busy periods, for example, adding a social media freelancer or SEO consultant during campaign peaks.
  • Access to specialists: Need a content marketing freelancer, email marketing expert, or graphic designer for a few weeks? You can source the right skills quickly.
  • Reduced risk: Freelance models allow businesses to pause or adjust support as needed.

At Lead Kinetics, we don’t use algorithms or generic marketplaces. Every freelancer we recommend is personally vetted, ensuring the right fit for each client’s goals and working style.


Predictions for How UK Marketing Teams Will Operate in 2026

Looking ahead, here’s how the UK marketing workforce is likely to evolve:

  1. Hybrid models will dominate. A small in-house team supported by trusted freelancers will become standard.
  2. Outcome-based hiring. Companies will focus less on job titles and more on deliverables, hiring freelancers for specific outcomes like campaigns, leads, or content.
  3. AI-assisted creativity. Freelancers who can combine automation with human creativity will stand out.
  4. More project-based work. Expect more short-term freelance contracts for defined projects such as rebrands, SEO audits, or social media takeovers.
  5. Flexible geography. Businesses will work with talent across the UK, whether that’s marketing freelancers in Manchester, Stockport, or remote specialists nationwide.
  6. Greater reliance on expert matching. Companies will increasingly use freelance agencies like Lead Kinetics for outsourced marketing support, ensuring quality control and reliability.

What Businesses Can Do Now

If your marketing team is leaner than it used to be, now is the time to build flexibility into your resourcing model.

  • Review your current marketing output and identify gaps.
  • Consider short-term freelance support to cover content, SEO, or seasonal campaigns.
  • Plan ahead for peak periods such as Q4 or new launches.
  • Partner with a freelance marketing agency that personally vets each freelancer and aligns them with your brand.
  • Compare your current full-time costs against the flexibility of freelance options.

The businesses that adapt fastest to this new landscape combining a small internal team with reliable freelance support  will maintain visibility and outperform competitors in 2026.


Conclusion

Full-time roles are tightening, but the need for skilled marketing hasn’t slowed. The smartest businesses are those finding balance, building small, efficient in-house teams and partnering with trusted freelance marketing specialists who can step in when needed.

At Lead Kinetics, we help companies hire the right marketing freelancers across the UK from content writers and social media experts to SEO consultants and creative designers  giving you the flexibility, quality, and control to keep your marketing moving.

As 2026 approaches, adaptability will define success. Businesses that embrace flexible, people-first marketing support will be best placed to grow, no matter what the market brings.

👉 Contact us today to find trusted freelance marketers who can help your business grow with creativity and confidence.