Along with Process and Culture, Talent is one of the three main pillars that we have always focused on at the In-House Agency Leaders Club.

We last conducted our Talent & Salary Survey in 2024. With so much change happening, we wanted to revisit some of the areas of research that we covered last time to explore how AI is impacting roles (particularly junior ones), training, and priorities for the year ahead. But it’s not just about AI. We also looked at benefits and pay, as well as the talent mix and major challenges facing leaders.

Our thanks to everyone at the more than 80 brands from our UK and Amsterdam communities who participated in the research. It’s a mark of how fast IHALC has grown that we have more than 50% more respondents to this survey than our previous one.

And thank you to our partners on the Survey, The Industry Club, who have helped shape its format and provide expert analysis in the report. Their deep knowledge of this sector has proved invaluable in informing the research and also in supporting our community via the services that they offer to IHALC members.

Download the report for the full results and analysis

Remits and Resources
As the survey reveals, in-house teams continue to expand their remits, often taking on work that was previously done by external partners. 76% of respondents reported an expansion of their remit within the last 12 months. We’ve looked at how that expansion has impacted headcounts and the influence of AI.

Upskilling and roles
To meet the evolving needs of the team around AI, the survey looks at how leaders are approaching training existing teams. We also asked which roles leaders feel will be more in demand in future, and those for whom demand will reduce. In particular, we have looked at the merging role of the Creative Technologist.

Hiring pressures and pay
We asked respondents to tell us their biggest challenges when it comes to recruiting talent, either permanent, contract or freelance. We’ve also looked at senior pay across roles and analysed how size of team and the model of the in-house team impacts it. And we asked how leaders are attracting talent via benefits and culture at their brands.

Challenges and Opportunities
The survey concludes by asking in-house leaders to name their biggest challenges and opportunities for the year ahead and beyond.

About The Industry Club
The Industry Club has spent 15 years recruiting the best agency talent across strategy, creative, creative tech, design, client services, project management, production, data and operations. Whether you’re building a permanent team or filling a tricky freelance brief, we’ll find the people who make the difference.

IHALC members benefit from a range of recruiting services support offered by The Industry Club, details here