As a marketing consultant working with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), I’ve seen many business owners wrestle with whether to hire an in-house marketing team or outsource. It’s a significant decision, particularly with the latest UK employment law changes adding extra costs and responsibilities for employers.
Let’s explore the pros and cons of hiring and why outsourcing your marketing could be a more efficient, scalable, and cost-effective solution for your business.
Key UK Employment Law Changes Affecting Hiring in 2025
Before hiring, it’s essential to understand the latest UK employment law updates, as they directly impact your business’s costs and obligations.
National Minimum Wage Increase – From April 2025, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21+ has increased by 6.7% to £12.21 per hour.
Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) – Employer NICs have risen from 13.8% to 15%, and the threshold at which they’re payable has dropped from £9,100 to £5,000.
Day-One Employment Rights – Employees now receive statutory sick pay, parental leave, bereavement leave, and unfair dismissal protection from their first day.
Restrictions on Zero-Hours Contracts – Employers must offer guaranteed hours to zero-hours workers who regularly work beyond their contracted hours.
These changes are designed to protect employees, but they also increase hiring costs and legal obligations for businesses, making outsourcing an even more attractive option.
Pros and Cons of Hiring an In-House Marketing Team
Pros of Hiring In-House
✅ Control & Immediate Access – Having an in-house team means direct oversight, real-time collaboration, and alignment with your brand’s voice.
✅ Industry Knowledge & Long-Term Integration – Employees can develop a deep understanding of your products and audience over time.
Cons of Hiring In-House
❌ High Costs – Besides salaries, you must factor in pension contributions, National Insurance, sick pay, and training costs.
❌ Time-Consuming Recruitment Process – Finding the right talent takes time, and employee turnover can disrupt your marketing efforts.
❌ Limited Skill Set – Hiring one or two marketers means they may lack the diverse expertise needed for SEO, content marketing, paid ads, social media, and analytics.
❌ Burnout & Presenteeism – On average, an in-house marketing employee is expected to juggle multiple tasks, from content creation and SEO to social media management and lead generation. This "task wheel" effect can lead to burnout, reduced creativity, and presenteeism, where employees feel pressured to show up but aren't performing at their best.
Why Outsourcing Marketing Is a Smarter Choice for SMEs
With the increasing costs and legal complexities of hiring, outsourcing marketing offers a cost-effective and flexible alternative.
Key Benefits of Outsourcing Marketing
✅ Lower Costs & Higher ROI – You get access to a full team of experts for less than the cost of one full-time hire—without additional expenses like taxes and benefits.
✅ Access to Multi-Skilled Experts – Instead of relying on one in-house marketer, outsourcing gives you specialists in SEO, content creation, social media, and lead generation.
✅ Scalability & Flexibility – You can adjust your marketing efforts based on your business needs, without worrying about redundancies or long-term commitments.
✅ Focus on Growth, Not Hiring – By outsourcing, you can concentrate on running your business while an experienced marketing team handles your strategy and execution.
Why Outsourcing Marketing Is the Best Solution for SMEs
Given the new employment law changes, rising costs, and challenges of hiring an in-house team, outsourcing marketing is an efficient, flexible, and cost-effective solution for SMEs.
If your business struggles with marketing or lead generation, I offer consultancy and management packages designed to help SMEs grow without the costs and complexities of hiring staff.
📩 Interested? Let’s chat about how outsourcing your marketing can drive results for your business. Book your free consultation today.
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