Hiring Creatives In London: What Your Business Needs To Know

Creative staff, including writers, designers, musicians and more, are an important part of the corporate landscape. While analysts and salespeople might be the obvious candidates when we think of corporate workers, many employees work in creative disciplines, particularly in the marketing and advertising side of the business world. 

In the past, businesses often outsourced many creative tasks, but recently there has been a surge of companies hiring in-house creative teams.For business or team leaders looking to hire creative staff but who aren’t sure how to go about it, here are some practical tips on employment screening.

Candidates want to join a team not just a company

Creative individuals are often very sociable people, and many of them like to feel that they are part of a team, rather than just a cog in a machine. So, when you’re hiring creatives, you should make sure that you showcase your company’s commitment to team building and creating a fun company culture. 

That means that you need to do more than just write that you offer team building on your job advert; you need actually to do it. Most creatives will research the business they’re applying to online, so you should share images of recent team-building events on social media. For companies in the UK’s capital city, there are plenty of team building events in London. By working alongside Team Tactics, you can find the ideal team-building events and activities that help you to attract and retain the talented staff your business needs to succeed. 

Offer competitive rates of pay

While every member of your team deserves a salary that properly fits their skill set, this is particularly true when it comes to creative staff. Because some freelance platforms offer exceptionally low rates (more often than not accompanied by exceptionally poor output), some companies drastically devalue their creative staff.

The result is creative individuals who either don’t perform at their best or who leave quickly and use the business as a stepping stone towards an even better career elsewhere. London is an expensive city to live in, so if you’re hiring staff to work in an office, you need to make sure that they have enough money to live comfortably in the capital. So, if you want to hire the best creative talent on the market, and keep them at your business, then you need to offer a competitive rate of pay from the start. Learn about the average salary for the role that you’re trying to fill, and then try to offer at least that, if not more. By paying slightly above average, you could be rewarded with a dedicated team member that works hard and stays with your business. 

Emphasise the benefits of working in-house

Most creative individuals have the option of working freelance, which allows them to set their own schedules and rates of pay. However, freelancing also comes with its downsides. As freelancers work for themselves, they might feel isolated, and they don’t have the security and support that comes with an in-house role. 

That means that when you’re trying to encourage talented creatives to apply for your job, you should try to highlight the benefits that working in-house has to offer. These might include any employee benefits that your company offers, as well as support, financial security, and more. 

Look beyond hiring platforms and recruitment agencies

London is a bustling metropolis filled with creative individuals, so don’t be afraid to step outside of the recruitment comfort zone when you’re searching for them. As well as advertising your role on online recruitment platforms or using a hiring agency, you could also seek out new team members in the real world.

That means exploring London and finding the places where creatives exhibit their work. For example, if you’re hiring an in-house photographer, then network with other photographers and visit exhibits. Not all photographers will be interested in or skilled enough for your role, but they might know someone who is. Also, you might be able to find some up-and-coming talent that could transform your organisation.