Salaries And Costs
Recruiters in Cardiff cover assistant to senior leadership roles across production, PR, and digital content. Entry-level media roles often sit between £22,000 and £28,000, with mid-level posts in the £30,000 to £45,000 range. Senior producers, editors, and PR account directors can command £50,000 plus, depending on portfolio, sector, and employer size. Day rates for freelancers can range from £150 to £400 for creatives, editors, camera ops, and social managers. Agency costs vary, with recruitment fees commonly agreed as a percentage of salary or a fixed fee for executive search. Temp agencies charge a margin on top of pay rates to cover holiday accruals and employment costs.
Qualifications
Cardiff media recruiters look for practical credits, strong reels, and writing samples. Degrees in media production, journalism, PR, marketing, or animation can help, yet portfolios and on-set experience land interviews. Common asks include Adobe Creative Cloud fluency, social scheduling tools, basic motion graphics, and familiarity with broadcast compliance. For PR, the CIPR study can be an advantage. For production roles, a clean driving licence and up-to-date health and safety training are useful.
Regional Or Geographic Variations
Hiring often clusters around Central Square with broadcasters and newsrooms, the Bay with studio space and post production, and Cathedral Road for PR and comms firms. Startups and gaming studios appear across Capital Quarter and nearby tech hubs. Access from Newport, the Valleys, and Bristol widens candidate reach, which helps fill time-sensitive briefs.
Local Hiring Challenges
Live broadcast schedules, fast campaign turnarounds, and on-location shoots create last-minute demand. Recruiters step in when productions need extra runners, edit support, or social producers at short notice. Retention can be tricky when projects wrap, so staffing agencies maintain bench talent for repeat bookings. Competition for experienced editors, motion designers, and account managers means early pipeline building pays off.
Roles And Career Paths
Recruitment agencies and employment firms hire for production assistants, researchers, runners, camera ops, editors, audio techs, content writers, social media managers, PR executives, account managers, and studio coordinators. Career paths move from junior roles into producer, senior editor, creative lead, or account director tracks. Executive search covers heads of production, head of communications, and marketing leadership.
Industry Specific Training Or Licences
For set work, risk awareness and basic first aid training help. For journalism and news, awareness of media law and familiarity with the Ofcom code are expected. Safe drone operation requires the correct CAA permissions, which some agencies record at the time of registration. Food hygiene training can crop up for branded content shoots on location. DBS checks may be requested for work in education or youth projects.
Key Sectors Or Employers In The Region
Cardiff employers span broadcasters, independent production companies, creative agencies, games studios, publishers, and in-house comms teams across sport, education, and public services. Business parks and city centre offices host PR and digital shops that rely on recruiters for campaign spikes. Event and sport content teams add seasonal briefs around fixtures and festivals.
Seasonal Trends Or Themes
Peaks arrive around series commissions, campaign launches, and festival calendars. University graduations bring new candidates to the labour market each summer. Winter sports and Christmas campaigns increase demand for editors and social producers. Recruiters compile shortlists so businesses can hire staff quickly once dates are locked.
Quick Facts And Frequently Asked Questions
What recruitment fees do media recruiters in Cardiff charge?
Many agencies quote a percentage of the starting salary for permanent hires, with temp margins added to pay rates for short-term bookings.
How fast can a recruiter fill a media vacancy?
For temp and freelance, same-day shortlists are common. For permanent roles, one to four weeks is typical, depending on the number of interviews and notice periods.
Do I need a degree to land an entry media role?
A degree can help, yet a strong portfolio, credits, and references carry real weight. Recruiters place many candidates based on work samples and attitude.
What documents should candidates bring when registering with an agency?
Bring a CV, right to work ID, portfolio links or showreel, and any training certificates. Bank details and referee contacts help speed up onboarding.
Can staffing agencies supply crews for short shoots?
Yes. Recruiters can book runners, camera ops, sound techs, and editors for specific dates. Clear briefs and call sheets help secure the right people.
Do agencies cover gaming and animation roles in Cardiff?
Many do. Expect roles such as 3D artist, QA tester, community manager, producer, and UI designer, often in a mix of contract and permanent placements.
How do employers reduce turnover on creative teams?
Set clear briefs, offer development time, and agree on fair pay rates. Recruiters can run check-ins during probation to support retention.