Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland
Industry Census 2014 in association with Amรกrach Research
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Contents Introduction
4
Overview of Sector
9
Agency Income and Billings
13
Board of Directors
16
Staff breakdown
21
Age profiles
24
Forecasts 2014
31
Emerging Trends
35
Perceived Opportunities
36
Perceived Challenges
37
III
Introduction Summary of key findings: numbers employed, confidence levels, challenges and opportunities ahead.
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Introduction The Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland (IAPI) is the trade body representing advertising agencies across the spectrum: creative, media, digital and full service. We commissioned Amรกrach Research to conduct a survey of our members to capture key industry data. The research also captured insights and forecasts from senior stakeholders in member organisations on trends within the industry. Of the 49 IAPI members invited to participate, data was submitted by 45 agencies, representing an excellent response rate of 92%.* Total
Creative
Media
Responses
32
22
10
Agencies Represented
45
23
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The survey was conducted online. Fieldwork took place in April/May 2014. Managing Directors or Financial Directors submitted the data. IAPI had 49 member agencies in April 2014. [IAPI has 52 members as of July 2014] Acorn
H+A Group
Mediacom
Radical
Atomic
Havas
MediaVest
Real Nation
Bloom
Havas Media Ireland
MediaWorks Ltd
Rothco
Boys and Girls
ICAN
Mindshare
Rubicon
Brando
In the Company of Huskies
Ogilvy
Shanley Media Solutions
Carat
OMD
Southern Advertising
Cawley Nea/TBWA
Initiative
Owens DDB
Starcom
Chemistry
iProspect
Parker Advertising
Target McConnells
Clear Blue Water
Irish International
Persuasion Republic
Thinkhouse
DDFHB
Javelin Group
PHD
Vizeum
Eighty Twenty
Lucidity Maxus
Pierce Media and Advertising Ltd
Zenith Optimedia
Firstcom Focus Advertising
McCannBlue
Publicis Dublin
Gaffney McHugh
MEC Global
Publicis D
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*Some agencies responded as a group • Dentsu Aegis responded on behalf of Carat, iProspect, Lucidity and Vizeum. • C ore Media responded on behalf of Clear Blue Water, Mediaworks, Mediavest, Radical, Shanley Media and Starcom. • Group M responded on behalf of Maxus, MEC, Mediacom and Mindshare. • Ogilvy responded on behalf of Ogilvy and Y&R. Since the research was concluded three new agencies, Thinkhouse, Real Nation and Publicis D joined IAPI.
Key Findings Numbers Employed Numbers directly employed by IAPI member agencies in 2013 was 1,545, compared to 1,281 in 2012, an increase of 20.6%. More people are employed in creative agencies (including digital creative), 964 vs media agencies 581. More people were hired in 2013 than 2012 – an increase of 13.4% in new hires. 964 full time employees in creative agencies in 2013 vs 787 in 2012 = +22% increase in staff. 581 full time employees in media agencies in 2013 vs 494 in 2012 = +17% increase in staff. This means we have exceeded pre-recessionary levels of employment, based on our 2007 survey which showed 1,381 employed.
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Age and Education Breakdown The average age of employees in the industry is 35. The profile of those working in the industry is changing, with higher numbers of staff educated to Masters level. Anecdotally, this could be a mixture of new hires and people who are working as well as studying a part-time masters programme.
Board Composition We requested information on the composition of company boards for the first time. Boards are relatively small with male to female ratio of 75:25.1
Maternit y/Paternit y Leave This was also the first year that we surveyed members on the issue of maternity/paternity leave. It is encouraging that many agencies offer some form of paid leave and interesting to note that there are a variety of practices in place. A significant number of agencies also offer paid paternity leave.
Confidence In The Sector For The Year Ahead • T here has been a very significant shift in levels of confidence in the industry as a whole. Optimism is up and pessimism is down. • 7 8% of those surveyed estimated turnover for the industry as a whole will increase in 2014. This is a massive shift on 2012 when only 20% of agency heads predicted an increase. • 7 2% forecast that their own business will grow in 2014 and the average growth expected is 13%. • M ore than half of all agencies expect their staff levels to increase by the end of 2014.
This compares favourably with wider industry. Irish Times Top 1000 companies survey May 2014 says 11% of those surveyed have a female at board level. The top 25 biggest companies have 25% female representation at board level. 1
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Challenges and Oppor tunities There are similar issues across the spectrum of creative and media agencies: • Cost pressures – the need to maintain and increase hourly rates • Staff recruitment and retention • Investment in pitches – time and money On a more positive note • Returning confidence of clients • Growth in digital billings and revenue
Conclusion IAPI’s Census 2014 points to a transformation in the fortunes of Ireland’s advertising industry. Not only have members seen an improvement in their own performance, they are also much more bullish about prospects for the wider industry. Crucially, they are also reporting improvements in some hourly rates and other indicators of growing customer demand, while most are looking to staff – up for recovery and growth. However, there are a number of caveats to this otherwise positive picture – staff turnover is on the increase, reflecting more competition for skilled staff both within the industry and from other industries. There remains significant pressure on rates and the cost of new business pitching in Ireland remains high.
Tania Banotti
ceo
IAPI July 2014
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Overview of the Sector Agency type, numbers employed, breakdown of staff by department, composition of Board of Directors, creative agency income and media agency billings.
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IAPI Play Bat for your team at the ping pong Summer Party. Become an informed critic at our monthly Film Club. Play for your life at Battle Of The Bands.
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Profile of Sample – Agency Type
28% Media Agencies (including Digital)
3% Full Service Agencies
69% Creative Agencies (including Digital)
What type of advertising agency do you represent? *Question changed in 2014
Average Number of Full-Time Staff Employed by X Agency Type 2014
2013
Min
Max
Min
Max
Total
2
167
2
137
Creative
2
119
3
96
Media
7
167
2
137
What is the total number of staff employed in your agency? (Base: All IAPI member companies)
11
Number of Full-Time Employees X Agency Type 180 160
Creative
Number of Employees
140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 0
5
10
15
20
25
Number of Agencies
180 160
Media
Number of Employees
140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 0
5 Number of Agencies
(Base: All IAPI member companies) 12
10
Average Gross Creative Agency Income & Media Agency Billings
ome Average Gross Creative Inc €3,101,508 Average Media Billings €39,696,672 ome Median* Gross Creative Inc €5,569,399 Median* Media Billings €71,577,500
*The median is the middle point between highest and lowest volume turnover. In order for us to determine what we as an industry contribute to the economy, please can you supply the following income details? Creative agencies please supply gross income. (Gross income is defined as the total amount of fees, commission, mark-ups etc. earned during the year). Media agencies please supply billings. (Billings is defined as the total amount of client investment put through your agency for the purchase of creative/media activities during the year).
13
Annual Income 12
10
Creative Agency Gross Income
e Millions
8
6
4
2
0
0
5
10
15
20
25
Number of Agencies
140 120
Media Agency Billings
e Millions
100 80 60 40 20 0
0
5
10
Number of Agencies
*Gross income is defined as the total fees, commission, mark-up’s etc. earned during the year. *Billings is defined as the total amount of client investment put through the agency for the purchase of media/media activities in the given 12 months. (Base: All IAPI member companies) 14
IAPI Advocate The IAPI AAI Pitch Guidelines are the industry standard. We track pitches so members are protected. CopyClear ensures that advertising standards are adhered to without compromising the quality of campaigns. IAPI represent the industry to government and on the boards of the ASAI, JNRS and JNLR. We’re championing cross media integrated research in Ireland.
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Incidence of having a Board of Directors Numbers with an Irish Board Yes 91% Yes 80%
Yes 95%
No 9%
No 5%
Total
Creative
No 20% Media
Does your agency have an Irish board of Directors? *New question in 2014
There were 29 agency responses (21 Creative and 8 Media) in relation to having a board and the total number of board members recorded breaks down as follows: Total
Creative
Media
Total Directors on Irish Boards
140
87
53
Male
106
66
40
Female
34
21
13
The average was calculated by dividing the above total by the relevant number of companies.
Average Size of Irish Boards Total
Creative
Media
Board Size
4.8
4.1
6.6
Male
3.6
3.1
5.0
Female
1.2
1.0
1.6
The Irish Times Top 1000 survey suggests female participation on the boards of the top 25 companies is 13%.
How many people sit on your agency’s Irish Board of Directors? And how many of these board members are male/female? (Base: All IAPI member companies) 16
17
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Main Findings Breakdown of staff by department, age profile of employees, level of education, staff churn, maternity and paternity leave.
19
20
4
Chair/CEO/MD/Managing Partner
22 1 1
New Business/Marketing/PR
3
Account/Strategic Planning
5
1 1
Research/Information
12 12
Media Planning & Buying 2
Search/SEO *0
4
1 1
Other Media
2 12 11
Creative – Copywriters/Art Directors Creative – Digital
3 3
Creative – Design
3
4 4 4
Other Creative Studio Creative Services inc Art & Print Buying
1 1
Project Management
1 1
Digital Programmers/Web Designers
2
Digital Production
1
Digital Project Management
1 1
Digital UX/Information Architecture
1 1
3
2
3
Other Digital TV/Cinema/Radio Production
1
Production Administration
1 1
Senior Financial Staff
N/A
Junior Financial Staff
N/A
Human Resources/Training
*0
4
2
3 5
1 1 1
IT
2
PA/Secretaries All other staff
25 %
7
Account Management
Media Research
20 %
5 5
Other Executive Management
15 %
5%
10 %
% Breakdown of Staff by Department
1
3 3
2014 2013
Please provide your breakdown of staff by each of the following departments. (Base: All IAPI member companies) 21
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IAPI Grow IAPI regularly run day courses designed for creatives, executives, or media folk aimed at tackling client procurement depts, perfecting the art of pitching, learning how to write killer creative briefs and selling creative work.
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% Breakdown of Staff by Department – Creative & Media Total Staff (1545)
Creative (964)
Media (581)
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Chair/CEO/MD/Managing Partner
63
4%
27
3%
36
6%
Other Executive Management
82
5%
42
4%
40
7%
346
22%
264
27%
82
14%
New Business/Marketing/PR
9
1%
4
*
5
1%
Account/Strategic Planning
46
3%
37
4%
9
2%
Research/Information
20
1%
3
*
17
3%
192
12%
10
1%
182
31%
31
2%
7
1%
24
4%
2
*
0
0%
2
*
19
1%
8
1%
11
2%
186
12%
175
18%
11
2%
Creative – Digital
41
3%
33
3%
8
1%
Creative – Design
67
4%
59
6%
8
1%
Other Creative Studio
55
4%
53
5%
2
*
Creative Services inc Art & Print Buying
12
1%
11
1%
1
*
Project Management
14
1%
11
1%
3
1%
Digital Programmers/Web Designers
46
3%
31
3%
15
3%
Digital Production
14
1%
14
1%
0
0%
Digital Project Management
16
1%
9
1%
7
1%
Digital UX/Information Architecture
10
1%
9
1%
1
*
Other Digital
54
3%
14
1%
40
7%
TV/Cinema/Radio Production
19
1%
19
2%
0
0%
Production Administration
10
1%
10
1%
0
0%
Senior Financial Staff
47
3%
28
3%
19
3%
Junior Financial Staff
72
5%
40
4%
32
6%
6
*
3
*
3
1%
IT
13
1%
8
1%
5
1%
PA/Secretaries
34
2%
22
2%
12
2%
All other staff
19
1%
13
1%
6
1%
Account Management
Media Planning & Buying Search/SEO Media Research Other Media Creative – Copywriters/Art Directors
Human Resources/Training
Please provide your breakdown of staff by each of the following departments. *less than 1% / no response (Base: All IAPI member companies) (Base: All IAPI member companies) 23
Age Profile of Agency Staff X Type of Agency Total %
Creative %
Media %
2014
2013
2014
2013
2014
2013
-
1
1
1
-
-
21-25
12
11
10
10
14
14
26-30
26
28
22
26
32
33
31-40
40
39
43
40
35
36
41-50
15
15
17
18
13
11
51-60
6
5
7
5
4
5
61+
1
1
1
1
2
1
Under 21
Average Age 2014
2013
Creative
36
34
Media
34
34
What proportion of your staff fit into the following age categories?
Highest Level of Education Achieved by Those Working in Member Agencies 0.4% 0.2%
PHD Masters
8.5%
Postgraduate
9.1% 9.6%
14%
43.1%
Degree 13.6% 16.7%
Diploma 11% 11.3%
Leaving Cert 1.4% 1%
Other Don’t Know
10.5% 5.2%
2014 2013
Please state the percentage breakdown of the highest level of education achieved by your staff. (Base: All IAPI member companies)
24
47.7%
Level of Staff Churn for Y/E 2013 261 230
127 85
69 41
44
35
2014 2013
Hired
Left to stay within the industry
Left to leave the industry
Let go/contract terminated
2014
2013
2014
2013
2014
2013
2014
2013
Creative
146
152
85
47
44
24
33
30
Media
115
78
42
38
25
17
11
5
In the year ending December 2013, how many of your staff were‌ (Base: All IAPI member companies)
25
Maternity/Paternity Benefits within IAPI Member Agencies Incidence of providing paid Maternity leave
Incidence of providing paid Paternity leave
No 47%
No 56%
Yes 53%
Yes 44%
(Base: All IAPI member companies)
59%
of companies provide paid maternity leave. The 2013 IBEC Maternity Benefit report
How is paid maternity leave implemented? Varies/depends on seniority of staff member
47%
Paid a portion of salary and keeps social welfare payments
35%
Paid full salary and refunds social welfare payments to company
18%
Paid full salary and keeps social welfare payments
12%
Paid a portion of salary and refunds social welfare payments to company
12%
Which of the following best describes how you implement paid maternity leave? Tick all that apply. (Base: All who offer paid maternity leave)
26
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IAPI Prove The bi-annual IAPI ADFX Awards celebrate the top campaigns that impact the bottom line. Our effectiveness hub www.adfx.ie provides information on the most effective advertsing in Ireland.
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Forecast for 2014 Turnover Changes, Growth & Decline, Challenges, Opportunities and Trends
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IAPI Nurture Get a start with Portfolio Lab and our induction guides. Quiz a panel of experts at the Big Grill and get support with our mentoring scheme. Learn more with the Diploma in Advertising and Digital Communications. Win the Doyenne Award, created by IAPI to celebrate women in advertising.
2014
Increase
2013
20%
2014
19%
2014
Strongly Decrease
2014
Remain the same
2013
Decrease
Strongly Increase
Estimated Turnover Changes for the Industry in the Year Ahead
78%
33%
2013
3% 47%
2013 2014 2013
How do you think the turnover for the advertising industry will change in 2014?
Future Forecast for My Agency
Grow
60%
Remain the same
2013 2014
Decline
72%
2014
2014
22% 33%
2013
2013
6% 7%
And what is your personal forecast for your agency in 2014? Historical data suggests that business owners, managers and stakeholders are likely to be optimistic about their own business whilst being less positive about the outlook of their industry. (Base: All IAPI member companies) 33
Expected Levels of Growth/Decline in 2014 Average % Growth Expected
Average % Decline Expected
2014 2013
2014 2013
N=23*
N=18*
N=2*
N=2*
3.5% 13%
15%
16%
What percentage growth do you expect for your agency in 2014?
What percentage decline do you expect for your agency in 2014?
*N=number of agencies that responded.
Decline
Remain the same
Grow
Expected Staff Levels for Year Ahead Will ....
2014
2013
33%
2014
34%
2013
2014 2013
56%
60%
9% 7%
By the end of 2014, do you expect your agency staff levels to increase, remain the same or decrease compared to current levels? Base: (All those who predict either growth/decline) 34
“Faster turnaround and scope creep. Also continuous focus on digital channels.”
“Reduction in loyalty. More project driven relationships. Very price sensitive. More inclined to work with other agencies.”
“Increased need for specialist services.”
Creative Agencies “Much more aggressive and much less loyal. Aggressive on cost and expectation and less committed to supporting their agency in their efforts to deliver excellence.”
“Young, inexperienced clients who don’t really understand or value marketing or agencies and put way too much value on social media.”
Emerging Trends Over Past 2-3 years “Placing more emphasis on the role of media in total communications planning. Clients being persuaded by pitch doctors to tender business, to drive prices down.”
“Clients appear to depend more heavily on agency services while being ever less willing to acknowledge these as legitimate agency costs.”
“Client relationships are no longer as important as before. Decisions are driven by procurement needs in many cases and agency relationships are viewed as short term rather than long term partnerships.”
Media Agencies
35 35
Creative Agencies “Growth in scope of services and redefining the agency’s proposition.”
“Organic growth plus benefits and fall-out of mergers and acquisitions. A returning confidence in existing clients.”
“Growing our revenue from clients outside of Ireland.”
“Digital expansion. International opportunities with existing clients. In-house broadcast production.”
“Increased digital spends. Winning more through-the-line clients and increasing our traditional credentials. More and more clients need to understand the need for digital media and creative to be under one roof to be really effective and efficient.”
Perceived Opportunities for 2014 “To challenge the existing media agency hierarchy and to win business from them.”
“Strong pipeline for new business. Growth in our digital team billings and revenues.”
“Diversification into new areas – sponsorship, data, learning/ development. Also to grow our research business.”
“Growing business particularly in the digital arena.”
Media Agencies
36
Creative Agencies “Managing growth of agency. Staff retention. Client profitability.”
“The decline in advertising in Ireland from clients with international brands and the increasing reliance on Irish brands.”
“Gearing up and the strain that may put on cashflow.”
“Maintaining a reasonable hourly rate so accounts can be staffed with experienced people.”
“Attracting key staff within the Irish market. Adapting our model quickly enough to technology changes within our industry. Continuing investment required for pitching for new business. Pressure to reduce rates within industry from procurement and other agencies.”
Perceived Challenges for 2014 “Increasing hourly rates productivity improvements.”
“Staff retention, pressure on staff costs. Client pressure on margins.”
“Public procurement & tendering process.”
“Salary costs/remuneration packages. Pressure on fees and trying to reduce our media costs.”
“Economic environment and pressure on costs.”
Media Agencies
37 37
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All Photography: Finn Richards Except the Pineapple image courtesy of Charlotte Audrey Owen-Meehan Illustrations: Markus Magnusson
Created and Designed by
Designed and Created by:
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Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland 8 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2. (01) 676 5991 www.iapi.ie www.adfx.ie @IAPI_Updates