As job cuts bite, what more can the industry do to help itself?

15th December 2022

Opinion

As adland braces itself for more possible bad news over the coming weeks and months, particularly when it comes to redundancies, Campaign asked industry leaders for their advice, including our Chairman Tom Knox:

*originally posted in Campaign.

The news that The Brooklyn Brothers is closing its London operations, with 20 staff facing redundancy, is a sad reminder of the pressures that many in the industry now find themselves under.

As Lorraine Jennings-Creed of Nabs explains below, the charity was forced to withdraw its cost-of-living grant due to high demand from hard-hit adland staff. Clearly, Nabs is itself in need of more monetary support.

That’s certainly one way that the industry could come together to help colleagues in need. But what else could be done?

I think this is my fourth serious recession, so I have some hard-learned lessons. Even in crisis there is opportunity.

Firstly, agencies must engage with their clients and share the problem as soon as possible (before budgets are set in stone). Together you need to look for wins – for instance, could both parties benefit from consolidating services? Where can more efficient processes ease pressure on resource allocations?

Secondly, innovation is crucial to agencies’ financial health. You need to look at where clients’ spend is growing and invest in those growth areas (eg, social).

And last, if all else fails and you do have to make redundancies, do it well. It’s a moment to show your values by supporting those affected with generosity, consideration (if you are part of a network, look for opportunities in other agencies) and support (counselling, training).

Tom Knox

Chairman, MullenLowe Group UK