Bustling UK Agenting Scene Grew Staff Base Last Year Amid Wider Industry Contraction – Report

EXCLUSIVE: The past 12 months may have been volatile for the UK film and TV industry with hundreds of layoffs, but new research has found that agencies grew their staff bases.

From February 2024 to February 2025, there was a 13% rise in employees at UK management companies of all sizes, according to a report from talent agency recruiter Sumo shared exclusively with Deadline, with an average eight hires per agency leading to a comfortable net positive for the sector.

Sumo’s research found that small (less than 10 staff) and medium-sized (10-40 staff) agencies grew at a far swifter pace than the big traditional players, both by around 16% to 17% compared with 2.3% for the large shops. However, employees’ average tenure at the more boutique agencies is just two years compared with four at the bigger outfits.

While Sumo didn’t single out particular agencies, it said “a slight six-month contraction was noted among large agencies, largely due to well-known restructuring efforts.”

“There remains a clear difference in employee tenure between small/medium agencies and larger agencies,” added Sumo’s report. “Small-to-medium sized agencies should focus on retention strategies to compete with the tenure seen at larger firms.”

Deadline has reported regularly on job moves within the bustling UK agenting scene, with a fair bit of movement around established players like Curtis Brown, United Agents, InterTalent, MVE and YMU. Others like Outreach Talent Group opened in the States.

Sumo pointed to the growing digital agent space as a particular area of staff growth. Agencies specializing in digital grew staff base by around 15%, which was double unscripted and quadruple scripted. Although they have slower growth, Sumo noted that scripted agencies have much “stronger stability,” with staff staying on average for a lengthy six years.

The report comes following a difficult year for the traditional UK film and TV industry, with hundreds of layoffs reported at broadcasters and production companies. Work has been harder to come by as older genres like mid-range factual are phased out and American buyers row back on big-budget projects. Broadcasting union Bectu’s latest employee survey found nearly half of respondents were out of work and 38% planned to leave the film and TV industry in the next five years.