FUTURE OF THE PR INDUSTRY IS LOOKING BRIGHT
The future of the PR industry is looking positive, as new business and client budgets improve.
The PRCA’s quarterly survey revealed that optimism in the PR industry had grown by 39% in the last quarter, and faith in the economic condition of the industry over the next 12 months showed 53% growth.
MDs and CEOs are confident that graduate recruitment will dramatically increase, as will staff levels.
Chief executive of the PRCA, Francis Ingham, says: “These figures just go to show that the PR industry is bucking the national trend of job losses, pessimism and a reluctance to employ graduates.”
Ingham continues: “On the contrary, our members are keen to expand their businesses, to employ new starter and on top of that there is a growing interest in internships and apprenticeships.”
|
Results Question |
Q1 2012 |
Q4 2011 |
|
What have your clients done with budgets |
10 |
-17 |
|
How busy would you describe the level of new business |
54 |
32 |
|
What happened to over-servicing levels |
7 |
5 |
|
Has the last quarter affected optimism for consultancy |
39 |
2 |
|
Has the last quarter affected optimism for PR industry |
25 |
-14 |
|
What will happen to general economic condition of UK PR industry in 12 months time |
14 |
-39 |
|
What will happen to staff numbers in next quarter |
23 |
16 |
|
What will happen to graduate recruitment in next quarter |
13 |
-16 |
|
What will happen to use of freelancers in the next quarter |
3 |
2 |
|
Is business from new or existing clients |
N12 |
N2 |
FOR THE PERIOD 1 JANUARY TO 31 MARCH WHAT HAVE YOUR CLIENTS DONE WITH THEIR BUDGETS?
Increased significantly 3%
Increased marginally 21%
Stayed the same 62%
Decreased marginally 8%
Decreased significantly 6%
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE LEVEL OF NEW BUSINESS BETWEEN 1 JANUARY AND 31 MARCH?
Very busy 18%
Busy 59%
Quiet 19%
Very quiet 4%
DURING THE LAST QUARTER WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR OVER-SERVICING LEVELS?
Increased significantly 7%
Increased marginally 19%
Stayed the same 53%
Decreased marginally 15%
Decreased significantly 4%
Do not over-service 2%
HAS THE LAST QUARTER MADE YOU FEEL MORE OR LESS OPTIMISTIC FOR YOUR CONSULTANCY?
More optimistic 51%
The same 37%
Less optimistic 12%
HAS THE LAST QUARTER MADE YOU FEEL MORE OR LESS OPTIMISTIC FOR THE INDUSTRY?
More optimistic 35%
The same 55%
Less optimistic 10%
DO YOU THINK THE GENERAL ECONOMIC CONDITION OF THE PR INDUSTRY WILL IMPROVE, STAY THE SAME, OR GET WORSE OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS?
Improve 31%
Stay the same 49%
Get worse 17%
Don't know 3%
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO STAFF NUMBERS IN THE NEXT QUARTER?
Staff numbers will increase 40%
Staff numbers will stay the same 43%
Staff numbers will decrease 17%
IN THE NEXT QUARTER WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO GRADUATE RECRUITMENT RELATIVE TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR?
Increase 28%
Decrease 15%
Stay the same 57%
IN THE NEXT QUARTER WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE USE OF FREELANCERS RELATIVE TO THE PREVIOUS QUARTER?
Increase 28%
Decrease 25%
Stay the same 47%
WHAT PROPORTION OF YOUR INCOME FOR THE LAST QUARTER WAS DERIVED FROM RETAINED WORK?
0 - 10% 0%
11 - 20% 1%
21 - 30% 3%
31 - 40% 7%
41 - 50% 7%
51 - 60% 15%
61 - 70% 17%
71 - 80% 16%
81 - 90% 17%
91 - 100% 17%
IS YOUR NEW BUSINESS PRIMARILY FROM NEW OR EXISTING CLIENTS?
Existing clients 44%
New clients 56%
