Agency staff threaten to quit industry over new biz hell

The grim reality of working on agency new business has been exposed yet again, with nearly half (42%) of professionals admitting they have considered changing jobs due to current practices, while nearly a third have contemplated quitting the industry altogether.

So says a new survey from business development firm The Great Pitch Company, which calls for agencies to consider the impact of poor pitching practices both on their people and business.

In fact, over a third (34%) of respondents had never even heard of the “Pitch Positive Pledge”, an initiative that brings together ISBA, the IPA, their members and intermediaries to focus on making the process more intentional, accountable and responsible for both advertisers and agencies.

And, even those who had, gave it an average score of 3 out of 10.

Meanwhile, with the working from home debate still raging, 42% of those surveyed said they would consider looking for a new job if their employer insisted on them working from the office more than the current requirement.

Even so, there has been increase in the way agencies are compensating people who work on new business by giving them dedicated days off, up 25% compared to the previous year.

There has also been a positive shift in both the intentions and actions of agencies with regard to mental health versus the previous year and the overwhelmingly majority (84%) of respondents agreed that “if charging client pitch fees were commonplace, it would have a positive impact on pitching culture in the UK”.

The Great Pitch Poll founder and CEO Marcus Brown commented: “New business is often considered the life blood of an agency but to learn that it has caused many to think about changing job, and others to think about changing industry should be a concern for anyone passionate about the future of our industry.

“While some agencies have made great strides in their working practices around new business, it’s clear there is still much to do.”

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