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Marketing & Advertising

Marketing Manager

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A Marketing Manager is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating marketing efforts within an organisation. This includes developing marketing strategies, overseeing campaigns, managing budgets, and analysing market trends to help promote products or services. Marketing Managers often lead a team and work closely with sales, product development, and public relations departments to ensure brand consistency and effective communication. In the UK, this role can be found in a wide range of industries, from retail and finance to technology and the public sector. Day-to-day tasks may include market research, campaign analysis, digital marketing, and client meetings.

Marketing Manager

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📊 Statistics

Average Salary

Marketing Managers in the UK typically earn between £35,000 and £60,000 per year, with senior positions reaching up to £80,000 or more.

Job Availability

There are over 22,000 Marketing Manager positions advertised annually across the UK, according to job market data.

Industry Growth

The UK marketing sector is expected to grow by around 7 percent over the next five years, increasing demand for skilled managers.

🚀 Careers in this path

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Digital Marketing Manager

Oversees online marketing campaigns, including social media, email marketing, and website content to promote brands and products.

Brand Manager

Develops and maintains a company's brand image, ensuring products or services are marketed effectively to the target audience.

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Content Marketing Manager

Focuses on creating and managing engaging written and visual content to attract and retain customers.

Explore and Build Foundations

Learn About Marketing

Gain a basic understanding of what marketing is and the various roles within it.

Start by researching what marketing involves. Read articles, watch videos and speak to people working in the field to grasp the different types of marketing such as digital, content, and event marketing. This will help you decide if this path suits your interests and skills.

Choose Relevant Subjects

Pick GCSEs and A-Levels (or equivalent) that support a future in marketing.

Subjects like Business Studies, English, Media Studies, and IT are useful. These subjects help build your communication, analytical, and creative skills, which are important in marketing roles.

Get Involved in School Activities

Participate in clubs or projects that require organising, promoting, or communicating.

Join school clubs, help organise events, or take part in student leadership roles. These experiences can develop your teamwork, leadership, and communication skills, which are vital for a marketing career.

Gain Qualifications and Experience

Pursue Higher Education or Apprenticeships

Study marketing, business, or a related subject at university or through an apprenticeship.

A degree in marketing, business management, communications, or a similar field is valuable. Alternatively, marketing apprenticeships combine work and study and are available at various levels in the UK. Both routes provide practical and theoretical knowledge.

Build Practical Experience

Take on internships, part-time jobs, or voluntary roles in marketing.

Look for summer placements, internships, or volunteer opportunities with charities, clubs, or local businesses. Practical experience will give you insight into campaign planning, market research, and customer engagement, making you more attractive to employers.

Start Building a Portfolio

Collect evidence of your work and successes in marketing roles or projects.

Keep examples of campaigns you have contributed to, social media posts you have managed, and any feedback or results. A portfolio demonstrates your skills and achievements to future employers.

Develop Professional Skills and Progress

Secure an Entry-Level Marketing Role

Start as a Marketing Assistant, Coordinator, or similar entry-level role.

Apply for roles in marketing departments or agencies. These positions will develop your understanding of the industry and help you build crucial skills in campaign management, communication, and analytics.

Continue Professional Development

Take on further training, qualifications, or professional memberships.

Consider studying for professional qualifications such as those offered by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) or the Institute of Data & Marketing (IDM). Attend workshops, webinars, and networking events to keep up to date with industry trends and expand your professional network.

Move Into Management Roles

Progress to roles with more responsibility, such as Marketing Executive, then Marketing Manager.

With experience, demonstrated success, and ongoing professional development, you can apply for promotion. As a Marketing Manager, you will lead teams, create strategies, manage budgets, and evaluate campaign effectiveness.

🎯 View Apprenticeships

Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Marketing Manager. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.

🎓 View Apprenticeships

Career Progressions

This page showcases various career options and the pathways to reach them. Each career listed here shares transferable skills and knowledge, making it easier for individuals to transition between them.

Your current career is highlighted to help you see how it fits into the broader landscape of potential career choices. By clicking on any career, you can learn more about it, including the training and education required to pursue it.

Remember, progressing in your career often involves further learning and training. This page provides insights into future career options as well as those that can lead up to your current one.

These career progression decisions are informed by comparing the skills and knowledge needed for different occupations, along with data on how people move between them. Explore the possibilities and discover the exciting journey ahead in your career!

Sample Qualifications

The role of a Marketing Manager most closely aligns with a Marketing executive, as both positions involve strategic planning and overseeing marketing campaigns. The Marketing Manager generally has higher responsibilities and seniority, but both share the core qualifications related to marketing knowledge, leadership, and communication skills.

How to become

You could get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

University

You can become a marketing manager as graduate of any subject. Some higher national diploma or degree subjects might be particularly relevant like:

  • marketing
  • business management
  • digital marketing
  • advertising
  • psychology

Some companies might offer graduate marketing management schemes.

You might be able to fast-track through professional marketing qualifications if your degree is accredited. 

You can find out more about the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) accredited degree.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could start by taking a Marketing Assistant or Marketing Executive Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

If you already have some marketing experience, you might be able to do a Marketing Manager Level 6 Higher Apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could start as a marketing executive and then take a qualification offered by a professional marketing body such as:

Direct Application

You might be able to apply directly for marketing manager jobs if you have experience in a related area like:

  • sales management
  • advertising
  • communications
  • public relations

More Information

Professional and industry bodies

You can join The Chartered Institute of Marketing for professional development and training opportunities.

Further information

Learn more about how to get into marketing from The Chartered Institute of Marketing.

You can also find out about marketing events and challenges by DMA Talent on the Institute of Data and Marketing.

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