WKS data says staff up slowly

Design groups should not be tempted to staff up too quickly, says newly published research.

Recent data suggest the design industry continues to command the lowest gross income per head of the five marketing sectors, outperformed by advertising, PR, media buying and direct marketing. But there is a danger of staffing costs escalating as optimism returns to the sector.

In its latest Marketing Monitor, accountant Willott Kingston Smith reveals average gross income per head is down to £64, 000 and operating profit margins fell to 5.7 per cent for last quarter of 2003.