Top Employer Branding Agencies in the UK (2024)

What is an employer branding agency?

This type of providers specialises in helping to develop and improve a company’s brand in the eyes of current and potential employees. Their main goal is to create a positive and attractive image and position it as the best workplace in the world where everyone is happy as a clam. To do this, such firms have several key tools in their arsenal.

Brand audit. This is a study aimed at assessing the current state, identifying strengths and areas that can be improved, while simultaneously assessing the company’s efforts and predicting expected results.

Employer brand strategy. Prominent employer branding agencies commonly strive for the development of a comprehensive strategy including defining the values ​​​​and priorities of the organisation, its corporate culture and unique points that distinguish it from most competitors in the market and put it high on everybody’s list.

Improving workplace culture. To make each employee feel valued and important, compelling and authentic messages are created that reflect the ideal work culture and principles of communication and behaviour in the team.

Developing an employee value proposition (EVP). A unique set of values ​​and benefits for employees so that everyone understands what perks they get from working for this company, such as career growth opportunities, work-life balance, recognition, etc.

Internal communication. Employer branding firm ensure effective internal communication in line with the culture and values ​​of the organisation including planning and conducting various events, newsletters, regular meetings, etc. Evidently, actions speak louder than words but style, frequency, and message should be such as to keep up with the times and fuel the desire of employees to remain a part of this structure.

Measurement and analytics. All kinds of metrics and analytics to measure the effectiveness of brand strategies and events already held, which allows to understand whether the company is moving in the right direction and what else can be done to increase employee engagement and satisfaction.

Generally speaking, such agencies, using various tools, do everything possible to ensure that people working in the organisation are fully committed to their work, are sure that they hit the jackpot and do not look for alternatives, and those who are not yet members of the team, in their sweetest dreams see an offer from this particular employer.

What does an employer brand agency do?

By contacting this firm, you will receive several advantages at once. But let’s cut to the chase and take a closer look at what miracle employer branding company can work.

1. Attract talent. Companies with a strong brand, as a rule, attract more talented employees than those with a negative reputation so this is your chance to be on the ball. Experts will be able to position the company correctly to show that they value and give room for development to those who can do something extraordinary.
2. Retain employees. Frequent changes in the team do not benefit either the business they are engaged in or the emotional atmosphere within the company, because when people strive for one goal for a long time, this contributes to increased efficiency. Specialists know how to highlight those benefits that will make people not look for a better life in competing companies, which, moreover, also brings financial losses to the company, because each time you need to train a new employee.
3. Reduce hiring time. By contacting employer brand agencies, you can be sure that they will create such an image for you on the job market that when a new vacancy opens, it will be in a high demand: applicants will line up to see you and your HR will not have time to sort through the CVs of the best candidates. According to LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trends report, a well-built employer brand can reduce the cost of hiring by 50%, and what employer wouldn’t want to reduce costs and shorten the hiring time?
4. Convincing hesitant candidates. If you have employees who are hesitant about whether they should look for a new job, while you are absolutely sure that they are valuable personnel for your business, the work of an agency can convince those who are hesitant to stay. The image of your company created by brand design experts will show them in the blink of an eye how many advantages they have and how much they can lose by leaving you.

Criteria for selecting employer branding company

Branding managers create campaigns using the values ​​and goals of the organisation. But in order to hit the nail on the head, you need to understand how to choose the right partner who will be capable of carefully considering and understanding the unique value proposition.

Our experts talked to some representatives of successful businesses who have already sought the services of such agencies and heard straight from the horse’s mouth what the criteria for selecting the best provider are.

Expertise and experience. Look for an employer branding firm with a deep understanding of corporate ethics and a portfolio of successful projects. At the same time, the experience should be confirmed by real reviews, and adherence to corporate ethics should be traced in each of the completed projects presented in the portfolio.

Customisation. Obviously each such agency has standard tools and procedures in stock. But in addition to templates, the company should offer individual solutions that reflect the unique corporate culture and values, because it is the differences from similar ones that attract both employees and clients.

Innovative approach. Don’t waste your time on something that’s behind the times, choose an employer branding agency that uses innovative strategies and keeps up with the latest trends. Especially if your niche involves hiring young employees whose values ​​include modernity and the state-of-art views of the employer.

Matching your culture. When we talk about innovation, we should also remember that the values ​​and vision of your organisation’s ideas should coincide with the approach and ethics of the company’s employees, otherwise you will get a very unexpected and depressing result.

Data-driven strategies. Using the method “finger in the sky” is a good strategy, but, alas, it does not work. Therefore, look before you leap and be sure that specialists use clear data and analytics to justify ideas and select methods.

Comprehensive services. It is easier to get everything at once, especially in terms of saving time and money. Therefore, look for a place that will offer you a full range of turnkey services: from developing a strategy to its implementation and subsequent monitoring.

The fact is that these two areas are often not just close, but even intersect. And what branding cannot do for you, marketing can do, and in combination it will be a fantastic result. For example, Sophie Deering in her article, based on statistical data, claims that today work with personnel is increasingly on the verge of marketing.

Pricing models used in branding agencies for employers

When it comes to the cost of services, it is worth noting that there are variations due to the different pricing models used by all employer brand agencies. These models are based on important factors such as hourly rates, specific work results, or the perceived value of the work performed.

The model you choose will determine not only the final amount of payments, but also their frequency and regularity. Let’s look at some of the most popular payment formats, as well as their pros and cons.

Of course, all top employer branding agencies are motivated to do their best work and always strive to create conditions for strong and long-term cooperation, therefore, you can negotiate the proposed terms and seek compromises until everyone is satisfied. In any case try to read between the lines and find out the most convenient decision for you.

Looking for employer branding firms?

So, we have already talked a lot about how cooperation with agencies which provide services for employers can strengthen the company’s position in the market and what goodies it will bring in the long term. But to make a long story short, how can you find an agency that can turn an ordinary and mediocre company into a real VIP company? We will let the cat out of the bag.

Look for vendors that prefer non-standard approaches. In the times of super-speed, when information spreads across the network at lightning speed, most of the old strategies no longer work. Today, one or two negative reviews from job applicants who were not called back with feedback in time can ruin months of work for the best employer branding companies. Therefore, “field” research, surfing in social networks and quick reactions are one of the important arguments in favour of choosing a specific agency.

A good sign of the right choice will be advice from professionals not to forget about the branding of the company itself, because this means that they really care about your reputation. If the brand of a product or service causes negative emotions in the audience, this will directly affect people’s desire to work in such a company and vice versa. Therefore, listen to the advice and mark such an agency with an additional point in your rating.

These are the companies we have collected in our list and by stopping your attention on any of them, you will be able to get a strong positioning and the best employees for the team. Each of the presented providers has been thoroughly researched by our experts, the tools they use and the specific results of working with cases have been analysed.

Well, if even after such a complete review of the companies you still have questions, welcome to our experts, who will easily consult you and help you navigate the raging sea of ​​HR branding and help you count the budget of forming your brand identity.