Marketing Week

In the latest episode, we explore why mothers are being pushed out of the workforce in increasing numbers, from the rollback of flexible policies to poor company culture. We are joined by Jess Heagren, founder and CEO of parenting organisation Careers After Babies, and Sophie Maunder, former VCCP CEO turned founder of maternity coaching business Matri.

In the latest episode, we explore why mothers are being pushed out of the workforce in increasing numbers, from the rollback of flexible policies to poor company culture. We are joined by Jess Heagren, founder and CEO of parenting organisation Careers After Babies, and Sophie Maunder, former VCCP CEO turned founder of maternity coaching business Matri.

In this latest episode, we explore the rate of marketing team restructures, debate what's next for WHSmith as the chain prepares to disappear from UK high streets and explore the value of personalisation following the return of Coca-Cola's 'Share a Coke'.

Marketing has a big pay gap problem and for many people it's getting worse. Exclusive new data from Marketing Week’s 2025 Career & Salary Survey shows the marketing profession has an ethnicity pay gap for full-time workers of 13.3%, up sharply from 8.5% in 2024 – based on a sample 82.9% of whom identify as white. Marketing's gender pay gap has also widened. Female marketers are paid on average 17.8% less than their male peers. This figure is based on a sample of more than 3,500 marketers – 59.9% of whom are female – and is up on the 16% pay gap revealed in 2024. Analysis of the data also finds a socio-economic pay gap for full-time workers of 15.3%, flat compared to last year’s figure at 15.9%. Furthermore, 74% of the sample identify as middle-class, up on the 70.1% figure reported in 2024. On this week's podcast, deputy managing editor and head of insight Charlotte Rogers, managing editor Lucy Tesseras and senior reporter Molly Innes dig into what is causing these pay gaps to be so persistent. Meanwhile, marketing's recruitment challenges continue. From drawn out interview processes to ghosting and mental health pressures, the jobs wheel isn't turning as it used to and is having a detrimental impact on many. Listen to find out more.

This week on The Marketing Week Podcast we’re tackling marketing’s early talent problem. With fewer routes into the industry and a lack of support for apprenticeships, are aspiring marketers being shut out before they even get started? Marketing Week's 2025 Career & Salary Survey revealed just 15.9% of companies operate a marketing apprenticeship, citing the level of resource required and a lack of senior buy-in as key barriers. In this episode, deputy managing editor and head of insight Charlotte Rogers and senior reporter Molly Innes are joined by editor-in-chief Russell Parsons to dig into what is holding the industry back from opening up different ways of entering the industry and its problem with representation. The episode features an interview with Cerys Gardiner, former apprentice and marketing manager at Medichecks, who details the benefits to businesses of hiring marketing apprentices. We also speak to Brixton Finishing School's head of adventure Jo Royce and Simone Johnson, head of new business and strategic partnerships, who discuss the work they're doing to support early talent pathways.