Marketing and commercial managers manage, plan and oversee the promotion of services, products, companies or brands, find new business, plan specifications and prepare details of the requirements for a project and negotiate contracts.
Also calledBrand managerAccount managerManagerMarketing campaigns managerCommercial managerClient services managerand 29 more titles
Recruitment from abroad. 535 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from United States, China, India, ranking it 36th of 313. Home Office
Who does it
ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
76%hold a degree
59%women
Age of marketing managers
Age profile of marketing managers
n/p
42%
30%
16%
10%!
n/p
16–2425–3435–4445–5455–6465+
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publishShow as table
16–24
Not published
25–34
42%
35–44
30%
45–54
16%
55–64
10% (small sample)
65+
Not published
Highest qualification
Highest qualification held by marketing managers
Degree or equivalent76%
Higher education below degree!3.2%
A levels or equivalent13%
GCSEs or equivalent!6.4%
Other qualifications!1.2%
No qualifications–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with cautionShow as table
Degree or equivalent
76%
Higher education below degree
3.2% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent
13%
GCSEs or equivalent
6.4% (small sample)
Other qualifications
1.2% (small sample)
No qualifications
Not published
Main employers: advertising agencies (12%), business and other management consultancy activities (11%), other social work activities without accommodation nec (5.2%), computer consultancy activities (4.5%).
How to get in
Hold a degree
76%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
1
from level 6
Apprenticeships take
2 years
typically
Routes in
You could get into this job through:
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
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
Other ways in
Work your way up
You could start as a marketing executive and then take a qualification offered by a professional marketing body such as:
The Chartered Institute of Marketing
the Chartered Institute of Public Relations
the Data and Marketing Association
Apply directly
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
Registration and professional bodies
Career tips
The Data and Marketing Association runs a Talent Marketing Challenge, which offers opportunities to get some experience of being involved in a marketing campaign.
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.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for marketing manager. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
liaises with other senior staff to determine the range of goods or services to be sold, contributes to the development of sales strategies and setting of sales targets
discusses employer’s or client’s requirements, carries out surveys or other market research and analyses customers’ reactions to product, packaging, price, etc
compiles and analyses sales figures, prepares proposals for marketing campaigns and promotional activities
produces reports and recommendations concerning marketing and sales strategies for senior management
manages a marketing team and directs the implementation of marketing strategies for products and services
builds relationships with clients, negotiates new business contracts, plans specifications and prepares details of the requirements for a project
Skills
perform market research
identify customer's needs
analyse consumer buying trends
develop professional network
manage budgets
coordinate advertising campaigns
implement marketing strategies
implement sales strategies
manage staff
meet expectations of target audience
brainstorm ideas
collaborate in the development of marketing strategies
create advertisements
identify new business opportunities
Knowledge
advertising techniques
marketing principles
product comprehension
copyright legislation
customer service
sales strategies
channel marketing
communication principles
Suits people who like
Leading and persuading
Organising and following procedures
Outlook
DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for business, media and public service professionals, a group of 32 jobs that includes marketing managers.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 26%about 670,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20352.1 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.
This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.
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