Hiring and Sponsoring Advertising and marketing associate professionals (SOC Code 3554)

Advertising and Marketing Associate Professionals, classified under SOC Code 3554, play a crucial role in the marketing landscape, serving as the bridge between businesses and their target consumer groups. Their responsibilities encompass a range of functions, including:

• Engagement with Clients:
• Discuss business methods, products, or services with clients to identify specific marketing requirements.
• Market Research:
• Collate and interpret findings of market research to understand consumer behavior and trends, presenting results effectively to clients.
• Strategic Recommendations:
• Advise on potential changes to design, price, packaging, and promotion based on market research insights.
• Digital Marketing Strategy Development:
• Create digital marketing strategies, utilizing platforms like social media to increase visibility and promote products, brands, or services.
• Client Communication:
• Brief advertising teams on client requirements and monitor progress of advertising campaigns while maintaining open dialogue with clients about potential modifications.

Given the dynamic nature of the marketing industry, the demand for skilled advertising and marketing associate professionals is on the rise. This surge has prompted many organizations to seek talent from abroad, enhancing their teams with diverse skills and perspectives. This guide aims to assist HR professionals in navigating the process of hiring and sponsoring advertising and marketing associates under the UK’s immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Advertising and marketing associate professionals?

SOC Code 3554 refers to advertising and marketing associate professionals who play a vital role in developing targeted marketing strategies and communication for businesses. Their responsibilities can include:

• Discussing business methods: Engaging with employers or clients to understand products, services, and target customer groups to identify specific marketing requirements.
• Market research: Collating and interpreting findings from market research, and presenting insightful results to clients for decision-making.
• Advising on changes: Recommending adjustments in design, pricing, packaging, and promotion based on research insights to enhance market reach.
• Developing digital strategies: Creating and implementing digital marketing strategies, particularly on social media platforms, to effectively promote products, brands, or services.
• Client communication: Briefing the advertising team on client requirements, monitoring the progress of advertising campaigns, and liaising with clients on necessary modifications as campaigns unfold.

Advertising and marketing associates are essential to the success of campaigns, driving brand visibility and customer engagement through strategic insights and creative solutions.

Eligibility to Hire Advertising and marketing associate professionals (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Advertising and marketing associate professionals must possess strong analytical and communication skills to effectively contribute to marketing strategies and meet certain qualifications or experience criteria. These may include:

• Education: A degree in marketing, business administration, communications, or a related field is often preferred.
• Market research skills: Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret market data to identify trends and consumer preferences.
• Communication skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to discuss business methods, present findings, and liaise with clients.
• Digital marketing proficiency: Strong understanding of digital marketing strategies, including social media, SEO, email marketing, and online advertising.
• Project management: Experience in monitoring advertising campaigns, ensuring they meet client requirements, and adjusting strategies as needed.
• Team collaboration: Capability to work closely with both clients and advertising teams to deliver effective marketing solutions.

Ensure the job description aligns with SOC Code 3554 and that the candidate’s experience and skills meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Advertising and marketing associate professionals: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Advertising and marketing associate  professionals under SOC Code 3554.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Advertising and marketing associate  professionals, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Advertising and marketing associate  professionals under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Advertising and marketing associate  professionals. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Advertising and marketing associate professionals applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Advertising and marketing associate professionals’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorship for a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Advertising and marketing associate  professionals can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Advertising and marketing associate professionals

Before the Advertising and marketing associate  professionals begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Advertising and marketing associate professionals’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Advertising and marketing associate professionals holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Advertising and marketing associate professionals’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Advertising and marketing associate professionals’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Advertising and marketing associate  professionalss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Advertising and marketing associate professionals

Sponsoring Advertising and marketing associate  professionals under SOC Code 3554 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Advertising and marketing associate  professionals, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Advertising and marketing associate  professionals under SOC Code 3554 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.