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Hiring vs training marketers: how CIM qualifications help you build leaders from within.

In a fast-paced, ever-evolving marketing landscape, the pressure on businesses to deliver results has never been higher. Whether you’re a small business owner wearing multiple hats or a marketing director leading a growing team, you’ve likely faced a common dilemma: Do I hire someone new, or invest in developing the people I already have?

While hiring might seem like the quickest fix, building capability from within can create far more lasting, strategic benefits. And with CIM-accredited training from providers like TMLA, that process is more flexible, practical, and impactful than ever.

In this article:
The cost of constant recruitment
The case for training from within
How CIM qualifications deliver real business impact
Building a resilient, marketing-led business
Ready to invest in your team’s growth?

The cost of constant recruitment.

Let’s face it – recruiting top marketing talent isn’t just expensive. It’s time-consuming, competitive, and often risky. Salaries for experienced marketers continue to rise, and even after onboarding, there’s no guarantee of a good cultural fit or long-term commitment. According to CIPD, the average cost of replacing an employee can exceed £6,000 – and that’s before you factor in the lost time, productivity dips, and recruitment agency fees.

When budgets are tight and agility is key, that kind of outlay isn’t always sustainable.

The case for training from within.

Upskilling your existing team is often a smarter, more strategic alternative. It’s not just about filling gaps – it’s about building a culture of learning, loyalty and leadership. With the right development in place, junior team members can confidently step into more senior roles, while more experienced staff can sharpen their strategic thinking and stay ahead of marketing trends.

Here’s why more organisations are choosing training over hiring:

  • Faster integration - Existing staff already understand your brand, values, and customers.
  • Higher retention - Investment in people builds loyalty and reduces turnover.
  • Better ROI - Training is often significantly more cost-effective than recruitment.
  • Long-term capability - You’re not just plugging a hole, you’re building future leaders.

How CIM qualifications deliver real business impact.

That’s where the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) comes in. Recognised globally and trusted by employers, CIM qualifications are designed to be immediately applicable, giving learners the confidence and tools to make an impact from day one.

But why choose us to provide your CIM training? At TMLA, we make CIM training work for businesses of all sizes:

  • Flexible online learning to work around day-to-day work.
  • Implementable knowledge & tools to ensure knowledge can be directly applied to your organisation’s challenges.
  • Supportive tutors and peer communities create a space for feedback, growth and reflection.
  • Strategic progression pathways help you build talent at every level - from entry-level marketers to senior decision-makers.
  • A credit scheme that allows you to purchase training credits to use at a later time - ideal for making the most of budgets and planning ahead.
Picture of a desk with a veriety of marketing materials across - including a pair of hands holding a book open, colour palette books, notepads and pens.

Building a resilient, marketing-led business.

The truth is, your team could already hold the potential you’re looking for. With the right training and support, you can help them achieve that potential, build internal capability, and future-proof your marketing function – all without the churn and cost of constant recruitment.

At TMLA, we believe in equipping marketers to thrive. Our CIM-accredited programmes are built to fit around your business, not disrupt it. Whether you’re nurturing raw talent or sharpening strategic leadership, we’re here to help you gain knowledge and create change.

Ready to invest in your team’s growth?

Explore our CIM qualifications today and let’s talk about building a stronger marketing future from the inside out.

L4 Certificate
L6 Diploma

Check you meet all these criteria before applying:

  • You’re aged 19–65 (if self-employed, you can be over 65).
  • You’ve lived in the UK for at least 3 years and can prove your right to work (e.g. passport, visa).
  • You currently live or work  in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire.
  • You’re either:
    • looking for a job in digital marketing
    • self-employed
    • supported by an employer who will contribute to your place
  • You’re ready to start work as soon as the course ends.
  • You can join live lessons every Wednesday 9:30am-4:30pm.
  • You can commit to around 10 hours of learning each week for 12 weeks.
  • You haven’t joined another Skills Bootcamp in the last 12 months.
  • You’ll attend a 30-minute screening interview.
  • You’re willing to share personal information with MacMartin, the EMCCA and the DfE. We store data securely under GDPR.
  • You’ll provide evidence of your progress, such as proof of an interview, a new job, or an action plan showing how you’ve applied your learning.

“As someone in the early stages of their marketing career, I really wanted to broaden my knowledge beyond the scope of my current role. I knew that having a solid, well-rounded understanding of marketing would help me grow and become more confident in my abilities – and that’s exactly what led me to TMLA and the CIM Level 4 course.

The course has given me a much deeper understanding of the wider marketing landscape. It’s really helped me see how all the different pieces fit together, which in turn has made me feel more confident and capable in my day-to-day work. What I love is how practical the course is – you can take what you’ve learnt and apply it straight away. I’ve already made changes to our business newsletter after a really insightful session on adding value for your audience (shoutout to Jessica for that one!). It’s made me think differently about how and why we communicate with our audience, not just what we’re saying.

The support from the tutors was brilliant – they’re always approachable and happy to answer questions, even outside the weekly sessions. And the wider TMLA team was just as great. Communication has been spot on and I’ve always felt well-supported throughout.

Another big plus for me has been how flexible the course is. The sessions are held online in the evenings, which makes it easy to fit around work and other commitments. On top of that, the exams can be taken at any point within the exam window, which has been really helpful – I’ve been able to sit my exams at a time that genuinely works for me.

Overall, I’d absolutely recommend this course to anyone looking to deepen their marketing knowledge. The content is engaging, the support is fantastic, and you walk away with skills and insights that you can use straight away. I feel so much more confident in what I am doing and how my career could progress.”

Emily Scott, Content Marketing Executive
Level 4 CIM student
Level 4 Certificate
Level 6 Diploma

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