Managers and directors in the creative industries (SOC 1255) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer must pay at least the going rate of £44,900 per year. Scroll down for salary benchmarks, the visa rules, and live jobs from licensed sponsors.
Managers and directors in creative industries plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the activities and resources of organisations in sectors such as arts, publishing, music, media, design and architecture.
Entry requirements vary according to the specific sector. Most post holders will have relevant experience and while some fields do not require candidates to have academic qualifications others require a degree or equivalent qualification. Off and on-the-job training may be provided, and vocational qualifications are available in many of these sectors.
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most managers and directors in the creative industries in the UK earn between £40,040 and £72,176 in basic pay. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £44,900 (SOC 1255), sitting at the 31st percentile of what UK employers pay and £13,964 below the median.
All figures are before tax. Calculate your take-home pay.
Browse our register of UK companies with an active sponsor licence. Filter by industry, size, sponsor rating, and whether they're currently hiring managers and directors in the creative industries, so you only apply where a visa is actually on the table.
Browse licensed sponsorsYour employer must pay whichever is higher: the going rate for SOC 1255 (£44,900) or the general Skilled Worker threshold of £41,700 per year.
New entrants and ISL roles may qualify for a lower rate. See the New entrant & discount rates section below.
Your sponsor issues a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), a reference number the Home Office uses to check the job offer, salary, and duties line up with an eligible SOC code.
Submit the Skilled Worker visa application online within 3 months of your CoS assignment date. You'll also book a biometric appointment and pay the immigration health surcharge.
Apply on gov.ukTravel to the UK before your CoS start date and begin working for the sponsor named on the certificate.
If you're under 26, switching from a Student visa, or a recent UK graduate, your employer can pay the new entrant rate of £37,000 (70% of the going rate) for up to four years.
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (125xx):
Yes. Managers and directors in the creative industries roles fall under SOC 1255 (Higher Skilled), so they qualify for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer will need a sponsor licence and must pay at least the going rate for this occupation.
The going rate for Managers and directors in the creative industries (SOC 1255) is £44,900 (£23.03 per hour). Occupation rate applies. Your employer must pay whichever is higher: this going rate or the general Skilled Worker threshold of £41,700 per year.
SOC 1255 covers a range of managers and directors in the creative industries roles, including: Art gallery managers and directors, Film and television production managers, Publishing managers and directors, Radio production managers, Sport and talent agents, Theatre production managers, and 1 more. Keep in mind that the Home Office matches jobs by duties rather than title alone. Two roles with the same title can fall under different SOC codes depending on the actual work involved.
Yes. If you're under 26, a recent graduate, or switching from a Student visa, you count as a "new entrant" and your employer only needs to pay 70% of the going rate (with an absolute floor of £33,400/year — the new-entrant minimum cannot go below that). For Managers and directors in the creative industries, that works out to £37,000. The discount lasts up to four years.
We list Managers and directors in the creative industries roles from companies with a Home Office sponsor licence. Scroll down to see what's currently open, or search our full jobs database for more visa-sponsored positions across the UK.
This information is provided as guidance only and should not be treated as legal advice. Eligibility criteria and salary thresholds are based on the latest published government data. Always verify with the official UK government guidance or seek professional immigration advice.