3.7 Sector Size and Shape
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Sector Size And Shape
Precise and up-to-date information about the size and shape of the Photo Imaging sector is not easily available. Partly this is because the sector is not adequately covered by Standard Industrial Classifications, making it hard to extract information from national data sources. Partly it is because of the predominance of micro-businesses and freelancers, which are often hard to reach for data gathering purposes. The diverse nature of the industry also means it is necessary to draw on a range of sources in attempting to build a complete picture.
The following is based on data from a range of sources31 . While we consider it to be a reasonably accurate estimate of the sector's size and shape, the figures must be treated with some caution. In particular, the Labour Force Survey was based on SIC codes, and as a result includes a small number of areas that are not relevant to Photo Imaging, while excluding others, notably some Press Photographers, Photo Retail, Picture Libraries and Agencies and Support Services. The Experian data only contains companies whose main business activity was specific to the Photo Imaging industry. Therefore, some Photo Retail, Minilabs and Manufacturers (e.g. Boots, Sony) are not included. In addition, many part-time and semi-professional Photographers will be excluded - only those who advertise their services in telephone and trade directories are included in the data. It is likely, then, that the following may be an underestimate of the true size of the sector - indeed, the Photo Marketing Association considers the true size of the industry to be closer to double the figures shown here.
In addition, companies with multiple locations are only listed under their head office addresses, which may therefore skew the regional breakdown analysis. Appendix B contains tables from which the following data is drawn. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
It is estimated that the Photo Imaging sector employs roughly 50,000 people within approximately 12,000 companies. This puts the average company size at 4 employees. The vast majority of businesses - between 90% and 96% depending on which data source is used - employ ten or fewer people. Around half are thought to be sole-traders, roughly a third employ 2 to 4 people, and around 10% employ 5 to 10 people.
By far the biggest sub-sector is Photographers, which at just fewer than 9,000 companies, accounts for around three-quarters of the industry. However, 60% of these are sole traders, with a further 21% having just two employees, 8% having three and 4% having four (see Figure 1 below) - hence in total, 93% of companies in the Photographers sub-sector have fewer than five employees. As a result, despite being the largest sector in terms of number of companies, it accounts for only around two-fifths of the total workforce.
Next are Laboratories (Prolabs and D&P) and Photo Retail (including Minilabs), who together account for around a sixth of the industry's companies and two-fifths of the workforce. It should be noted that the figures group together Manufacturing and Photo Imaging wholesalers.
The majority of those working in the industry - around ninety percent - are based in England. London employs between a fifth and a quarter of the workforce, and around 15% of the workforce is in the South East. The remainder are spread throughout the remaining regions and nations (see Figure 2 and Figure 3 below).
Around two-thirds of those working in the industry are male, even though Photography courses in Further and Higher Education tend to be more evenly balanced - a Skillset study found that of just over 9,000 students in Higher Education Cinematics & Photography courses, 44% were female and 56% male32 . It is unclear whether this discrepancy is the result of women choosing not to enter the industry at all, or whether it is because more women than men drop out shortly after entry - further research is needed.
An interesting issue that arises from this is the problem of colour vision deficiency, which is far more prominent in men than in women. This is particularly significant for Laboratories, (where correct colour calibration of equipment is essential) and for Photographers (when setting up their colour management workflows). There is a definite need to assess the colour vision of all staff involved regardless of gender.
It is also interesting to note that although good colour vision is necessary for making visual assessments and some edits, it is possible to set up a digital workflow for someone who has acute colour blindness to enable them to carry out and maintain the entire process purely 'by the numbers'.
Around a fifth of companies33 had not recruited in the last twelve months. Amongst those who had recruited during this period, administrative roles were a particularly common cause of recruitment activity. Technical and senior management roles also necessitated recruitment for many employers. Combined with reported expectations that employment levels will remain static, this suggests a possible issue of staff turnover amongst administrative roles in particular. Sales, marketing and machine operative roles were also recruited, suggesting that employers are acting, to some degree, to remedy skills gaps and shortages.
31 The Spring 2005 Labour Force Survey; Experian's database queried in March 2005 (itself drawing on commercial lists such as the Yellow Pages and Thompson Directory); The British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies' membership list; Photo Imaging Employer Survey 2005, Pye Tait for Skillset, September 2005
32 Overview And Analysis Of Training And Vocational Education Provision Relevant To The Audiovisual Industry Across The UK, Pye Tait for Skillset, September 2004
33 Surveyed in Skillset's Photo Imaging Employer Survey 2005
Sector Size And Shape
Precise and up-to-date information about the size and shape of the Photo Imaging sector is not easily available. Partly this is because the sector is not adequately covered by Standard Industrial Classifications, making it hard to extract information from national data sources. Partly it is because of the predominance of micro-businesses and freelancers, which are often hard to reach for data gathering purposes. The diverse nature of the industry also means it is necessary to draw on a range of sources in attempting to build a complete picture.
The following is based on data from a range of sources31 . While we consider it to be a reasonably accurate estimate of the sector's size and shape, the figures must be treated with some caution. In particular, the Labour Force Survey was based on SIC codes, and as a result includes a small number of areas that are not relevant to Photo Imaging, while excluding others, notably some Press Photographers, Photo Retail, Picture Libraries and Agencies and Support Services. The Experian data only contains companies whose main business activity was specific to the Photo Imaging industry. Therefore, some Photo Retail, Minilabs and Manufacturers (e.g. Boots, Sony) are not included. In addition, many part-time and semi-professional Photographers will be excluded - only those who advertise their services in telephone and trade directories are included in the data. It is likely, then, that the following may be an underestimate of the true size of the sector - indeed, the Photo Marketing Association considers the true size of the industry to be closer to double the figures shown here.
In addition, companies with multiple locations are only listed under their head office addresses, which may therefore skew the regional breakdown analysis. Appendix B contains tables from which the following data is drawn. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
It is estimated that the Photo Imaging sector employs roughly 50,000 people within approximately 12,000 companies. This puts the average company size at 4 employees. The vast majority of businesses - between 90% and 96% depending on which data source is used - employ ten or fewer people. Around half are thought to be sole-traders, roughly a third employ 2 to 4 people, and around 10% employ 5 to 10 people.
By far the biggest sub-sector is Photographers, which at just fewer than 9,000 companies, accounts for around three-quarters of the industry. However, 60% of these are sole traders, with a further 21% having just two employees, 8% having three and 4% having four (see Figure 1 below) - hence in total, 93% of companies in the Photographers sub-sector have fewer than five employees. As a result, despite being the largest sector in terms of number of companies, it accounts for only around two-fifths of the total workforce.
Next are Laboratories (Prolabs and D&P) and Photo Retail (including Minilabs), who together account for around a sixth of the industry's companies and two-fifths of the workforce. It should be noted that the figures group together Manufacturing and Photo Imaging wholesalers.
The majority of those working in the industry - around ninety percent - are based in England. London employs between a fifth and a quarter of the workforce, and around 15% of the workforce is in the South East. The remainder are spread throughout the remaining regions and nations (see Figure 2 and Figure 3 below).
Around two-thirds of those working in the industry are male, even though Photography courses in Further and Higher Education tend to be more evenly balanced - a Skillset study found that of just over 9,000 students in Higher Education Cinematics & Photography courses, 44% were female and 56% male32 . It is unclear whether this discrepancy is the result of women choosing not to enter the industry at all, or whether it is because more women than men drop out shortly after entry - further research is needed.
An interesting issue that arises from this is the problem of colour vision deficiency, which is far more prominent in men than in women. This is particularly significant for Laboratories, (where correct colour calibration of equipment is essential) and for Photographers (when setting up their colour management workflows). There is a definite need to assess the colour vision of all staff involved regardless of gender.
It is also interesting to note that although good colour vision is necessary for making visual assessments and some edits, it is possible to set up a digital workflow for someone who has acute colour blindness to enable them to carry out and maintain the entire process purely 'by the numbers'.
Around a fifth of companies33 had not recruited in the last twelve months. Amongst those who had recruited during this period, administrative roles were a particularly common cause of recruitment activity. Technical and senior management roles also necessitated recruitment for many employers. Combined with reported expectations that employment levels will remain static, this suggests a possible issue of staff turnover amongst administrative roles in particular. Sales, marketing and machine operative roles were also recruited, suggesting that employers are acting, to some degree, to remedy skills gaps and shortages.
31 The Spring 2005 Labour Force Survey; Experian's database queried in March 2005 (itself drawing on commercial lists such as the Yellow Pages and Thompson Directory); The British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies' membership list; Photo Imaging Employer Survey 2005, Pye Tait for Skillset, September 2005
32 Overview And Analysis Of Training And Vocational Education Provision Relevant To The Audiovisual Industry Across The UK, Pye Tait for Skillset, September 2004
33 Surveyed in Skillset's Photo Imaging Employer Survey 2005
