The studios with the strongest retention aren’t always the ones paying the highest salaries. More often than not, it comes down to culture, leadership and how people are treated.

If staff don’t feel valued, they’ll eventually leave.

It important to recognised, the industry has changed, much like lots of other industries. People are no longer willing to spend years in environments where long hours, unrealistic deadlines and constant pressure are accepted as part of the job.

We regularly hear of teams working 12 hour days for months because studios are under-resourced, only to then hear discussions about reducing headcount. Situations like that don’t just impact people professionally, they affect families, relationships, physical health and overall wellbeing.

The best studios understand that loyalty is built through give and take. When a team pulls together to get a project over the line, there should be something in return, whether that’s overtime pay, TIL, bonuses, career progression or flexibility when it’s needed.

Retention isn’t complicated.
People want fair pay, opportunities to grow, strong leadership and a workplace where they feel supported. They want to know their contribution matters and that their efforts won’t simply become the expectation.

Invest in your people, resource projects properly, recognise extra effort and create an environment where staff can build a long-term career.

Better retention = stronger teams, trust and a healthier studio culture.