Bristol’s creative businesses are no strangers to making a little go a long way. From indie agencies in Stokes Croft to production studios by the Harbourside, the city’s creative energy has always thrived on ingenuity and resourcefulness. But in 2025, with budgets stretched and competition for talent fiercer than ever, many are asking a quiet but crucial question: are the benefits we offer our people actually working?

More than ping pong tables and free coffee

For years, employee perks in the creative industries leaned towards the playful: Friday beers, foosball tables, “duvet days.” But those days are largely gone. Post-pandemic, today’s creative professionals are looking for something deeper—flexibility, wellbeing support, and genuine investment in their growth.

“Benefits aren’t about gimmicks anymore,” says Sophie, who runs a small design studio in Clifton. “My team doesn’t care about free pizza nights. What they want is proper support for mental health and the freedom to work in a way that fits their lives.”

That shift in expectations is making many creative leaders rethink what they offer—and whether it truly delivers value.

The rise of the benefits audit

Enter the benefits audit: a structured review of everything you provide your team, from pension contributions and healthcare to training budgets and flexible working policies. It’s about shining a light on what’s working, what’s being wasted, and what could be done differently.

For Bristol Creative Industries (BCI) members, the timing couldn’t be more relevant. I am often told “The market is tough right now”. Businesses can’t just throw money at salaries, so benefits are one of the few levers we have to attract and keep good people. But you need to know those benefits are the right ones.

Tight budgets, bigger impact

The irony is that a benefits audit isn’t about spending more—it’s often about spending less. Many businesses discover they’re paying for perks employees hardly touch, while missing out on affordable benefits that would make a huge difference.

That’s why I’m offering to carry out a free benefits audit for BCI members. With money tight across the sector, I want to help creative businesses cut waste, strengthen their culture, and give their teams what they actually need—without adding extra costs.

The process is simple: talk to your team, review the numbers, benchmark against the market, and map out smarter options. The result? Benefits that are both meaningful for employees and sustainable for the business.

Building resilience in Bristol’s creative community

Ultimately, a benefits audit isn’t just an HR exercise—it’s about resilience. By aligning your benefits with the real needs of your people, you create workplaces that feel supportive, forward-thinking, and competitive in an increasingly challenging market.

My clients tell me that “Creative businesses run on people, if they’re not happy, everything suffers. A benefits audit helps make sure we’re getting it right.”

For BCI members, that could be the smartest investment you make this year—especially when it won’t cost a penny. Because the truth is, a benefits audit isn’t about spending more—it’s about spending smarter.

If you’re a BCI member and would like me to run this for your business, drop me a message. Let’s make sure your benefits are really working—for your people, and for you.

About Un:Fade Employee Benefits Consulting

Specialists in seamless employee benefits, payroll and fintech solutions consulting. Helping you stand out as an EMPLOYER OF CHOICE by examining your benefits program to ensure cost-effectiveness, and alignment with employee and business goals