Marketing professionals in the UK are expecting bumper pay rises and bonuses this year, yet almost six in 10 also expect to change jobs within 12 months, according to new stats.

Recruitment company Robert Walters says three-quarters of marketing professionals it polled said they would secure a pay rise this year.

More than half of they are looking for 6% or less; modest but still well above the UK’s prevailing rate of inflation.

But about one in 10 respondents were looking forward to increases of 10% or more.

Bonuses expectations were even more ambitious, with seven in 10 expecting to receive one and 40% looking for between 6% and 15% of their basic salary.

Tim Gilbert, director of marketing recruitment at Robert Walters, said: “Improved business confidence in 2014 meant that firms began re-investing in their marketing teams.

“This year, we expect competition in the market to increase further as strong marketers become even more sought after.

“With many looking at a new job to make the step up, employers that do not benchmark pay and bonuses with market rates are at risk of losing key marketing staff.

“For those looking to recruit, many of the strongest candidates are likely to be entertaining multiple job offers, so it’s vital to address remuneration concerns at the interview stage.”

Increasingly robust market conditions are causing many marketers to look around them for new opportunities, the research found.

More than one-in-three are currently looking for a new opportunity, while a whopping 59% think they will move within the next 12 months.

The figures hint that small businesses will have a job on their hands this year keeping marketing professionals happy and focused.