Using skilled marketers can accelerate the growth of a business and both large and small firms now appreciate their importance in achieving sustainable, long-term expansion, an industry group has said.

Ray Jones, head of communications and external affairs at the Chartered Institute of Marketing, said that working with a search engine optimisation company or online PR agency can help to ensure that businesses get "good value" from their marketing spend.

"In both small and large businesses the key role that marketing plays in terms of stimulating growth is fully recognised these days," he added.

Mr Jones’s comments come after the latest Monster Employment Index showed that online recruitment activity in the marketing, PR and media sector rose by 12 per cent, indicating that spending on advertising and promotion is on the rise.

According to figures from IPG’s Magna, UK advertising revenues are expected to grow by three per cent this year.

It added that the value of the country’s media economy is expected to top £11.3 billion in 2010.

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