How to Hire Influencers for UGC in the UK: Rates, Briefs and Where to Find Them
UGC, user-generated content, is the short video and photo content a business commissions and then posts on its own channels and in its own adverts. Hiring for it is different from hiring an Influencer to post to their audience, because you are paying for skill, reliability and rights rather than followers. This guide explains how to choose between a job and a one-off project, what UGC costs in the UK, how to write a post that attracts the right applicants, how to assess them, and the rights and labelling points to settle before work starts.
Hiring for UGC on a regular basis? Post a job free on the ZOMZEY network and Influencers, photographers and videographers apply through their ZOMZEY profile.
What you are actually hiring for
A good UGC hire can take a product and a short brief and return a clean, well lit, vertical video with a strong opening, clear captions and a call to action, on time and without supervision. Follower count matters very little, because the content will run on your channels. What matters is the portfolio, the ability to follow a brief and the speed of delivery.
Job or project: choosing the right route on ZOMZEY
ZOMZEY gives employers two routes, and choosing correctly saves time on both sides.
- Post a job when you want people for an ongoing or repeat role, such as four videos a month or a part time content role. Members apply through their ZOMZEY account and you review applications and move suitable conversations forward. Jobs are approved before they go live.
- Post a paid opportunity when you have one defined piece of work, such as three videos for a launch. Members send a priced offer, the work is agreed through the Prospect Centre, and ZOMZEY Protected Payments can hold the fee until the work is delivered and approved.
What UGC costs in the UK
Whito’s 2026 UK rate research puts a single UGC video at £50 to £250 for content the business posts on its own channels. The add-ons below, drawn from Influee’s UGC price benchmarks, are priced on top of that base fee. Our full breakdown is in UGC rates in the UK.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| One UGC video, organic use on your channels | £50 to £250 |
| Extended usage rights | 30% to 50% on top of the base fee |
| Raw footage | 30% to 50% of the base fee |
| Paid advert use (whitelisting or Spark Ads) | About 30% of the base fee per month |
| Rush delivery | 25% to 50% on top |
For an ongoing role, many employers agree a monthly package, for example a set number of videos with organic usage included, and price paid advert use separately when a video performs well.
Writing a UGC job post that attracts the right people
- A specific title, such as “UGC video Influencer for skincare brand, 4 videos a month”.
- The product and the audience the content is for.
- Deliverables: number of videos, length, format, hooks and caption requirements.
- Rights: where you will use the content and for how long, and whether you need raw footage.
- Pay: a clear rate or range, and whether product is supplied and kept.
- Turnaround and revisions: delivery time per video and how many rounds of changes are included.
The Campaign Brief Generator can help you turn the role into a clear brief before you post it.
Assessing applicants
Ask for two or three examples that match your format and category, and judge them on the first three seconds, the lighting and sound, how clearly the product is shown and whether the call to action lands. Shortlist three to five, then offer the strongest two or three a short paid test brief. A test shows how someone follows instructions and handles feedback far better than a portfolio alone.
Rights, labelling and the agreement
Put usage rights, raw footage, revisions and payment terms in writing before work starts; our influencer contract template covers the main clauses. If you run a video as your own advert, it is your ad and must be obviously identifiable as advertising. If the Influencer also posts it on their own channel because they were paid, it must be clearly labelled, for example with #ad. The ASA and CMA Influencers’ Guide and our guide to influencer ad rules in the UK explain the detail.
Ready to hire? Posting jobs on the ZOMZEY network is free, and you can see each applicant’s profile before you reply.
Browse Influencers and venues by city
ZOMZEY lists its members by location, so you can see who is active near you.
- Influencers by city, including Greater London.
- Hubs by city, the shops, venues and communities that host promotions.
Common questions about hiring for UGC
How much does it cost to hire an Influencer for UGC in the UK?
UK research puts a single UGC video at about £50 to £250 for content the business posts on its own channels. Usage rights, raw footage, paid advert use and rush delivery are priced on top.
Is it free to post a UGC job on ZOMZEY?
Yes. Posting jobs on the ZOMZEY network is free. Members apply through their ZOMZEY profile and you choose who to take forward.
Should I post a job or a paid opportunity?
Post a job when you want applications for an ongoing or repeat role. Post a paid opportunity when you have one defined piece of work and want members to send priced offers.
Do UGC videos need an ad label?
If the brand posts the video as its own advert, it is the brand’s ad and must be obviously identifiable as advertising. If the Influencer also posts it on their own channel because they were paid, it needs a clear label such as #ad.
How many applicants should I shortlist?
Three to five is usually enough. Compare portfolios against your brief, then offer a short paid test to the strongest two or three before agreeing ongoing work.
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