Over the past few months, we’ve seen a steady rise in UK prospects asking about Sales Development Representatives (SDRs).
Leoni, our Head of Marketing, summed it up simply:
“SDRs seem to be a steady one for us lately, and we’re getting a few more enquiries at the moment.”
It’s not hard to see why. SDRs play a crucial role in keeping the sales pipeline alive, but hiring them locally in the UK has become increasingly expensive. For many startups and SMEs, the cost of maintaining even a small outbound sales team is hard to justify. That’s where offshore hiring is gaining traction.
What Makes SDRs Essential
An SDR is the link between marketing and sales.
They’re the ones reaching out, qualifying leads, and booking meetings to make sure your sales team always has a warm pipeline to work with.
But the challenge is that their work is repetitive and fast-paced. SDRs are under constant pressure to hit numbers.
That’s why the role often has one of the highest turnover rates in sales. Some studies show quota attainment in the UK ranges between 16% and 58%, depending on industry and structure.
The average SDR tenure is only 14 months, and more than half don’t even stay a full year before moving on to other roles.
For startups trying to grow predictably, losing SDRs every few months can set you back significantly.
What's the Cost of Hiring SDRs in the UK
Hiring a single SDR in the UK with around five years of experience costs more than you might think.
According to aggregated data from PayScale and Glassdoor, the average base salary is around £38,000 per year.
When you include National Insurance (15%), pension contributions (3%), tech allowances, HR admin, and occasional recruiter fees, the true total employment cost climbs to around £66,600 per SDR per year.
That figure already accounts for:
In short, hiring one local SDR can cost you as much as hiring a full offshore team.
The Real Numbers When You Hire SDRs Offshore
Now, let’s look at what it actually costs to hire the same role offshore.
The same report shows that an offshore SDR in the Philippines costs around £16,645 per year, inclusive of benefits, health insurance, night differential pay, and all Employer of Record (EOR) fees.
That’s a 75% cost reduction compared to hiring in the UK.
To put it another way:
If you run a small sales team of five SDRs locally, your annual cost could hit £333,000.
Offshore, that same team could cost closer to £83,000. That's already with recruitment, payroll, and compliance handled by your EOR partner.
See It in Action: SDR Cost Comparison Breakdown
If you’d like to see how this plays out in real numbers, Leoni Parkinson walks through the full breakdown in this short video from our Cost Comparison Chronicles series.
In the video, she explains how the base pay, recruiter fees, HR overhead, and benefits all add up and how the offshore model includes those same factors upfront and gives a true like-for-like comparison.
The result?
Depending on how recruitment and overhead costs are factored in, the savings range between 50 and 60 percent, with offshore SDRs averaging around £16,000-£18,000 per year.
Watch the full breakdown below to see how the numbers stack up.
What These Savings Really Mean
These numbers don’t just reflect lower wages.
They reflect an entire infrastructure that’s already in place, one that includes:
So instead of spending months sourcing, screening, and onboarding, you can start building your team right away.
It’s also not just about saving money; it’s about consistency.
Offshore SDRs, particularly in the Philippines, tend to stay longer in their roles. They often see the position as a long-term career, not a short-term stepping stone.
How Offshore SDRs Fit Into a Modern Sales Model
Here’s how it usually looks in practice.
Your local SDRs and Account Executives handle the conversations that matter: discovery calls, follow-ups, and building relationships with prospects. But before any of that happens, someone still has to do the heavy lifting: finding leads, sending first messages, and warming up the pipeline.
That’s where offshore SDRs come in. They focus on prospecting, so your local team doesn’t have to split their attention between outreach and conversion. This keeps the sales process moving.
Your pipeline stays active, and your local reps can spend more time talking to people who are actually interested.
For smaller or growing teams, this setup works well because you don’t have to pick between quality and volume.
Why the UK Market Is Paying Attention
We’re not saying every UK business is changing its hiring model, but the interest is clearly growing, especially among startups.
Between higher local costs, tougher competition for talent, and the demand for consistent outreach, many are starting to explore offshore SDR hiring as a long-term complement to their local sales teams.
And they’re doing it for three main reasons:
01. Predictable pipeline coverage
Teams can maintain daily outreach even when local reps focus on closing.
02. Operational stability
Lower turnover and faster onboarding reduce disruptions.
03. Sustainable growth
Budgets stretch further, allowing founders to scale teams strategically.
The Takeaway for UK Businesses
We've said it before, and we'll say it over and over: Hiring offshore isn’t a shortcut but a strategic pathway.
And it’s one we’re seeing more UK businesses explore for good reason. The numbers, structure, and talent are all aligned.
The UK SDR role now costs over £66,000 per year when you factor in everything required to employ them locally. When businesses hire SDRs Offshore, they gain access to experienced professionals at a fraction of the total cost and without the admin burden.
It’s not speculation; it’s what we’re seeing in real conversations with clients and prospects today.
