Physiotherapy recruitment is expanding in primary care
The integration of First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) and Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioners (APPs) into GP surgeries has been one of the biggest developments in recent primary care workforce strategy. These roles help reduce reliance on GP appointments by managing MSK issues at the point of triage.
Compass Associates’ 2025 data reveals that APPs now command a national average salary of £53,750, rising to £61,000 in London. FCPs, meanwhile, average £43,500 outside of London and £49,750 in the capital.
Download our Primary Care salary benchmarking report
Yet despite rising salaries, recruitment remains challenging for employers.
New challenges faced by employers looking to recruit within physiotherapy
A growing proportion of physiotherapists are opting to go independent. Whether renting treatment space, working across multiple surgeries, or offering private consultations, self-employment gives these clinicians the freedom to set their schedules and pursue specialisms.
This trend has these major implications for workforce planning:
- Candidates expect hybrid models, offering both security and autonomy
- Workplace culture is critical, clinicians want to feel integrated, not siloed
- Practices must consider sessional, part-time or consultancy arrangements to attract and retain physiotherapy talent
“The old model of hiring a full-time, fixed-hours physiotherapist is increasingly outdated,” says Benedict Warnes, Senior Principal Consultant at Compass Associates. “The most successful employers adapt to the way clinicians want to work.”
What can employers do to become more attractive to Physiotherapists?
Employers need to put focus into designing roles that appeal to modern physiotherapists, highlighting team integration, flexibility, and development opportunities. By understanding the motivators behind this highly skilled workforce, they will be able to build sustainable, attractive workforce models for candidates.
Looking for your next role within Primary Care?
Our Healthcare team is comprised of two dedicated teams focusing on mid to senior level management and clinical vacancies exclusively across the private acute, consumer health, digital health, diagnostics, primary care, secondary care and community markets, covering the whole of the UK.
Looking for support with your recruitment needs?
Looking to attract new candidates and improve retention?
At Compass Associates, we partner with providers across the primary care space to offer salary benchmarking, recruitment strategy, and access to hard-to-reach talent pools. If you’d like to understand how your packages stack up against your competition or how to futureproof your workforce, our consultants are happy to help.