Emerging Manchester
Over the past few years, Adline has been scouring areas throughout the country in an attempt to establish the next generation of agencies within the media marketing communities. Now, in the first of a four-part series that will cover all the English regions, we have put together the definitive Emerging Manchester directory, a list that profiles a veritable mix of Manchester-based start-ups and existing companies that have either relaunched through an MBO or rebrand or have simply grown dramatically since the start of the new millennium.
The results of this survey are now profiled over the next five pages ? with a variety of disciplines being covered within the creative industries, from PR and marketing to advertising and design, and media production thrown in for good measure too.
The editorial department of Adline selected the list earlier this year, with the city being scoured for bright young things within the industry to come forward and show us what they are made of. Even though times may seem tough, it has not stopped the vast onslaught of new businesses from setting up over the past couple of years, and making their names known. The creative industry will undoubtedly keep growing even in times when the economic climate is rapidly fluctuating.
Forms were duly sent out to the companies that Adline earmarked to feature and, in time, answers began to flood back. From companies that employ less than five people to agencies that have grown at an astounding rate, all featured will undoubtedly be ?ones to watch? in the next few years.
All agencies were polled on a variety of categories that enabled us not only to glean an insight into their financial success, but also to find out more about the personality of the founders and the way that they run their businesses.
Managing directors were asked for a number of details, which included the names of their clients, their expected turnover, proudest moments to date, business philosophy and, last but not least, their business role models, in order to find out more about the business and their thinking behind it.
When it came to how MDs ran their businesses, and the philosophy behind it, the answers varied, with many wanting to be known as the best in their field and the most respected too. Above all, many simply wanted the business to not only be successful but also to make its mark within the industry.
And so, on to the final list. We have put the top 35 into alphabetical order so that it is easier to read. The following list goes to show that even in the barren times Manchester?s creative industry is currently undergoing growth, and companies are still managing to thrive and prosper.
Next month Adline will be profiling the emerging stars based in Yorkshire.
1090 Communications
Founders: Ryan Bowd and Mark Hayward
Number of staff: four full-time, two associate consultants
Founded: 2002
Projected turnover: £250,000 (Sept-Sept)
Objectives: With 7 out of 10 briefs residing in the sports PR and sponsorship areas, the company aims to continue to grow this specialism to 12 briefs and develop the newly launched sports management arm. However, the principal goal is to secure two new briefs with major national/international organisations for B2B PR/CSR communications. All of which, it is hoped, will result in the business doubling in size from four to eight staff and grow the turnover to £500,000.
Clients: Electromedia, Fledglings.net, Human Race Events, Ironman UK, Manchester Triathlon Club, Salford City Council ? 2003, the Salford Triathlon, TRI UK.
Biggest achievement: To have gone from a company started by two partners on £2,000 to an agency with a six-figure turnover and team of six in 12 months.
Business Philosophy: ?Business Success is 10 per cent dependent on how well an organisation delivers what it promises and 90 per cent on how it?s perceived to? is the company?s overarching business philosophy. One we aim to achieve ourselves by delivering on client commitments to such a high level that each client?s work is to an award-winning level of excellence, through which we will impact positively on the perception of our agency.
999
Name: Alan Bullock
Position: Managing Director (Manchester)
Number of staff: Nine
Founded: 2001
Turnover: Group turnover £2.8m
Objectives: To develop the strategic offering to our clients.
Biggest achievement: Our high level of client retention.
Clients: BBC, Warburtons, Sony Playstation, Reebok, Highland Spring, Demon Internet, Thus, Heals, Bentley Motors.
Business Philosophy: To form solid working partnerships with our clients. To be brave enough to stick by our principles. To enjoy the work and business we?re in and make every day count.
Role model: My mum ? be honest and treat others as you would want others to treat you.
Access Advertising, Marketing and Design
Name: Simon Landi
Position: Director
Number of staff: 14
Founded: 1999
Projected Turnover: £900,000
Objectives: To consolidate our reputation as a forward-thinking, dynamic, creative agency.
Biggest achievement: Spending the summer of 2002 watching our work for the Commonwealth Games being draped across Manchester and live on the BBC TV to a worldwide audience.
Clients: Include GUS (Shop Direct Limited), Neville Johnson Offices, Turtle Wax, MBNA Europe Bank Ltd, the DTI (Invest UK), the Mersey Partnership, Manchester City, UEFA, the PFA and the LSC.
Business philosophy: To enjoy, not endure, working with our clients.
Role model: A client (M-X). He is always in complete control and has the right answer, regardless of how unprepared he is for the question.
Air Advertising
Name: Gary Johnson
Position: Co-Director/Client Services Director
Number of staff: Six ? soon to be ten
Founded: Originally founded in 2000, but brought in another director in 2002 and the business has grown rapidly since then
Projected turnover: £500,000 ? £1m
Objectives: Sustainable development ? to exploit our past of expertise in retail, business-to-business and consumer ATL.
Biggest achievement: Beating agencies from the UK North, London and South West for the Blemain Finance account. Also, building a vibrant and hungry team.
Clients: Lancashire County Cricket, Mitre, Housing Units, Blemain Finance, Brie Power International, Peninsula Business Services, Crystal Windows, Marble and Granite, Executive Furniture, Suburban Lofts, Hamilton Health Estates, Phone A Loan.
Business Philosophy: To get under the skin of the client and, just as importantly, make their customers see what really makes them tick.
And Partners
Name: Andrew Brown-Allan, MD, Andrew Alty, Creative Director
Number of staff: Six
Founded: 2002
Projected turnover: £2m
Objectives: To continue winning the majority of pitches we?re invited to.
Biggest achievement: Winning MyTravelLite, CAT Apparel and Surcare, all in two weeks.
Clients: Business Link, Cat Apparel, Clean ?N? Fresh, Continental Wines & Food, Lucid, MyTravelLite, Surcare, Trumedical, Vina Requingua.
Business Philosophy: Think harder.
AWA
Name: Wayne Silver
Position: Account Director
Number of staff: 13
Founded: 1980
Projected turnover: £2m
Objectives: To double in size in line with new business and new facilities.
Biggest achievement: Establishment of long-term client relationships (over twenty years with FRANKE) and recent establishment of highly successful PR function.
Clients: FRANKE, In-Sink, Erator, George Wimpey Manchester, Instant Tan, Whitehall Fabrications Ltd, Nov Metals, James Inglis Shoes, Canopies.
Business Philosophy: understand our clients? businesses and products, their target audiences and objectives, and the right marketing tactics to achieve them.
Brazen
Name: Nina Wheeler
Position: Owner
Number of staff: 25
Founded: 2001
Projected turnover: £1.5m
Objectives: To keep surprising/checking/pleasing clients and competition.
Biggest achievement: Acquiring our major clients (UCI Cinemas, Phones4U, Hasbro, Salton Europe Ireland) and growing them by an average of 400 per cent.
Clients: UCI Cinemas, Hasbro UK (Action Man, Cluedo, Twister, etc), Salton Europe Ireland, Marks & Spencer Financial Services, Halewood International, Dairycrest, Stilton, Swizzels Matlow (Love Hearts, etc), Century FM, Asics UK, Joe Bloggs, the Lowry Hotel, Phones4U.
Business Philosophy: ?We will make you, your brand and company famous. We will shout about your brand from the rooftops. We will interrupt, get your brand noticed, make people sit up and listen. Be Brazen. Why else would you have a PR agency??
Role model: Rebekah Wade, editor of the Sun.
Brilliant Manchester
Name: Chris Broadbent
Position: Managing Director
Number of staff: three
Founded: 2003
Projected turnover: Target is £3m for year one
Objectives: To build a new business, attract and develop both clients and staff, have fun with clients, staff and suppliers.
Clients: Starting the hard way. Pitching from a standing start.
Business Philosophy: Trust and service standards are key to our relationships. We take pride in delivering quality and value for money. We respect each other. Think long term and invest in people.
Role model: As a business ? Ryanair. As an individual ? Jack Welsh.
Cicero
Name: David Bailey
Position: Creative Director
Number of staff: 39
Founded: 1997
Projected turnover: £4.2m
Objectives: To continue to build on new structure and strength of services.
Biggest achievement: ?New Blood? commitment to investment (18 months) to radically improve our strategies, planning, direct marketing and business development. Resource new clients/new culture/new positioning.
Clients: NatWest mortgages, Purple Loans, Premierline Direct Business Insurance, Thomson ProMetric, PKF, FTA, DAF, Optare Group, Avantium, Avecia, Rullion, BNFL, NFU Mutual.
Business Philosophy: Employ the best, offer the best, produce the best, never rest on laurels.
Citigate Smarts
Name: Steve Antoniewicz
Position: Regional Director
Number of staff: five
Founded: 2003
Projected turnover: £250,000
Objectives: To win some more blue chip client business, establish Citigate Smarts on the pitch lists in the North West.
Biggest achievement: Winning two great pieces of business so quickly ? Ladbrokes and Bavaria.
Clients: Ladbrokes, Bavaria, Royal Mail, Red Routes, Education Leeds.
Business Philosophy: Don?t take yourself too seriously.
Role model: Reginald Perrin.
Citypress PR
Name: Charles Tattersall
Position: Managing Director
Number of staff: 12
Relaunched: 2002
Projected turnover: £1m +
Objectives: To try to grow pure fee income to £1 million-plus and secure more big-name clients.
Biggest achievement: Doubled fee income over the last three years to become largest independent PR consultancy in Manchester.
Clients: Lloyds TSB, McArthur Glen Designer Outlets Villages, Airtours, Co-Op Travel, Iceland Supermarkets, Royal Liver Assurance, the Forestry Commission, Spirit Group/Wacky Warehouses.
Business Philosophy: Think long term. Focusing on quality work and great client service will keep you in business and grow your client base. Also, employ nice people and treat them well.
Role model: Don?t have one but I admire people who have built successful businesses on the back of great ideas.
Clear Marketing Group
Name: Jim Smith
Position: Managing Director
Number of staff: 24
Founded: 2001
Projected turnover: £2.4m
Objectives: To continue to build the business to become the no1 independent agency in the North West.
Biggest achievement: Winning the £10m Going Places account from CDP.
Clients: Going Places, Real Radio, Baxi, Topps Tiles, Regatta, National Geographic, Millie?s Cookies, Compass Group. Ryalux Carpets, Pets at Home Superstores, Going Places TV, Alliance & Leicester Business Banking, Gower Kitchens.
Business Philosophy: To provide our clients with effective and measurable communication solutions based on a clear understanding of the overall business strategy. Also, to deliver real shareholder value.
Role model: My first boss ? brilliant salesman.
Code Computer Love
Name: Tony Foggett, Wini Tse, Louis Geogiou
Position: Directors (and owners)
Number of staff: 14
Founded: March 1999
Projected turnover: £1.4m
Objectives: To get our reputation in line with our client list and achievements.
Biggest achievement: This will be our first million-pound year and that feels like a real landmark. Also, getting onto the Kimberly Clark European Interactive agency roster and still being on it after two years.
Clients: HMV, Dr Martens, Kimberly Clark Corporation (Huggies, Kotex & Poise), Blue Arrow Recruitment, BUPA, Argos Retail Group, NUS Services Ltd, Manchester Business School, Keele University, Unilever, Carrier, Venture Portraits, National Space Centre, Salt Union.
Business Philosophy: We have a name for our company mantra ?Computer Love? ? we are into our work more than is healthy for us.
Role model: Creative companies such as Shinola or HiRes for the work they do.
Delineo
Name: Nick Melvin
Position: Managing Director
Number of staff: 25
Founded: 1998
Projected turnover: £2m
Objectives: To invest in two like-minded agencies in the region and introduce new clients to our proven methodologies and to keep our people happy.
Biggest achievement: Improving the fortunes of the two agencies we have already invested in to date.
Clients: Mid-sized organisations in the information technology, professional services, financial services, leisure and public sectors.
Business Philosophy: Exploit our creativity, commerciality, research and methodologies to help our clients build brands, sell more, capitalise on market channels, improve communication and use design for competitive advantage.
Role model: McCann-Erickson Manchester.
Eg.G
Name: Dominic Raban
Position: Creative Director
Founded: 1991
Projected turnover: £275,000
Objectives: To continue to produce innovative and thought-provoking design solutions for print, video and film.
Biggest achievement: Going from zoology dropout to running an award-winning design consultancy that has had its work featured in Creative Review every year since 1993 and been showcased in over 20 design books on both sides of the Atlantic. Oh, and most importantly, raising two children through five years of sleepless nights.
Clients: BBC Factual and Learning, Carlton Communications, Arts Council England, PIAS International, Sadlers\' Wells, Disability Rights Commission, City of London Sinfonia, Grand Central Records, Tribal Gathering and others.
Business Philosophy: We produce individual design solutions that are characterised by in-depth research, attention to detail and a tailored response to clients? needs.
Role model: Studio Dunbar (Amsterdam).
Elevator Digital
Name: Carl Jordan/Rob Wyer
Position: Directors
Number of staff: Six
Projected turnover: N/A
Objectives: To continue building long-term relationships with existing clients.
Biggest achievement: Exceeding business plan objectives.
Clients: Urban Splash, Microsoft, AstraZeneca, BBC, McArthur Glen, Northwest Development Agency, Carole Nash Insurance, Alsop Architects, Vetraframe, London Scottish Bank.
Business Philosophy: To be the best not the biggest.
Franktheagency
Name: Ian Helsby
Position: Founding Director
Number of staff: 12
Projected turnover: £1.2m
Objectives: To raise profile further. Prove return on investments for clients. Grow.
Biggest achievement: Setting up Frank in 2000 and still here after three years.
Clients: British Airways London Eye, British Airways World Cargo, First Group, Territorial Army, Army Cadet Force, Senator Homes, Bovis Homes, Pochin Homes, TILL.
Business Philosophy: Frank is more than just a name, it?s a state of mind. Frank is honest fresh and smart.
Role model: Andy Law ? former founder of St Luke?s.
Funnel
Name: Stuart Bradley
Position: Head of Desvertising
Number of staff: Three
Projected turnover: £120,000
Objectives: To increase turnover and tell the world about desvertising.
Biggest achievement: Buying a LaCoste babygro on EBAY for £3.
Clients: Rubberfriends, Life Caf?Manchester), Stratagem, Roland Drainsfield, LMDI, Techno Park.
Business Philosophy: To use desvertising to give our clients unique solutions. Big ideas whether it?s design or advertising.
Like a River
Name: Rob Taylor, Peter Rogers
Position: Partners
Number of staff: Eight
Projected turnover: £1m
Objectives: To keep running a business that generates creativity, fun and profit all at the same time.
Biggest achievement: A growing number of international awards for creativity, including Epica-Mobius-LIAA NY Festivals.
Clients: A broad mix of high street retailers, professional services firms and specialised industrial clients.
Business Philosophy: It?s a philosophy of always changing the way we do things and the way we think. It?s a philosophy of parental renewal ? Like a River.
Business role model: Pentagram/Jack Bauer.
MagneticNorth
Name: Lou Cordwell
Position: Client Services Director
Number of staff: 17
Founded: 2000
Projected turnover: £1.5m
Objectives: CommuNity ? to meet and work with more like minds. ExperimeNt ? to go on interactive adventures together. EnjoymeNt ? and have a good time along the way.
Biggest achievement: Planetjuice.co.uk (for Coca-Cola Enterprises brand ?Capri Sun?). Creating a website that became a brand campaign, and being first to prove that interactive can be the big idea.
Clients: Benetton Group, Coca-Cola Enterprises, the Feel Good Drinks Company, Kellogg?s, Masterfoods, the Robert Horne Group.
Business Philosophy: Trust in openness and change.
Role model: BBC.
Media Contact Services
Name: Alasdair Scobbie
Position: Director
Number of staff: Five
Founded: 1979 ? re-launched 2001
Projected turnover: £500,000+
Objectives: To continue with steady growth and attraction of new clients.
Biggest achievement: Successful agency re-launch and winning industry award in March 2003.
Clients: AMG Outdoor Ltd, Ardblair Sports Importers, Silva Ltd, Grangers International, Sympatex Technologies, Wayfayrer Foods, Gaynors Sports, Anatom/Mountain Sports, Salop Footwear Ltd.
Business Philosophy: Dedication to assisting our clients to achieve their marketing goals by optimising our experience and knowledge of the sports and outdoor leisure market.
Role model: None ? we have a unique and individual approach.
Media Mission
Name: Glenn Jones
Position: Managing Director
Number of staff: Seven
Founded: 1999
Projected turnover: £650,000
Objectives: To broaden our client base.
Biggest achievement: Improving client confidence after big company shake-up.
Clients: Partnership Media Group (PMG), Britannia Building Society, Manchester United Football Club, Manchester United Soccer Schools, British Council, The Printworks, N-Trance, API Foils.
Business Philosophy: To build strong creative brands with versatile appeal, and with a team who adopt a collaborative approach.
Role model: Paul Carroll, Communiqu?for his vision, creativity and business acumen).
Newspoint PR
Name: Robert Fox
Position: Director
Number of staff: Three
Founded: Relaunched July 2003
Projected turnover: £250,000
Objectives: To build business recognition, develop new clients, expand the business.
Biggest achievement: Returning from Iraq and setting up Newspoint and two new clients in one month.
Clients: Abbey Telecom, Net Services Plc.
Business Philosophy: Offer realistic PR and marketing service, be part of the client team, look for new business opportunities on behalf of the client.
Role model: A cross between Attila the Hun and Florence Nightingale ? storming into action but ready to listen and help.
Northern Profile PR
and Marketing
Name: Justin Strong
Position: PR Director
Number of staff: Seven
Founded: 1994
Projected turnover: £2m plus fee income
Objectives: To get yet bigger and better still.
Biggest achievement: Winning best small PR consultancy at PR Week awards (PR Week voted Northern Profile the Best Performing PR Agency over the past five years. We are the top Northern agency as all the rest were London-based), and opening our offices in Manchester and Leeds.
Clients: We have 80 clients, including LA Fitness, Greggs, the Army, Harvey Nash, Norman Broadbent, Select Appointments, Wise Speke, Weatherall, Green and Smith.
Business Philosophy: Only as good as your last piece of work. We have no contracts so month-to-month delivery of results is essential.
Northstar
Name: Glyn Lloyd
Position: Managing Director
Number of staff: 10
Founded: 2001
Projected turnover: £1.2m
Objectives: To remain profitable, work with big brands that recognise the importance of good creative.
Biggest achievement: Winning the pitch for client Sola Optical and being awarded the European launch of Teflon-coated spectacle lenses.
Clients: Sola Optical (Europe), Base, Egerton Estates, FAD Savilles, War Minerals, Greater Manchester Police, David McLean Homes, Habey Support Systems, Summit Systems, Mabey Hire, Opto Classic Retirement, MGF, British Gypsum Isover.
Business Philosophy: To offer clients a level of creative thinking synonymous with large high street agencies but in a more flexible and results-orientated manner.
Role model: ?Apple? because they combined creativity with technology to succeed in the face of overwhelming competition.
PHD Compass
Name: Steve Blakeman
Position: Managing Director
Number of staff: Six (so far)
Founded: January 2003
Projected turnover: £8m ? £10 m
Objectives: To consolidate our position as the producers of compelling channel neutral communication strategies for our clients.
Biggest achievement: Winning our first account, Baxi Potterton, within one week of officially opening the doors to our new office.
Clients: Baxi Potterton, English Partnerships, Weatherseal.
Business Philosophy: Media ideas that stick out (if you have seen our bus campaign in Manchester featuring the ?sore thumb? this will make much more sense).
Role model: Ray Sale. The epitome of what it takes to build a powerful agency in Manchester and still remain one of the good guys. Ray was the original ?Northern Star?.
Pravda
Name: Simon Sinclair
Position: First Sea Lord
Number of staff: 0.5
Founded: 2002
Projected turnover: £2m
Objectives: To do work we enjoy for clients we enjoy working with.
Biggest achievement: Increasing one client?s business seven-fold with a single ad, getting into D&AD in our first year.
Clients: Toby Carnbry, Swish, Scottish Widows Investment Partnership, FlyBuyer, Digital Opinion, Photon, Etrade.
Business Philosophy: To build an agency that clients and staff fight to get into.
Role model: Ian McGeechan?s 1999 British Lions Rugby side. (McGeechan created an atmosphere within which people did things they never believed themselves capable of.)
Really Useful Research
Name: John Ardern
Position: Managing Partner
Founded: Re-launched the company in 2002 after 21 years known as John Ardern Research.
Objectives: To consolidate past and existing client relationships, and gain new and developing clients and agencies. More importantly, to assist these clients to achieve business success through the use and application of ?really useful research?.
Clients: Current clients include major leisure, tourism, travel and transport clients, regional marketing-orientated businesses, and advertising and marketing services agencies.
Business Philosophy: To provide clients with the ?really useful research? they need to aid their marketing and business development across the board ? from strategy and new product development to target market definition and understanding.
Republic PR
Name: Laura Cross and Nancy Collantine
Position: Co-directors
Number of staff: Four
Founded: November 2002
Projected turnover: £300,000
Objectives: To build the Republic brand and widen its influence.
Biggest achievement: It hasn?t happened yet.
Clients: Cheshire Building Society, Royal Horticultural Society, Iceland, Cheshire Wildlife Trust.
Business Philosophy: Question everything.
Role model: Wayne Hemmingway for his solid brand values despite his diverse business activities.
SMRS Ltd
Name: Simon Thomas
Position: Agency Director
Number of staff: 22
Founded: 1997
Projected turnover: £11.1m
Objectives: To continue to grow and develop as a business through high-quality account management and reputation.
Biggest achievement: Growing the business from nothing to £8.5m turnover in five years. And making the Sunday Times Fast Track 100.
Clients: HBOS, MBNA, Telewest, MyTravel, Manchester Business School, Teeside Uni, 02, Gala Bingo, Gala Casinos, Npower, Liverpool City Council.
Business Philosophy: Providing intelligent and effective recruitment advertising and education marketing solutions. Brand values ? open, tailored, innovative freedom. ?Communications that move people.?
Business model: Learning and evolving our business with help and advice from our joint venture company ? Media Vest.
Spin Media PR
Name: Daniel Kennedy
Position: Director
Number of staff: 13
Founded: 1998
Projected turnover: £700,000
Objectives: To consolidate our client list across the five areas we know best: property, arts and culture, technology, public sector and professional/finance.
Biggest achievement: In late 2002, a survey of NW company bosses rated Spin Media no 1 in the NW for respect, effectiveness and competency. Also, winning the Co-operative Bank?s Corporate Banking Centre in a three-way pitch.
Clients: The Co-operative Bank, Mines Advisory Group, Betham Organisation, Ask Developments, Williams BMW, MyZones, Scottish and Newcastle, Rank Group, Holmes Place, City Centre Restaurants, Opus Insurance.
Business Philosophy: We strive to be creative even when time is against us. We try hard not to over promise, and we aim to nurture open and honest relationships with clients.
Tangerine PR & Coaching
Name: Sandy Lindsay
Position: Managing Director
Number of staff: Seven
Founded: 2002
Projected turnover: £350,000 +
Objectives: To maintain and grow our existing client base, our team of practitioners and our reputation and network within the region and industry.
Biggest achievement: Our first client win ? ARG Equation (formerly GUS Home Shopping) was won against some of the UK?s largest and most established national PR consultancies, which effectively ?launched us? onto the scene. Of North West Business Insider?s top 50 NW Businesses list, six of Tangerine?s clients appear in the top 200, with two in the top 10.
Clients: Baxi Potterton, Serco Group (Metrolink), Pets at Home, homes4u, Space New Living, Digital Industries North West, Ryalux Carpets, Media Trust, BEX (Business Enterprise Xchange), KMP Associates, m-till, St Ann?s Hospice, Claremont Office Environments.
Business Philosophy: ?What you see is what you get.? We deliver what we can say we can without the fuss, ensuring client?s business objectives are central to everything we do.
Role model: Alastair Gronall, former CEO of Consolidated Communications, a top 30 public relations and public affairs consultancy that he founded in 1990.
The Lab
Name: Adam Clyne
Position: Managing Director
Number of staff: Five
Founded: 2002
Projected turnover: £500,000
Objectives: To create a stir with some of the exciting initiatives we are about to introduce. To put some major brands on our books and beat a few London agencies in a pitch scenario.
Biggest achievement: Winning an international award for young leadership this year.
Clients: Ben Sherman, Afro Ken, Edible, Four Eyez, Sportax (Official European Apparel Licensees of Major League baseball including New York Yankees & White Sox), Freetime Communications, 151 Products.
Business Philosophy: Our philosophy is all about growing things at The Lab. We grow bands, demand, awareness, creativity and, of course, sales.
Role model: Simon Woodroffe of Yo Sushi Fame. He has the crazy idea of a conveyor belt sushi bar with girls in black PVC mini skirts. They never did the PVC thing, but he has made YO an international brand. He also has a really cool outlook on life.
Triangle PR
Name: Chris Hamer
Position: Managing Director
Number of staff: Four
Founded: 1997
Projected turnover: 80 per cent more than it is
Objectives: 80 per cent growth and double staff numbers.
Biggest achievement: Building a good company with happy staff who enjoy going to work.
Clients: Akzo Nobel Decorating Coatings, Logic Group PLC, Excel Industries, Timber Frame Solutions, Arena Housing Association, Mediachrome, Fillcrete, Warrington Housing Association, Coram Showers.
Business Philosophy: To do brilliant work and get top results, always deliver, but have a laugh doing it. ?If you stop laughing ? get out.?
Role model: Frank Sinatra: I Do It My Way (actually, more the Sid Vicious version).
Yellow TV
Name: Guy Middleton
Position: Managing Director
Number of staff: Four
Founded: 2003
Projected turnover: £250,000
Objectives: To help mid-sized businesses and agencies produce impactful television and radio ads.
Biggest achievement: The production of Chester Zoo?s new television commercials for summer season 2003.
Business Philosophy: There?s a lot of top end talent falling out of business right now ? combine that with the fall in airtime and businesses have never had a better opportunity to reach a mass audience with style.