The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

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Unsung Heroes

By The Drum, Administrator

November 24, 2006 | 10 min read

Speak to anyone in the industry and they\'ll point to Yorkshire as somewhere to keep an eye on for emerging creative talent. With an abundance of well-established agencies continuing to grab the headlines while raising the profile of northern marketing companies, the region has emerged as what is arguably the UK\'s third largest marketing community.

However, a number of smaller agencies are also beginning to make waves. The likes of Lowd+Klea, Lucre and B&W Studios have already caused a stir, but a raft of marketing companies are keeping their heads down and impressing clients. The Drum heads to Yorkshire to unearth some of these unsung heroes.

Digital Therapy

Digital Therapy started life in 2002 as the brainchild of former Reactive Communications owner Simon Jones. As an online marketing agency, it began servicing clients in Leeds before relocating to Huddersfield, where the business now operates. The agency has 13 full-time staff operating from its Shepley office. In June, the agency acquired design agency DA Creative, and plans are afoot to relaunch the business in 2007 as a full service agency.

Current projects include web, online branding and marketing work for Bristol & West, Bank of Ireland and the Skipton group of companies, which includes Pink Home Loans and Skipton Business Finance.

Addictive Media

Addictive Media was formed in 1996 by Simon Marcus. It offers companies and organisations internal and external video communications through high-definition CDs, DVD and web video.

Operating from Marcus\'s home in north Leeds, the company already has an enviable client list which includes GE Capital, the NHS, Morrisons and Unilever, but potential clients should be impressed by the fact that the business recently won the award for best corporate video in the UK, the top Channel 4 social action short film award and last month\'s Institute of Videography award in the best documentary category.

Chocolate PR

Another Leeds-based company, Chocolate PR offers media relations, event organising, promotional support and communications advice, both on a consultancy basis and in-house for clients.

With particular experience in the retail and charity sectors, Chocolate\'s clients include Snooper UK, Leeds Media, Form Bespoke Jewellers and Dale Carnegie Training, as well as leading personal and professional development coach Dr Zaffran Shahzada and sex expert Julia Gash.

GDA creative marketing

Founded in 1987, GDA Creative Marketing has quietly grown to employ more than 30 members of staff who provide account management services and design support.

Originally launched by managing director Graham Dawson to service the then McLean Homes account, the agency\'s housing specialism has been fine tuned and developed to support a client list consisting of home builders such as George Wimpey Regions and Ben Bailey Homes. Meanwhile, a significantly targeted new business strategy over the last few years has seen the agency diversify into areas such as CG services, creative advertising, packaging design and retail knowledge, opening up opportunities with its clients\' partner brands including Warner Brothers, Masterfoods and Tesco.

Moving Media Marketing

Located at the city\'s Round Foundry Media Centre, Moving Media Marketing is a Leeds-based film and multimedia production company which will soon be celebrating its third birthday.

Moving Media offers a full range of media services, from film and DVD to CD-Rom and flash expertise. Key projects include Superbugs!, an interactive flash game hosted on the MYLearning.org website, which was commissioned by York Museums Trust to provide an e-learning resource for science teaching.

The company has also been commissioned for the third year in a row to produce a documentary film of the Venturefest Yorkshire event, an \"annual conference and exhibition in support of knowledge and technology-based entrepreneurs\" held at York Racecourse.

The H2 Company

Set up in 1988, and located in the cultural quarter of Leeds within close proximity of the BBC, West Yorkshire Playhouse and several leading arts organisations, The H2 Company is led by three directors - MD Phil Hopkins, new media director Phil Byrne and creative director Chris Sands - with a focus on \"creative impact for commerce and culture\".

For an agency which firmly fits into the unsung category, H2\'s wide and varied client list may surprise a lot of people. Radisson Hotels has called on H2\'s expertise to create a branding and literature project for its exclusive restaurants and bars, while the agency has also secured and delivered on briefs for the likes of British Dance Edition and Complete Music in London.

The agency also has a strong local reputation - H2 built websites for Leeds City Council\'s Conference Culture project, which promoted three of the city\'s finest public buildings, and for the city\'s Park Lane College. Other high-profile clients include South Asian Arts and the Canadian High Commission.

The Consult

The Consult\'s growing client list includes the likes of the Samaritans, the BBC\'s Match of the Day, Leeds College of Art & Design and Leeds Metropolitan University.

The agency\'s work has featured in two new design books (Nice To Meet You and Zoom In Zoom Out) by Hong Kong-based publisher Victionary, as well as publications by industry heavyweights such as Elmwood and Frost.

The three-strong team has recently been hard at work on the new Leeds College of Art & Design prospectus and is working on a full-scale rebranding project in the public realm, currently under an NDA.

Logistik

With offices in Leeds and London, Logistik is a design and communications agency founded by chairman Dirk Mischendahl in 1997. The company provides services such as event management, brand development, set design and build solutions, graphic design, video production and catering.

Since its inception, Logistik has worked with the likes of Asda and Marks & Spencer on a number of projects, including M&S\'s biggest-ever training event for 64,000 staff at major locations across the UK, including Earls Court in London and the Birmingham NEC.

In 2006 Logistik joined forces with the Mobo Organisation to provide event management and set design for the production of its prestigious 11th annual Mobo Awards at the Royal Albert Hall. Other clients include Emap, BMW, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, and global banking group ABN AMRO.

MSC

Founders Adrian Watts and Stuart Mitchell set up the Marketing Services Centre 17 years ago. The MSC Group now has offices in Leeds and London, employs 40 staff and has a turnover in excess of £10million.

MSC offers marketing, advertising and design solutions to a wide client base which includes Peacocks Stores, Habitat, WH Smith, BSkyB, Hi-Tec, Goodfellas, Old El Paso, Arla Foods, Rennie, Alka-Seltzer, Hi-Tec and MTV. The agency has also announced that it plans to expand considerably over the next three years from January.

Face

Creative communications agency Face was set up in 1992 by Paul Trewhitt and Neil Holroyd in the latter\'s living room. The partnership expanded two years later when Vince McLaughlin joined the team. Over the years, the trio have built what they like to describe as \"a no-nonsense, results-driven agency\".

The Harrogate-based agency work extensively within the education, b2b, brewing and IT sectors, providing an array of services such as branding, design, advertising, PR, event management and web design. Key clients include Leeds Metropolitan University, Birkbeck University of London, the British Beer and Pub Association and Japanese print manufacturer Komori.

In previous years, Face has been recognised for its work, winning prizes at the Heist Education Marketing awards and the Communicators in Business Awards.

The Design Union

The Design Union specialises in providing tailor-made solutions for clients, including services such as web design and development, print design and branding.

The Leeds-based agency was established in 2004, and has created a fresh and enthusiastic approach when working with its clients by providing bespoke solutions to businesses ranging from small local companies through to multinational investment banks.

Included on The Design Union\'s client list are events and communications company The Angels, investment management and private banking firm SC Davies & Co, specialist website Search Marketing Agency, cultural charity Alchemy and retailer The Little Fairy Shop, which used the full range of The Design Union\'s services.

Other marketing services companies recommended as ones to watch by Leeds Media include:

:pcd:, Guisely

(Direct marketing)

3d.com Limited, Shipley

(Design)

Alasdair Wightman Agency Limited, Leeds

(New Media)

Alchemy Research Associates Ltd, Wakefield

(Market Research)

Arris Limited, Wetherby

(Design)

Ashley Bolser Agency, Yeadon

(Direct Marketing)

ASPECT design & marketing, Harrogate

(Design)

Blueclaw, Leeds

(New Media)

Bonner & Hindley Communications, Leeds

(Full service)

Bulletpoint Design, Bradford

(Design)

Cast Media Group, Leeds

(Advertising & Design)

Catapult, Leeds

(Advertising)

Chapter Eight, Leeds

(New Media)

Clever Clover, Wakefield

(New Media)

Coolpink Ltd, Leeds

(New Media)

Different PR, Harrogate

(Public Relations)

Dubit Ltd, Leeds

(Market Research)

Finn Communications Ltd, Harrogate

(Public Relations)

Giant Robot, Leeds

(Design & New Media)

Go Direct Marketing, Otley

(Direct Marketing)

Green Communications, Wakefield

(Public Relations)

Hitura.com, Leeds

(New Media)

ICM Creative Communications, Leeds

(Design)

Imagen Group, Otley

(Public Relations)

Lowd+Klea, Leeds

(Design)

Lucre Communications, Leeds

(Public Relations & Events)

Magnitude, Harrogate

(New Media)

Mezzo Films, Leeds

(Multimedia Production)

Morgan Agency, Leeds

(Advertising)

Motus, Leeds

(Multimedia Production)

Northern Lights PR, Harrogate

(Public Relations)

Onstate Ltd, Bradford

(New Media)

Poppyred Media, York

(Multimedia Production)

Prego, Otley

(Direct Marketing)

Q Marketing, Leeds

(Advertising)

Red Kite Marketing, Horsforth

(Advertising & Public Relations)

Ripe Design (UK) Ltd, Leeds

(Design)

Sense Internet, Leeds

(New Media)

Smart Association, Leeds

(Public Relations)

Source Marketing Communications, Leeds

(Public Relations)

Story, Leeds

(Advertising)

The Black Hole, Leeds

(Design)

The Fusebox, Leeds

(Direct Marketing)

The Lock 23, Leeds

(Design)

The Whole Caboodle, Leeds

(Advertising)

ThrutheLine, Leeds

(Advertising)

Turn Key, Leeds

(Advertising)

Viewfirst Media Limited, Leeds

(Multimedia Production)

Watt Design, Bradford

(Design)

Words & Pictures, Otley

(Marketing services)

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