Scottish Government Creative Roster
Here is the final list for the Scottish Government's marketing services framework.
Digital - Story, Innovation Digital, Golley Slater, Storm ID, The Gate Worldwide, Whitespace, The Union, Dog Digital, Civic
Digital is a new category, replacing Web which previously was held by three retained agencies, Union Digital, Whitespace and Civic.
Marketing Communications - Merle, The Union, The Leith Agency, Newhaven, Story, Golley Slater, The Bridge, Frame and Barkers
Despite talk that the amount of above-the-line used will fall in favour of more PR and digital work, the list has grown from eight agencies to nine, with Family and The Gate being replaced by Frame, Merle and Story.
Direct Marketing - The Leith Agency, The Union, Story, Rapp, Newhaven
Design - The Big Partnership, The Leith Agency, Kindle, Weber Shandwick, Hampton Associates, Lawrence, Stand, Tayburn, Avian, Morton Ward
Probably the list with the most surprises with more recognised candidates being left off in favour of agencies probably better known for PR such as Weber Shandwick and The Big Partnership. This is an area sure to cause some debate.
PR - Barkers, Consolidated, Weber Shandwick, The Big Partnership, The Leith Agency, Golley Slater North
The major absentee here, and probably the biggest shock of the entire list is the absence of Smarts which worked closely with the Government on many of its high profile campaigns. Many would have thought them a 'shoo in' in fact. Added to the list is Golley Slater North and presumably Stripe, although referred to as The Leith Agency in the list.
Research - Ashbrook Research and Consultancy Ltd, Feather Brooksbank, George Street Research, IFF Research, The Leith Agency, MRUK Research, Progressive Partnership, Scott Porter Research and Marketing, TNS System 3 UK, YouGov
Events - BiP Solutions, DD Exhibitions, Extreme Exhibitions, Holyrood Communications, Meeting Makers, The Motomo Partnership, Mypec, Rocket Exhibition and Events, Scottish Health Service Centre, Sound and Vision AV, Speakeasy Productions, Stark Events, Strategem, Think Different Events
So while the list has been extended out to seven disciplines from the previous three, it is understood that the budget will remain the same. 'Mini pitches' will also be held between agencies for projects above a certain budget. There is a good spread of georgraphical locations between the agencies, although clearly a focus remains on the central belt.