Top 100 marketing agencies outside London 2008 (66-100)

Clients won over last 12 months: Fresh Retail ventures – Jamie Oliver food and non food packaging design, Moben Sharps Dolphin – design agency & Britax. Key clients: Bounty, Moben Sharps Dolphin, G.H. Sheldon’s & bushbaby. No. Managing significant growth. a. Start to gain recognition for our love of shopping. b. Create award winning work. c. Achieve 20% growth and increase margins. d. Retain key staff and attract new senior personnel.

68 BLACKSHEEP ADVERTISING

Clients won over last 12 months: Shearings Holidays – developing creative across brochures and direct mail to challenge the perception that the company only offers coach holidays, whilst retaining its loyal customer base. Planet Rock – to create a new brand identity and website ahead of relaunch. The new website is a key component in growing both the brand and its listeners; it is not only a channel through which to listen to Planet Rock but also a portal from which to access the rock world. The Dream Lodge Group – developing a new visual identity for press and direct mail and latterly devising campaign strategy for the launch of the Linnet Lodge by Linda Barker. Cheshire Constabulary – developing an identity and visual approach for Focus, their restorative justice programme being piloted in the region. EDT – part of Department of Work and Pensions – the development of a branded showcase facility for both local and central government use. Since the launch of Blacksheep’s digital arm in 2007 we have also won new business from existing clients in this area, most notably The Co-operative Bank and Marks & Spencer Money. Key clients: Marks & Spencer Money, BUPA, LighterLife, The Winning Formula. And all our new business wins above – Shearings Holidays, Planet Rock, The Dream Lodge Group, Cheshire Constabulary & EDT. No major changes in the last year. We remain an independently owned business, on target to deliver against our vision and long term business objectives. Obviously the credit crunch is the big one. We’re focussed on making sure our clients continue to grow in a receding marketplace and that we continue to deliver outstanding Return on Investment in the current climate. We are committed to helping our clients achieve their business objectives by delivering results through ground breaking, measurable work. We are also focussed on growing our own business by bringing new clients on board in a number of different sectors. Being independently owned we’re looking forward to being able to react quickly to the opportunities that an economic downturn is bound to present.

69 ACCESS ADVERTISING, MARKETING & DESIGN

Clients won over last 12 months: 2008 has been a good year, seeing a number of new strings to our bow. We put on a big event for Haydock Racecourse in Manchester city centre, won a campaign to combat smoking whilst pregnant for Smoke Free North West/COI, Turtle Wax are back with us after a couple of years of quiet, through our work with MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry), we have worked on BODY WORLDS 4 and even recently done some work with Manchester University. Through COI, we have also secured Welsh Assembly Government and work for OFT. Digitally, we have secured global websites for Deb and Hydratight. Key clients: MOSI, Steam Packet Company, Hydratight, Deb, Turtle Wax, Neville Johnson, COI, Visit Chester & Cheshire, Visit Peak District & Derbyshire & Welsh Assembly Government. No changes in ownership, but we now have a Management Team in place with representatives from each department and we took on 4 new staff approx. 12 months ago in creative, digital and our studio. We have also for the first time taken on a sandwich year student and we plan to do this going forward. To plan for 2009! We have had a busy year but we have had to constantly remember that 2009 may not be the same (not just for us but across the industry) and make sure that however busy we were, we found time for business development. The aim was not to be on the back foot and we feel we have achieved this. To continue to deliver for our clients based on our three pillars, creativity, service and quality.

70 MK

Clients won over last 12 months: Irwin Mitchell, Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Park View Shopping Centre, Regional Food Group, Sheffield International Documentary Festival (Doc/Fest), University of Sheffield, Yorkshire Crisps, Collard Manson, Fletchers Bakeries & Artisan Investment Management. Key clients: British Land, RReef, Irwin Mitchell, Savills, The Designers Republic & Harvey Nichols. MK has moved away from regional public sector accounts to national and key local consumer businesses. This change has necessitated an investment by MK in experienced PR professionals of the level not generally found in the Yorkshire region. Attracting the correct caliber of staff to move the business forward. MK’s business goals for 2009 are to grow, further strengthen its B2C offering and push forward with the creation of a dedicated B2B division.

71 999 DESIGN GROUP

Recently winning a Red Dot award for their Dovetail branding and a DBA design effectiveness award for their Charles Rennie Mackintosh communications, 999 Design are no strangers to accolades. Starting out in 1982, from their origins in Glasgow they have now expanded to Manchester and London with almost 50 people over their three offices. They are still independent. The award winning, full service agency excels in everything from branding and communications to packaging and design, and this is reflected in their portfolio, which includes: BT, BBC, Highland Spring, Puma, COI, Warburtons, Radley, Bentley, Blackburn Rovers FC and Edinburgh International Film Festival.

72 WARE ANTHONY RUST

Clients won over last 12 months: Van Hage Garden Centres, RMJM Architects, Merial Animal Health, Bratz, Little Tikes, Axis-Shield, Perse School, GrowHow, GreenBay Harvest, North Cyprus Tourist Board, Birdlife International & Powakaddy. Key clients: Direct Debit – BACS, Acushnet (Titlist, Footjoy and Cobra), Linx Printing Technologies, In-sink-erator, Dow Agrosciences, EBLEX, MGA & Van Hage Garden Centres. No (we underwent big restructuring in 2007). Managing the finances of the business through reduced client expenditure. Making a small number of redundancies which was difficult for the whole business. Improving the efficiency of the business, both in terms of financial return and process. Make a good profit through difficult trading conditions. Grow the business on the back of the wins we continue to achieve and despite the economy.

73 BRAZEN

Clients won over last 12 months: RETAINED BUSINESS WON IN 2008: Acdoco, Vileda, Best Western Hotels, Willow Water, Cedar Health (Panda licorice, Bio-Strath), The Grocery Company (Nando’s, wagamamas and Pizza Express sauces and Cranks), Cheshire Cheese, Rest Assured, Euro Medical, Nordoff Robbins charity – pro bono. PROJECTS WON IN 2008: Manchester 235 (London Clubs International group), Yo! Sushi, Select Property, Staybridge Suites (Intercontinental Hotel Group), Sentry Software, Suzanne Shaw Manchester perfume launch, Westley Group, Chilli White, Richard Goodall Gallery, Dwell Furniture, Cirque Surreal (Manchester), Afrika! Afrika! (Manchester), Sweemo, The Magazine, Xantium & Ithaca. Key clients: Silentnight, Magnet, Hasbro, Transform, Acdoco, Vileda, The North Face, Schwan’s, The Grocery Company, Stilton & Pudz. Brazen has undertaken a restructure in order to focus the business even more on delivering the best results for both our clients and our own business. The new structure sees co-founders Nina Webb and Emma Beck return from maternity leave as Owner and Business Development Director respectively; Gary Bramwell becomes Associate Creative Director; Rick Guttridge and Peter Burling both become Associate Group Directors running two dedicated teams of Account Handlers and Daisy Whitehouse is Head of Productions (Brazen’s events and experiential marketing division). 2008 has undoubtedly been a tough year for businesses across the board and in this climate we have worked extremely hard to make sure that we deliver even more commercial value to each and every one of our clients. Marketing budgets are being squeezed and we have to prove just what good value PR offers to a business in terms of ROI and impact on sales and the bottom line. We are incredibly proud of the fact that we have retained and considerably grown our client list this year and a dedicated new business drive has made sure that we will be going into 2009 with a very confident outlook. Our aims for the coming year are to deliver even more for our clients, to hold our own competitive position in the market, to grow modestly via our strategic new business drive and to maintain the respect and loyalty of our fantastic team. In 2009, our eighth year of trading, we will also be re-positioning Brazen’s offer under the banner of ‘uncompromising PR’. The new proposition builds on the Brazen heritage, but is mindful of how we’ve matured as a business over the years. The uncompromising position says we’re not prepared to settle for second best when it comes to creativity, service or results. The new execution will be rolled out on our new website - being re-launched as Brazen-World.com on January 6 - and visitors to the holding page can now pre-register to receive Brazen’s new monthly e-bulletin from January. The central design motif of a raised fist reflects the strength and unity of our commitment and determination to excel, and this credo is also underlined in our ‘uncompromising’ manifesto. We make no apologies for our passion and our stridency. We’re in there fighting for results, and everything must count. In this climate, there simply is no room for half-hearted PR.

74 OCULUS

Oculus, a marketing and brand communications agency based in Reading, have since 1992 been building a reputation for executing highly successful communications campaigns; whether through advertising, branding, direct marketing or e-marketing, exhibitions, interactive media, literature or the web – or a solution based on a combination of these. Directors Debbie McCarthy, Dave Hasler and Karen Eden lead a team that have worked on campaigns for clients such as London Business Network, OnePlanet, Reading Arts & Venues, Thames Valley Police, HarperCollins Publishers, b2net, Compuware, Dell Corporation, NEC Infrontia, Oracle, Shell Information Technology, Siemens Magnet Technology and Linex Solutions.

75 STRIPE COMMUNICATIONS

Clients won over last 12 months: We’ve seen 45% growth this year, driven solely by new business and additional projects from existing clients. We’ve built on our growing reputation for strong brand communications and secured a diverse range of new clients over the past 12 months including Grolsch UK, The Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, Edinburgh’s Christmas & Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, Glasgow: Scotland with Style Design Collective at London Fashion Week, Shelter Scotland, The Kitchin Restaurant, Signature Pub Group, Rettie, Tourism Malaysia, Nambarrie, the RSA & Oddbins. Key clients: Every Stripe client is key - whether an established retailer, an international event, charity or an entrepreneurial restaurateur, we pride ourselves on the fact that each and every client enjoys the benefit of a dedicated, passionate team focused on making a difference to our clients’ business. Retained client list is: John Lewis Department Stores, Channel 4’s Taste of Edinburgh, Edinburgh’s Christmas & Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, UCI Nissan Mountain Bike World Cup, Glasgow: Scotland with Style Design Collective, Rettie, Dakota Hotels, The Kitchin Restaurant, Marketing Society Scotland, People’s Postcode Lottery, Shelter Scotland, Tourism Malaysia, Nambarrie, RSA, Young Scot & Oddbins. Following ongoing expansion of the consultancy in 2008, we’ve doubled in size and now employ a team of 12 PR consultants. We have recently announced the appointment of Morna McLelland to the Board of Directors. Morna joined Stripe in March 2008 as an Associate Director and is responsible for day-to-day operations and client service. Finding people who have the right mix of skills, ability, passion, dedicational and drive - it’s been hard work but by persevering and believing in our core values we’ve got a strong team in place and our clients are reaping the rewards. Our goals remain the same - to be the best at what we do, to continue to challenge the norm, and to change the way media and clients think about PR and exactly what it can deliver.

76 THE BLACK HOLE

Clients won over last 12 months: William Hill – all below the line and digital, Iceland – Loyalty card, Whizzgo – customer acquisition, ING Car Lease – Strategy and brand, Be2 – data strategy and planning, Plumbs – Insert and direct mail activity. Key clients: Argos, BUPA, National Australia Group – Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank, MandM Direct, RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) & HBOS (Card Services). No. Some of our clients in financial services have been affected by the downturn in the economy more than others, we have had to balance this by targeting and winning business from new clients who are more likely to weather the storm or even prosper in a recession. To ensure we continue to offer our clients a truly integrated approach to their marketing problems to ensure that every penny they spend is generating a measurably better return on investment.

77 MORGAN AGENCY

Morgan Agency is a multi-discipline design and advertising consultancy based in Leeds, working across a wide range of applications including corporate and product identity, brochures, advertising, direct mail, packaging, point of sale and new/rich media. Key clients include: Boots, BT Lynx, Jaeger, Madisons, Radisson ASA, RBS Architects, Red Letter Days, The Media Centre, Ventura & Yorkshire Water.

78 CITYHALL DESIGN PARTNERSHIP

Clients won over last 12 months: A number of organisations in association with Frank Strategic marketing – Includem, Families Outside, Blairs Limited and The Mungo Foundation. Turning Point Scotland and Milestone. Increasing our work with existing clients by working in new areas of their business. Key clients: Peoplematters, Save and Invest, Clandestine Software, Frank Strategic Marketing & The Western Isles Council. A strong team has been created with Jane Donaldson bringing strategic marketing and with Michael Dancer bringing a whole new energy to the studio. Maintaining profitability with the financial situation in the world at large. Having more than doubled the turnover in our second year of business it would be nice to continue the development into year three.

79 CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS

Clients won over last 12 months: NHS Health Scotland, HSBC, British Council (Scotland) & UNITE. Key clients: Scottish Government, NHS Health Scotland, HSBC, Maxxium & O2. It’s been a bumper year for us, the best for quite a while. In no small part this is down to a new MD, new chairman, and a management team with the bit firmly between its teeth. Finding good people. More of the same - continued growth, delivering inspiring work and maintaining our vibrant culture. We’ll get back to you in twelve months…

80 MC2 MANCHESTER

Clients won over last 12 months: We have seen over £500,000 growth in sales over the past year driven through a mix of corporate gains (eg. Klariu), consumer brand business (Mateus), financial and professional services (Mathys & Squire), Technology (Netservices) and Property (CB Richard Ellis) and various public sector projects. Key clients: MC2 has sector teams and obviously each has key clients in the fields of Corporate, Financial and Professional Services, Property, Technology, Consumer Brands and Public Sector. As the only agency outside London offering Investor Relations, many of our key clients are quoted plcs. January 2008 saw MC2 acquire Vertigo PR. Ownership has remained in the hands of founding directors, Mike Perls (CEO) and Jenny Morgan (Head of PR). A new operations director, Norman Leet, was brought in during the year. For all agencies the economic backdrop has created the biggest macro challenge. On a micro-level, having experienced our 9th year of straight line growth, our biggest challenge has been to strategically handle the infrastructure changes needed to move from a small to a medium size agency. The infrastructure changes have been successfully implemented and we are geared up to achieve the 10th year of growth in 2009. We have set extremely challenging growth targets for 2009 and are currently exceeding these. The challenge is to set the business to face the growth markets and to resource the right areas. This is the most exciting year that we have seen to date as it feels like ‘proper business’ demanding more from our solid management team.

81 AN AGENCY CALLED ENGLAND

Clients won over last 12 months: Significant wins in retail, public sector, food and drink, financial services and legal services. Total wins worth around £2m pa. Key clients: Rather not say, but major players in the above spaces. We are always fairly coy about the ID of our major clients. No, we have a great structure that works well for us and is easy to maintain and grow. We are actively acquisitive - but looking for good, realistic acquisition targets is difficult. We want to continue our ‘growth by acquisition’ strategy but finding good businesses with great cultures, resilient financial models and motivated people is hard. To grow organically and by acquisition. Tough times can present significant opportunities and we are actively seeking to maximise on these.

82 WHITESPACE

Clients won over last 12 months: Scottish Natural Heritage, DCA (Dundee Contemporary ArtsHBJ Gateley Wareing, TLC Car Care, Belinda Robertson, Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, Rape Crisis Scotland & Valtti whilst completing major projects for our existing clients. Key clients: The Scottish Government, Bank of Scotland Corporate, NHS Health Scotland, Russell Europe, Scottish Natural Heritage, DCA, Valtti & The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Following two years of planning founding directors Don Galloway and Carol Coulter left the business. Ownership is now divided equally between remaining founding director Russell Stout and three existing board members, Phillip Lockwood-Holmes, Iain Valentine and Emma Jardine. Extending our online marketing offering and adding a content team including copy writer, search specialist, digital media producer and proof reader. Balancing staffing levels whilst maximising opportunities. Being prepared for a downturn of unknown scale whilst investing in the future. Looking after our great staff and nurturing talent. Delivering a measurable return on investment for our clients. Producing more creative work for appreciative clients. Having lots of fun along the way.

83 REDPATH DESIGN

Clients won over last 12 months: National Galleries of Scotland, Health Scotland, Edinburgh International science Festival, RYBKA, Relationships Scotland & Transport Scotland (re Scotrail re-brand). Key clients: British Council, ThreeSixty Brands, Health Scotland, International Council of Shopping Centres, National Galleries of Scotland, RBS Group, Royal Lyceum Theatre, sportscotland & Transport Scotland. No changes in structure of ownership, but a 15% increase in staffing. Managing workflow through one of our busiest years in recent history. Consolidate and grow again.

84 ENGINE CREATIVE

Engine is a creative agency experienced in generating and developing brands across a wide range of media channels. The success of Engine is reflected in the company it keeps and the creative excellence the agency demands of itself.

The Northampton-based agency is over 11 years old and works with a range of high profile clients including: BBC Top Gear, British Library, Car Magazine, Clotheshow Live, Clubland, Emap, Fuel, Future Publishing, Kookaburra, Ladbrokes, Manchester United, Max Power, Mercedes-Benz-HPE, Ministry Of Sound, MTV, Oxygen Games, Sony BMG, The Open University, Unicef, Universal Music TV and Wycombe Wanderers, to name a selection.

After growing up together in deepest rural Northamptonshire and studying Graphic Design at Nene College, Matt Key and Phil Christer founded Engine in their flat in 1997.

Engine's philosophy has been "to avoid mediocrity and fluffiness" and this uncompromising creative approach has led to steady growth over the years, including a move to its current home in 1999, a converted chapel.

Their very own tardis is a key member of the team and they are proud of the relaxed but productive environment that hasbeen created through an investment in people and technology.

In 2005 Glyn Allen became the third director.

Engine is now focussed on creating and developing brands across a diversity of industry sectors, from automotive and music to FMCG and Education.

85 RADFORD

Clients won over last 12 months: Not disclosed Key clients: Not disclosed No. Creating flexible remuneration models based on results. Maintaining client relationships through staff changes on the clientside. Develop ways to support clients who are losing headcount – they still need the job doing. Look for M&A opportunities as the agency market consolidates – which it will.

86 MADHOUSE ASSOCIATES

Clients won over last 12 months: Pannone, Vizwear, Reebok – JJB promotion, Pochins, Lornamead – Vosene amongst other brands of theirs, Westley Group, Place group – 6 Academies opening in the NW. Key clients: Pannone, Toyota & Motorola. No. Widening of our sector scope, keeping confidence with clients to maintain spend. Consistency of growth, add to the large number of clients achieved in 2008.

87 PEACH DIGITAL

Clients won over last 12 months: Goals plc, AWS Ocean Energy, Springboard Events, Stewart Milne (working with the Big Picture), Knockhill Racing & Light Cinema (Romania). Key clients: Vue Entertainment, Monogram Hotels (Ireland), Moyses Stevens, Scottish Enterprise, Daysoft & Goals. We have increased staff numbers from 12 to 19 and added Fraser MacDougall (Client Services Director) to the management team vastly improving our capacity to handle major client projects. Managing growth! Increase profitability of the company and our clients.

88 BGD GROUP

Clients won over last 12 months: Nissan Motors UK – design and build of 200 Nissan dealer websites and content management systems with all digital marketing (search, display advertising, email campaigns, model launch micro sites, dealer training websites), with possible European roll-out in 2009; Viewcreatives.com – re-design & build of an industry leading UK creative industry recruitment website with all digital marketing and direct marketing (e-mailers, e-newsletters, display advertising); Ghost Telecom – build of consumer telecoms site; Arqiva – intranet and extranet design and template build for the UK’s biggest broadcast infrastructure business; Midwich - microsite and emails for a major electrical goods distributor and wholesaler; Anglian Home improvements – press and direct marketing consultancy & Archant Dialogue – major consumer print and regional publisher. Key clients: Nissan, Norwich Union, Proton Cars & Ghost Telecom. Only that we have doubled the size of our digital team to handle the new digital clients. Ensuring that we hire brilliant new digital staff in advance of every new client win so that we keep our status as one of only 12 regional digital, design and direct agencies who have attained Recommended Agency Register status. To grow by 50% in billings and staff whilst maintaining acceptable profitability.

89 VIVID

Clients won over last 12 months: Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust ‘Your Choice’ campaign; NHS (Our Life) ‘Big Drink Debate’ in conjunction with SLAM PR; NWDA design panel working on multiple projects and securing the Tourism Campaign; Environment Agency Tomorrows World Short Film Competition and flooding briefs. Key clients: Environment Agency, NWDA, Encams, SLAM PR, NHS (Our Life) & Imetec. Vivid has recruited a new designer, account director and account executive. Working on multiple pitches with similar deadlines. Continue to grow the business by exceeding client expectations and attracting new clients and partnership opportunities.

90 KLM

Clients won over last 12 months: New Business Wins include Britvic, VW Commercial, Dollond&Aitchison & Warwick Castle. Key clients: Our current clients include Diageo, Sky, Continental Tyres, Peel Airports (Liverpool, Doncaster/Sheffield and Durham Tyne Tees), Marketing Birmingham & Parcelforce. There has been no major change in ownership or structure but one significant staff development in the recruitment of Gary Setchell as our Creative Director from McCann’s. The biggest challenge for us this year has been the need to win new business to offset the tightening budgets of one or two existing clients. Our key business goal in 2009 will be to continue the momentum of new business wins and ensure we continue to offer great value and service for our existing clients. We are more cost effective than London agencies and can provide a level of planning and creative input every bit as good if not better. We think this should stand us in good stead in the current economic climate.

91 STOCKS TAYLOR BENSON

Clients won over last 12 months: We’re unfortunately under confidentiality agreements that prevent us giving details. Key clients: Black & Decker, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Wilkinson, bmi & Interflora. Two new directors appointed: Lyndon Brooks, Director of Artwork & Production; Tom Wray, Sales & Marketing Director. Recruiting top quality staff. Growth.

92 LOAF CREATIVE

Clients won over last 12 months: Spinningfields, Manchester, Creative Lancashire, Sayers the Bakers, Lancashire Sexual Health Services, NHS Northwest & UCLan. Key clients: Sayers the Bakers, Lancashire County Council, Henry Boot Developments & Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust. We recently moved premises, purchasing our own studio space. We have appointed a Commercial Director to strengthen the business and help generate awareness. Moving studio, moving studio and moving studio. To build on our current client base of 40+ clients by targeting more high profile accounts. To double our turnover and to position Loaf as a well established, highly recommended creative communications agency. We will as ever, always regard client satisfaction as our number one goal.

93 INTERMARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Clients won over last 12 months: GE Money, Ted Baker & Breakthrough. Key clients: Adidas, Otto UK, First Direct, RSA, Friends of the Earth & Sony. New product development in on-line lead generation which required combining the services of our Media and Electronic departments, and creating a new Head of Media role. For many of our clients more emphasis has been put on adding value to customer relationships, a great way to do this is through brand partnerships, the challenge has been creating systems that do not stifle creativity and allow us to work for what is effectively two clients. To make sure we support and add value to existing client relationships, and the best way to do that is to continue to innovate in the market and develop Data strategies and on-line products. Being a creative agency we always want to broaden our client base and produce work to the highest standard on a diverse range of projects.

94 TRUTH DESIGN

Clients won over last 12 months: Reebok, GET Solutions, Ripple, Famode, Astra, APE & Whitebox Architects. Key clients: Reebok, Famode, GET Solutions & Ripple. No. Our objective over the last year has been to keep our overheads to a minimum and do as much work in house as possible. This has enabled us to keep a very lean structure, with freelance support as and when required. Investing time and money into new business whilst ensuring a profitable return on our efforts. We have learnt over the last 12 months that we should continually strive to push new business rather than wait until we have a quiet spell. We have found it is easier to attract new business when you are busy as clients respond more positively. For 2009, our main objective is to grow into our key clients (e.g. Reebok/ GET Solutions) by getting involved in other areas of their business. We also aim to keep front of mind with our client base to ensure we maximise any new business opportunities. Finally, over the next 12 months we would like to grow our team to four people by taking on a permanent designer.

95 NUMIKO

Clients won over last 12 months: Main new clients include working with ITV on their first 360 degree show brand, Britannia High, as well as on the online strand of one of their crown jewels, I’m a Celebrity. Also secured the work for the redevelopment of the Yorkshire Forward RDA portal, which has opened a lot of doors into other public sector organisations for us. Also, we can now announce that we are working with the NSPCC and Childline on a really exciting web-based service that will be at the heart of how the charity supports children going forward. Key clients: Still working with the BBC, as well as with indys commisioned by the BBC, including Lion TV. As mentioned, New Clients like Yorkshire forward have quickly become key to us. We also still provide ‘white label’ services to major regional an national marketing agencies... but we can’t say who! Quite big changes in the organisational structure, part of our continued maturing I think. We brought in Jason Stocks-Young as Operations Manager, who has performed similar roles at Glue and Pod1 in London. That has really started to firm up our MIS and resourcing. I have also joined as Creative Director (after years at AGENCY.COM, Play @ M&C Saatchi and lately Propaganda); a role the company has never had before. The agency came from a technology basis, and while that still naturally underpins what we do, there’s now an understanding that we need equal focus on the whole experience; the surface and the structures. This focus on ‘experience engineering’ has also seen Richard Hilson promoted internally to champion user-centred design as Head of User Experience. We have lost a few ‘old timers’ from the staff base, which is something we have never had to deal with before. But again, part of maturing as an agency is understanding that Numiko is bigger than the sum of it’s parts and people who perhaps don’t feel comfortable inside a more grown-up structure may move on. That’s OK. I think that the people we have brought in or moved up have refreshed things and certainly raised the agency’s bar several notches. The underlying plan stays the same; to enjoy doing stuff that’s both interesting for us and rewarding for the client and end user. And to and make sure clients enjoy working with us along the way. Yes, we do have certain KPI’s we are all working towards - but obviously I’m not going to share them with you here!! Market conditions are worth keeping an eye on; while historically our client base isn’t one that will be impacted too badly no-one can ignore what’s going on. It just means that we will have to turn our energy and our creativity up a notch - something that actually quite excites us.

96 AVIAN

Clients won over last 12 months: Avian has continued to grow the business organically through the diligent nurturing of its existing client accounts as well as growth through the acquisition of new business. These new accounts include. Börse Berlin – Berlin Stock Exchange, ITI Scotland, Strathallan School, BP, Blackadders, Dundee College & Forth Road Bridge. Key clients: As discussed above Avian has continued to have a very successful year in spite of the current economic gloom. Key accounts include: Lloyds TSB Scotland Plc, Waste Aware Scotland, Senergy, Scottish Enterprise & Walkers Shortbread. Avian is owned by the members of the executive board, this stable management structure continues to oversee the growth and development of the agency. The only major change has been the move from the west of the city to new fantastic bespoke premises in the old congregational church in Broughty Ferry. Avian’s single biggest challenge is to attract the right caliber of employee to fill key roles right across the board, despite the obvious success of the company, the challenges and rewards available and the great work life balance available in the much under rated city of Dundee! Continue to punch above our weight and compete with the central belt agencies whilst at the same time continue the planned for growth that has driven the agency over the last five years; continue the organic development of our major client accounts; drive the business development acquisition strategy and become the ‘go to’ design and digital agency in Scotland.

97 MARK

Clients won over last 12 months: NWDA, The Comedy Store, Christian Aid, Book Aid International, Manchester City Football Club, City and Guilds, Imperial War Museum North, Woodward-Kelly & Home. Key clients: Manchester City Council, NWDA, Sunderland University, Croydon Higher Education College, Manchester City Football Club, The Comedy Store & Manchester Literature Festival. No. Avoid getting too big for our boots. Finding the Pantone Chip Book. Continue doing interesting work for interesting clients. Have fun. Buy a new Pantone Chip Book.

98 FIDO

Clients won over last 12 months: In the last 12 months we have secured the following new accounts: Visit Chester and Cheshire Tourism, Salford Council tourism and heritage PR, Stockport Council citizen awards, Greater Manchester Community Foundation, Conjunction 08 the Stoke-on-Trent contemporary arts festival & Tatton Park Art Biennial Key clients: Lendlease Retail, Greater Manchester Community Foundation & the Royal Horticultural Society We have grown from five to seven staff in the last 12 months and planning further growth in 2009. Misunderstanding about PR is still an issue; many individuals and businesses are still missing a trick when it comes to the material gains that can be made by hiring a great PR consultancy. We’ve recognised this and we now have new measurement and impact formulas ready to prove it. In 2009 Fido will be seeking to work with more brands and businesses needing a trusty ally. We are planning for growth of existing accounts and new clients and consequently our team, we are looking forward to an exciting year ahead!

99 KATAPULT

Katapult, a brand communications agency based in Derby, aim to build clients' brands, and deliver integrated marketing campaigns that get results, through services including Branding, Advertising, Design, Website Development and Digital Marketing. Headed up by managing director Dawn Foote and account director Neil Perrott, the agency boasts a portfolio which includes: E.ON, Derby BMX, Showcase Cinemas, Nickelodeon Film Club, The University of Derby, The University of Salford, BBC Four, The Prince’s Trust and BBC Radio Arts Centre. This year alone has seen them scoop Best Digital Media Strategy at the DADI Awards, as well as two awards at the 2008 CIPR Pride Awards for the Midlands.

100 EARL & THOMPSON MARKETING

Gloucester based, integrated marketing and graphic design agency Earl & Thompson are established and experienced, with over 20 years experience in media and technology under managing director and owner Stuart Earl. Working closely with a range of clients across sectors such as construction and IT, finance, recruitment and public sector, they successfully deliver tailored solutions for all brand communications requirements. Their portfolio and case studies speak for themselves, and include big name brands such as BP, Balfour Beatty, National Trust, Newport Chamber of Commerce and Petroplus.