The Prolific North Top 50 Digital Agencies 2014

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Today we unveil the Prolific North Top 50 Digital Agencies 2014, the definitive listing of the North’s largest digital agencies spanning SEO and PPC, web, content, mobile and e-commerce.

The Top 50 Digital Agencies initiative follows on from the publication of our two ground-breaking  rankings published in 2013: the Prolific North Top 50 PR Agencies and the Prolific North Top 50 Integrated Agencies.

Prolific North would like to thank our two co-sponsors of the Top 50 Digital Agencies ranking: the commercial law firm Myers Lister Price and SEO agency Click Consult.

We will be working with Myers Lister Price and Click Consult to arrange a follow-up event to this initiative in June with the 140 or so digital agencies we have contacted during the course of our research.

If you are one of the 140 digital agencies, you will shortly be receiving an invite to this event.

 

 

 

Unlike many agency rankings which rely on agencies submitting selected information about themselves or rankings which only include agencies who pay to be part of the selection process, the Prolific North ranking is wholly independent and is anchored on financial information taken from Companies House, supplemented by additional information from the agencies.

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No table or ranking of any sector, particularly those relating to the creative, media and digital sectors, can be 100% guaranteed but we are confident that the ranking we have released today is the most credible and grounded analysis of digital agencies in the North that has ever been published.

There is only one other ranking, a national one, which we believe matches this ranking for quality of research but as that ranking of the top 100 digital agencies also includes the UK’s leading plane manufacturer, the digital activities of one of the UK’s top four accountants and several multinational integrated agencies, we fervently believe what we have produced is second to none in its accuracy.

Having said that, there are some notable names which are not included in the ranking – but there are valid reasons for their exclusion.

McCann Manchester and Home, the first and third largest agencies respectively in our Top 50 Integrated Agencies ranking, report that digital activity accounts for around a third of their total activities which makes them significant digital players. However, the digital ranking is intended to reflect agencies whose turnover is generated entirely or overwhelmingly from digital activities, so we are not double-counting agencies.

The Leeds digital agency Fusion, part of Principles, was ranked sixth in the Integrated table. Similarly, the Leeds agency Bloom increasingly positions itself as a digital agency but last autumn was keen to be seen as an integrated agency – and as such was included in the Integrated ranking.

One name whose absence may cause some comment is that of Reading Room. However, although the agency was indeed founded in Manchester and retains its registered office in the city, there are currently around 15 staff in the Manchester operation with the head office operations and senior management now moved to London with other more substantial operations in Australia and Singapore.

One agency which is not listed this year because it was only set up in April 2013 – and so has not filed any accounts for our researchers to pore over – is Active Win Media. The agency, run by Warren Jacobs and backed (and majority-owned) by the Done brothers (Betfred et al), is already up to over 40 staff and is a shoo-in for inclusion next year.

And the final three agencies not included merit a special mention: iProspect, i-lab and MEC Interaction.

These three agencies, the first owned by Aegis and the latter two by WPP, are actually three of Google’s biggest media partners nationally, billing north of £150m online between them.

However, as they were unable to submit balance sheet information or profits, we were reluctantly unable to include them without prejudicing the results of the other 140 digital agencies from whom we requested information. All three of these agencies run their specialist digital operations alongside their mainstream media buying operations in Manchester.

For the record, iProspect in Manchester has a turnover in excess of £70m and employs over 110 staff (more than doubling in one year). MEC Interaction employs  52 (up from 37 in January ’13) while the i-lab operations of Mediacom North also account for around a third of the Manchester business, which employs over 160 staff.

Research methodology

Working together with Mustard Research, one of the UK’s leading independent research companies, and the financial reporting company fame BVD, we looked at the accounts of over 140 digital agencies which are either based in or have offices in the North, and we also asked the agencies themselves for supplementary financial and related data.

The initial long list was ultimately whittled down to the final 50 in this ranking.

Agencies were not offered the option to be included or not.

Prolific North and Mustard would like to thank all the agencies concerned, whether ultimately included or not, for their time and effort in helping us to compile this unique compilation and we look forward to new agency names joining the ranking next year – as is to be expected given the sector is so dynamic.

In order to secure the full and transparent co-operation of all the participants – not just those where we were able to secure full financial data – we agreed with those agencies filing abbreviated accounts that we would not disclose the financials of any company in the compilation. This allowed these agencies to submit to us accurate information about sales and profits but also enabled them to retain a degree of privacy about their financial affairs.

The algorithm employed by Mustard is weighted on turnover, balance sheet and/or shareholder funds, ptp, growth over the past two years and headcount.  Our information is not assessed over a given calendar year or period but simply reflects each company’s latest filed information. This does mean of course that an agency’s size and financial performance effectively take precedence over other factors such as expertise or specialisation.

Location and  context

Each of the three Top 50 rankings we have produced has shown a marked contrast in regional locations: the PR ranking was overwhelming dominated by Manchester while the Integrated ranking saw many more Yorkshire agencies among the top 50.

The digital ranking sees the top four spots occupied by Yorkshire agencies with several others represented and a handful from Newcastle. Overall however, agencies based in the North West account for around two thirds of the constituent 50.

The strength of Yorkshire agencies has much to do with the region’s ongoing and historical strengths in direct response and mail order companies with their focus on ROI and measurement, two of digital’s greatest commercial attributes.

The North West in total has a larger number of digital agencies and staff but certainly among the largest agencies, the leading Yorkshire agencies have substantial size and scale.

The four agencies at the top of our ranking have all established offices in London and in addition Epiphany has opened an office in Sydney, twentysix has further offices in New York and Singapore while Summit has operations in Prague and most recently Paris.

We are also pleased that Google is partnering the Top 50 Digital Agencies feature as with our Integrated Agencies ranking and will be working alongside Prolific North and our sponsors to create and deliver the follow-up events to the two rankings.

In the meantime, please read, digest and perhaps even commission some work from these outstanding agencies!

(Update 18/3/14 – Epiphany acquired by Jaywing plc)

(Update 17/2/14 – Latitude’s parent Callcredit acquired by GTCR)

(Update 13/2/14  – Digital Next acquires Just Search)

 

 

 

The Prolific North Top 50 Digital Agencies 2014

In association with commercial law firm Myers Lister Price and Click Consult, a digital agency with a focus on search marketing.

#	Company	Ownership	Activity	Head- count in the North	Selection of clients
1	Stickyeyes Leeds	Independent	Digital marketing	117	Hertz, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Hilton, TD Waterhouse, Claire’s (Accessories)
2	Epiphany Leeds	Independent	Digital marketing	130	Sky Betting and Gaming, Tesco F&F, Kempinski, Agent Provocateur, Paul Smith, eBuyer.com
3	Twentysix Leeds	Part of MSQ Partners	Life online	99	P&G, Wella, Rackspace, TalkTalk, Silentnight, Cartoon Network
4	Summit Media Willerby, Hull	Independent	Retail digital engagement	108	Argos, BHS, Carpetright, Selfridges, 3, Homebase, Which
5	Code Computerlove Manchester	Independent	Digital marketing	80	Oxfam, HMV, BBC Childrens, NUS, First TransPennine Express, Brother, Chester Zoo
6	Search Laboratory Leeds	Independent	Search marketing	145	Mulberry, Barbour, Vistaprint, The Guardian, Debenhams, Volkswagen
7	Lakestar McCann Manchester	McCanns/ Interpublic	Online marketing	55	Figleaves.com, Halfords, Harley Medical, Parcels2Go, Miller Homes
8	Rippleffect Liverpool and Manchester	Trinity Mirror	Digital agency	70	Novus Leisure (Late Night London and Tiger Tiger), Footasylum, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Runnymede Trust, Culture24, Visit Essex, Downing and Archives+.
9	Fuse8/delete Leeds	Independent	Digital agency	74	Manchester City FC, Health Lottery, Red Bull, Alton Towers, Wrigleys, Soreen, Ikea, Specsavers
10	Latitude Digital Marketing Warrington	Callcredit Information Group	Digital marketing	106	Get the label, Fitness First, Holiday Autos, Rowlands pharmacy, Anglian Home Improvements, Gladstone Brookes.
11	Mediaworks Newcastle	Independent	Digital agency	75	Eastern Airways, SCS, Vikings, Brantano, Jones, JulesB
12	Axonn Media Manchester	Independent	Content marketing	69	Conlons & Son, Brookson, Zen Internet, Talk Talk Business, Age Partnership.
13	Amaze Manchester, Liverpool	St Ives Group	Digital marketing and technology consultancy	160	Lexus, Toyota, Unilever, ASICS.
14	Branded3 Leeds	St Ives Group	Search and digital	50	Virgin Holidays, BMW, Yorkshire Building society, Leeds City Museum, Carcraft, Phones 4U.
15	Click Consult Wirral	Independent	Digital marketing and search	60	Virgin Balloons, Marlows, Landmark London, Peckforton Castle, Technical Foam Services, Phoenix.
16	Just Search Macclesfield and Manchester	Get Updated	SEO agency	60
17	CSI Media Crewe	Independent	Website design and devleopment	35	National Geographic, Citreon, Channel 4, Dell, ICE, Go Compare
18	Building Blocks Manchester	Independent	Digital agency	60	BT, Regus, Macmillan, GE, Butlins, Warner Leisure Hotels.
19	Mando Liverpool	Independent	Online applications	55	Talk talk, Bentley, United Utilities, Marks and Spencer, Jones Lang LaSalle.
20	Fat Media Lancaster	Independent	Website designers and developers	62	Warburtons, Gambleaware, HSS Hire, Servisair, Royal Northern College of Music
21	CTI Digital Manchester	Independent	Digital agency	35	Travelodge, British Land, British Council, NHS
22	Response Tap Salford	Independent + private equity	Call tracking	55	Nuffield Health, Bristish gas, Aviva, Wickes, Eurocamp, Farleys
23	RE:Systems Bakewell, Manchester	Independent	Digital communications	33	Stansted Express, EDF, BT London Live, Skanksa, Old school ties
24	Apadmi Manchester	Independent	Mobile technology and marketing	55	BT, BBC, Aviva, Sky scanner, The Carphone Warehouse, The X Factor
25	New Mind Liverpool	Independent	e-tourism solutions	32	Love Weston, Isle of Wight, Visit Harrogate, Visit Bergen, Outdoor capital of the UK
26	Fast Web Media Manchester	Independent	Digital marketing	24	BBC Sport, Fontem Ventures, NEC Group
27	The E-Word Manchester	Independent	Search marketing	32	Betfred, Bruntwood, Parasol, Manchester Airport, Trolex, Kerching
28	Mediaburst Manchester	Independent	Mobile marketing	14
29	I-Com Manchester	Independent	Creative digital agency	38	I love to love, The Smile Centre, Carrs solicitors, JMW, Magnus Partnerships, McHale & Co
30	Orange Bus Newcastle	Independent	Digital agency	32	Teachers pension, Pearson, Phillips, SCS, Trylife, Sage
31	Blueleaf Cheshire	Independent	Web design and development	24	Red Bull, Graham and Brown, Diners Card
32	Ampersand Manchester	Independent	Open source ecommerce agency	27	Harvey Nichols, Bensons for Beds, Poundland, SKINS, End Clothing
33	Numiko Leeds	Independent	Digital agency	27	Design Council, EHRC, CRUK digital roster, Channel 4, Just Giving
34	Online Ventures Manchester	Independent	Creative marketing agency	26	Tesco, Microsoft, Lipsy, Air Charter Service, Serco, Thomas Cook
35	Clicky Media Chester	Independent	Digital marketing	30	NHS, Sony, 4 learning, Olympus, IBM, Microsoft
36	Magnetic North Manchester	Independent	Digital design	25	Manchester City Council, Channel 4, Radioplayer and BBC Radio 2 projects
37	KMP Digitata Stockport	Independent	E-business applications	20	Sue Ryder, ASDA, Manchester Airport, Nokia, NUS, Teenage Cancer Trust
38	Silverbean Newcastle	Independent	Inbound marketing agency	30	Lifecraft, Marc B, Austin Reed, Stadium Power, Danone, Lulu Guinness,
39	RO Eye Manchester	Independent	Performance Marketing Agency	10	Colonial Gifts (iFlorist and iHampers), Express Trainers
40	Cube 3 Manchester	Independent	Integrated digital marketing agency	26	Inventive Leisure (Revolution bars), Cash Generator, Hotel La Tour, Red Hot World Buffet, ANS Group, Novus Leisure
41	Prodo Digital Chester	Independent	Digital marketing agency	40	Homeserve, New York Times and Boots
42	Enjoy Digital Leeds	Independent	Digital agency	24	Park Leisure, Bradley Street, Leeds City College, Leeds College of Art, Northumbria University’s, JLA
43	Return on Digital Manchester	Independent	Digital marketing agency	25	WD40, Assos, Izzywotnot & ClinK Hostels
44	Webtise Wirral	Independent	Website designers and developers	25	Peggy Porschen, Oddbins, 37 South, Tactus, Vintage Styler, NCF furnishings
45	Headland Leeds	Independent	Web design solutions and e-marketing		Santander, Alton Towers, The Law Society, Snowdome, Axa, Smartaid
46	Carpe Diem Warrington	Independent	Creative digital design agency		Autotrader, New Balance, Ossur, GSK internal, Asics, Transform Cosmetic Group
47	Livelink Manchester	Independent	Digital agency	24	Manchester United, Warburtons, Weber Shandwick
48	HMA Digital Marketing Barnsley	Independent	Website design	20	Management School Gateway, the Centre of Assistive Technologies and Connected Healthcare, Magnesium Elektron, St Paul’s Developments PLC and Echo Barrier
49	Hit Search Liverpool	Independent	Digital marketing agency	16	NHS, Sherunsheruns, National Railway Museum, Knowsley Safari Park, ALFA, V&A, Blossom.
50	Mosquito Digital Manchester	Independent	Digital agency		Cambridge University Press, British Nutrition Foundation, Frontier Agriculture, Living Streets, LF Beauty