Independent Agencies to Watch
Prolific North's latest Independent Agencies to Watch list showcases 11 rising stars from the North's independent agency sector.
Prolific North’s Independent Agencies to Watch list for 2025 recognises 11 fast-growing and rising agencies across the North.
Sponsored by Glaisyers, SBS and Brands and Agencies, it marks the third year of this initiative to celebrate ambitious rising Northern independent agencies who are creating the biggest waves as they grow, be that financially, creatively or as an employer.
The Independent Agencies to Watch list reveals just some of the incredible independent agencies doing phenomenal things whether it’s a big focus on sustainability, soaring growth with revenue, staff or clients in just a year or two, or making waves with diversity.
Prolific North’s Independent Agencies to Watch 2025
SUPERSONIC
JACK RYAN
Founded: 2021 / Key Clients: NHS, First Group Plc, SSE, Robert Gordon University, HSC Health & Social Care NI, The British Council, NHS London, GoConstruct / Location: HQ in Glasgow with operations in London and Belfast
Recognised as a Great Place to Work and a B Corp-certified agency, JACK RYAN has a young, diverse team focused on upskilling and has quickly established itself as a rising independent, redefining what a media agency can be. From delivering national health campaigns to international education initiatives, the agency’s integrated campaign approach is powered by proprietary iJACK software, combining AI and science to plan, communicate and manage campaigns. Its projects for the NHS have driven measurable behavioural change, including increased forms of cancer screening. JACK RYAN also reports it is also the only agency headquartered outside of London with IAB Gold Standard certification and champions sustainable media planning.
Open Velocity
Founded: 2022 / Key Clients: YorkTest, Algomarketing, bethebrand, onebite, Visicover, The Curve, Reflect Digital, 34SP, WorkBuzz, Darts Corner, Tank, and AGSS Group. / Agency location: York (but operates remotely)
This Yorkshire agency has become a rising star since award-winning founder Bethan Vincent launched the business in 2022, delivering consistent, organic growth alongside strong profitability. The team has grown from three to five, maintaining a consultant-led approach with an average client tenure of over 18 months and most notably, 100% of its client acquisition is inbound, powered by referrals, partnerships and results. ‘Innovation’ has helped to shape the agency’s growth, from developing a proprietary marketing audit process to the launch of Strategy Catalyst Training.
Noticed
Founded: 2023 / Key clients: NHS England, NHS Mersey Care, Ocean Beach Ibiza, Smart Start (based in US), Behrens / Agency location: Manchester
Burnley-based brothers Niall and Morgan Ratcliffe once dreamt of becoming professional footballers, but now have a very different mission: to build the ‘most well known’ b2b marketing agency in the UK. Since 2022, the agency has grown from two people into a 20-strong team, tripled its revenue and earlier this year, moved into the offices of Social Chain co-founder Dominic McGregor, who backs the duo’s mission. With a big emphasis on a ‘fun and exciting’ company culture, the agency has recently launched a new ‘Creative Account-Based Marketing’ service and unveiled a brand refresh.
Founded: 2023 / Key clients: Kutchenhaus, Whirlpool, Blum, PJH, Hexagon and Sensio / Location: Sale
Since launching in 2023, full service marketing agency Cairn has grown rapidly from a team of two into a full-time team of 10, moved into larger premises in Sale, and reported turnover of £1m after its first full year in business. The agency is ‘extremely proud’ of the culture it has built up, particularly after a recent staff survey revealed 100% of employees felt ‘supported and empowered’. Over 70% of Cairn’s work has come from client referrals and word-of-mouth, with the agency’s growth over the past year mainly driven by both new client wins and organic expansion. Cairn also recently joined an IPA Accelerator programme, designed to support up-and-coming agencies.
Founded: 2022 / Key clients: Monday Haircare, Major League Baseball, Pizza Express & Visit Maldives / Location: HQ in Manchester with an additional London office
Founded by Elliot Ward, Excite OOH is an out-of-home (OOH) advertising agency that has seen impressive growth over the past three years. The agency has already delivered campaigns across more than 15 countries over the past 12 months, working with brands from Prime Video to Visit Maldives. The agency was named in Prolific North’s Top 50 Integrated Agencies list 2025 for the first time and on the FEBE Growth 100 Watch List. The agency’s biggest achievement this year has been building up its team, bringing in key people and shaping a collaborative, fun culture, and European expansion could be on the horizon next too.
The Digital Lighthouse
Founded: 2024 / Key clients: Nursem, Fairstone, Viovet, Fashion Eyewear / Location: Newcastle
Tom Chandler may have only launched The Digital Lighthouse last year, but the performance marketing agency has quickly emerged as a specialist challenging the traditional agency model.
Chandler has already been recognised as one of the Performance Marketing 30 Under 30 and shortlisted as one of Prolific North’s Rising Stars of 2025. The agency is also nurturing future talent through partnerships with Newcastle University, launching a graduate internship scheme to build the talent pipeline across the region. Combining commercial success with community impact, talent development and clear values, The Digital Lighthouse has quickly scaled to a team of six and also has the backing of Leigh Gammons, CEO at leading agency Tangent, who is a non-executive director.
The Strong Agency
Founded: 2020 / Key clients: Upmarket Hotels & Leisure, Astra Group, Merlin Entertainments, ACAI Outdoorwear, Middledale Foods, Outside of Ordinary, Mills Hill Developments Ltd, Gino Restaurants, and Mint Property Finance / Location: Manchester
Founded by Julie Wilson, The Strong Agency is a Manchester-based PR and communications consultancy that lives up to its name. Built on resilience, the agency has thrived through extraordinary challenges, including the economic downturn. Despite navigating more than most, the agency has exceeded its own growth targets, build a crisis and reputation arm, establish a solid B2C and B2B offering, and continues to invest in its team and the business.
Fabric Analytics
Founded: 2023 / Key clients: Castore, Sweaty Betty, Card Factory, Adanola, The Works, Oak Furniture Land, Brother, Travel Counsellors, SCS, Pharmacy2U / Location: Manchester
Founded by Daniel Wigley and Ric Riley, Fabric Analytics has quickly established itself as a leading CRO and analytics agency, driven by a focus on “clients, solutions and people, not margins”. Now a 21-strong team, Fabric Analytics is one of only 25 UK agencies named as Google Analytics 4 and Google Tag Manager Partners, trusted by some of the country’s biggest brands. Recently crowned Innovative Agency of the Year at the UK Agency Awards, the agency was recognised for its marketing intelligence platform, Fabric Realtime.
Another Concept
Founded: 2023 / Key clients: RugbyPass, World Rugby, PPS, PayCaptain, TechRadar / Location: Leeds
With over 50 years of combined experience at leading agencies, Alex Gregory, Marcus Hearn, Tom Brook and Rich Hart launched Another Concept to “redefine the agency model” with expert-led performance marketing free from jargon and silos. In less than two years, the Leeds-based team has grown to seven, surpassed its five-year growth ambitions with a dedicated Calls Wharf office, and is on track to make year three its biggest yet. With new client wins, profitability and award recognition — including Best Sport Campaign at the 2024 Prolific North Marketing Awards — Another Concept is building a people-first culture rooted in ‘creativity and professional development’.
Invested
Founded: 2024 / Key clients: Brass Monkey, Luminate Education Group, Lloyds Clinical, West Yorkshire Combined Authority / Location: Leeds
Media agency Invested was created to fix the “flaws” of the traditional media model, and in just over a year, has grown from an ambition to working with more than 15 brands. Senior-led and fully independent, the agency strips away middle layers, providing clients with direct access to expertise, accountability, and measurable results. Since launching in 2024, the team has expanded to four and delivers data-driven campaigns across education, health and retail. With a values-led culture offering freedom and flexibility, Invested is focused on sustainable growth while nurturing the next generation of media talent.