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The Prolific North Top 50 PR Agencies 2019

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Welcome to the official 2019 Prolific North Top 50 PR Agencies, the benchmark ranking of the North’s top PR agencies.

This list follows the Top 50 Digital Agencies and Top 50 Integrated Agencies – and keep your eyes peeled for the Top 50 Tech Companies list, which will be revealed at the Tech Dinner in November.

As with many of our research-based initiatives, we are very pleased that the leading independent research company, Mustard, has once again rigorously managed and compiled the list on behalf of Prolific North.

The top 50 was first revealed at Prolific North’s PR Dinner at Manchester Hall last night.





The ranking is anchored on financial information taken from Companies House, as well as financial reporting company Bureau van Dijk, and also draws upon data submitted and verified by the agencies themselves including additional financials, headcount, client information and – where appropriate – confidential private background information.

After much calculation and evaluation of their work and accounts, the following 50 PR agencies were ranked as the best of the North. A massive congratulations to every agency who made it into the list – a truly commendable achievement.

The reign of Citypress continues

Five years in a row. That’s how long Citypress have held on to the top spot in our Top 50 PR Agencies list. The firm is followed closely by Weber Shandwick for the second year running but this year, Tangerine PR misses out on a podium position with Altrincham’s Barrett Dixon Bell snatching third place.

The top 10 this year has 90% of companies in the top 10 last year, albeit with some slight movement amongst them. The circle continues to turn for Carousel PR who have risen to sixth after breaking into the top 10 last year, after being placed 16th in 2017. 

Some serious recognition is in order for the two agencies who have broken into the Top 50 for the first time: Warrington’s No Brainer at 35th and Scriba PR, from Huddersfield, at 48th.

We did not give agencies the option of being included or not. This does mean however that sometimes larger, or indeed, smaller agencies, can have unusual years which can inflate or hurt their performance in a given year.

And once again, integrated or digital agencies with significant PR operations such as Amaze and McCann have not been included because this ranking is dictated by the agencies’ prime offering: PR and comms.

Finally, many thanks to all the agencies who have so helpfully supplied us with information and data, as well as responding to our questions where required.


The Prolific North Top 50 PR Agencies 2019

2018 ranking in brackets

Rank Company Location Ownership Staff Clients

1 (1)

Citypress Manchester Private 82

Aldi, British Gas, Coca-Cola, Lloyds Banking Group, Unilever

2 (2) Weber Shandwick Manchester

Interpublic Group of Companies

41

Iceland, Hitachi Capital UK, Nespresso, University of Salford 

3 (5) Barrett Dixon Bell Altrincham

Private

38

DSM, IMCD, Lonza, Sensient  

4 (3) Tangerine Manchester

Private

57

Pizza Hut, Specsavers, Johnstone’s Paint, Ideal Standard, Jewson

5 (4) Finn Communications Leeds

Private

36

Essity UK LTD, Froneri, GHD Limited, IPN, Taylors of Harrogate Ltd

6 (9) Carousel PR Manchester

Private

30

MGA Entertainment, Selfridges, Moda, Savills, Broadwick Live

7 (6) Brazen PR Manchester

Private

27

Wilko, Magnet Kitchens, Dr Oetker, Showcase Cinemas

8 (9) Influential PR Liverpool

Private

28

Everton Football Club, Bruntwood , Morgan Sindall, U + I, Camelot – National Lottery 

9 (13) Democracy Manchester

Private

33

Dulux (retail, trade, decorator centre), Halewood wines and spirits

10 (7) Havas PR UK Manchester

Havas Group/Vivendi

25 Greggs, Kellogg’s, Studio.co.uk
11 (28)

Ramarketing & PR

Newcastle upon Tyne

Private

23

Recipharm Ltd, Xellia Pharmaceuticals, Tracelink (Europe) Ltd, Ashfield Healthcare

12 (10)

Hatch Communications

Leeds

Private 28

Boost Drinks, Checkatrade, Spectrum Brand

13 (21)

Lucre

Leeds

Private 22

Jet2.com, Stonegate, Holiday Extras, Pizza Express, Meadowhall

14 (39)

iseepr 

Leeds Private 18

EMVCo, GlobalPlatform, SIMalliance, Trustonic, Fingerprints

15 (17)

Prohibition PR 

Leeds

Private    

15

Watches of Switzerland Group, ENGIE, Interflora, University of Northumbria

16 (34)

Corporate Culture Ltd

Liverpool

Private

20

Southern Water, The Riverside Group, Scottish Hydro Electric, NHS England

17 (14)

PR Agency One

Manchester

Private

19

Decathlon UK, Gift Voucher Shop, BuyItDirect Group, Patatam

18 (18)

Intelligent Conversation

Manchester

Private

15

United Utilities plc, Synectics plc, EMIS Group plc

19 (11)

Social Communications

Sale

Private

28

The National Lottery Good Causes, Manchester Growth Hub, Leeds City Council

20 (16)

Scott Partnership 

Holmes Chapel

Private

13  
21 (19)

Roland Dransfield PR 

Manchester

Private

14

ask, ST.MODWEN, PH Homes, Genr8, Schroders

22 (31)

Sky Parlour

Manchester

Private

17

Fleetcor, Ingenico, Emerging Payments Association, Chargebacks 911 and Fintech Power 50

23 (26)

Smoking Gun

Manchester

Private

15

Silentnight Group, Merck Science Division, Arriva Bus UK, Childs farm

24 (22)

Peppermint Soda

Manchester

Private

22

Bolton Council, Home Bargains. Hitachi, Muse

25 (38)

RMS PR, Design & Marketing

Altrincham

Private

19

Warburtons, Swizzels, Arvia, Manchester Drinks, Duerr’s

26 (15) DTW

Guisborough

Private

15

The Law Society, Emovis Operations Mersey Ltd, Sunderland City Council

27 (36)

Definition (Previously Acceleris)

Leeds

Private

20

Utilita, Benenden Health, FibreNation

28 (25)

Active Profile

Manchester

Private

15

Business Growth Hub, Muse Developments, Avison Young, Sensor City

29 (27)

Fig Creative

Glossop

Private

17

Northwood Hygiene Products; Datagraphic; Edge Hill University; MVIS Ltd; Risco

30 (33)

Truth PR

Manchester

Private

11

Wates Group, Countryside, Acelity, Clive Christian Furniture Co

31 (32)

Context Public Relations

Macclesfield

Private

10

Algosec, Yubico, Wellbeing Software, Check Point Software Technologies, Somfy

32 (24)

Umpf

Leeds

Private

11

ENGIE, Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, Harrison Spinks, Landsec, NHS

33 (20)

MCG PR 

Leeds

Private

14

Pink Lady and Tenderstem, Costcutter Supermarkets Group, Nexus, University of Leeds

34 (23) SKV PR

Manchester

Private

12

BUPA, BDP, Siemens Digital Industries, Crown Commercial Services

35

No Brainer

Cheshire

Private

11

Cash Converters, HomeServe, In Touch, Optionis, Sale Sharks

36 (43)

Brand8 PR

Leeds

Private

9

Avant Homes, Chancerygate, Paragon, Sewtec, World Wheel Company

37 (35)

Harris Associates

Leeds

Private

15

Senior Architectural Systems Ltd, CD (UK) Ltd, Crown

38 (48)

Skout PR

Macclesfield

Private

10

Miele, Wax Digital, GazProm Energy, 100%, SANA

39 (40)

MANC FRANK

Manchester

Group – Enero Group

8

Vype, Vorwerk, Kiwi.com, Staysure, Tomatin

40 (42)

The Partners Group

York

Private

8

Apollo Fire Detectors, Saint-Gobain Glass, The Technology Group

41 (30)

Mason Williams Ltd

Manchester

Private

14

Accor Hotels, Radisson Blu, LHM group

42 (41)

Kenyons

Liverpool

Private

13

Aintree, IBF, LIPA, MerseyTravel

43 (37)

Aberfield Communications

Leeds

Private

10

BBC, First Direct, Deloitte, NG Bailey, The Jockey Club

44 (44)

Fourth Day PR 

Manchester 

Fourth Day Group 

9

Autocab, National Nuclear Laboratory, Mobica, APS Group

45 (45)

Allott & Associates Ltd

Knaresborough

Private

10

OxAir, GEA, Force24, EU, Onward Holdings

46 (56) HRM

Sheffield

Private

12

NHS, BHP, Keebles, Frenchgate

47 Down at the Social

Manchester

Private

7

tofs, Vapiana, USE

48 Scriba PR

Huddersfield

Private

9

DealTrak, UNTHA, ESPHR, Vapour Cloud, Force24

49 Refresh PR

Manchester

Private

10

BBF Limited, Digitonic, Eurocell PLC, Metro Rod

50 (46) MTJ Associates Ltd Leyland

Private

7

AG Barr, Burton’s Biscuits, Kepak Consumer Food

 


All agencies with a Prolific Profile are linked


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