Prolific North can finally reveal its highly anticipated Independent Agencies to Watch list for 2025, showcasing 11 new agencies emerging across the North of England and Scotland.
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.
All the agencies on this year’s list were first unveiled live on stage at a special event last night (18 September), hosted at Colony One, Silk Street, in Manchester. More than 100 movers and shakers from the agency world packed into the venue for an evening of inspiration, insight and networking as the list was revealed for the very first time.
The evening began with a keynote from Alex Rowlands, Managing Partner – Finance & New Business at Ear to the Ground, who shared hard-won insights into building and scaling a successful agency. Drawing on his agency’s global network of 11,000 fans, he explained how “to drive agency growth, you need to treat your agency like a client.”
Rowlands spoke about the importance of long-term client relationships, minimising speculative pitching, and using data and “fan intelligence” to stay ahead. “You shouldn’t be giving ideas away for free,” he said, urging agencies to focus on proof of results rather than free creative. His practical, hard won advice on persistence and embedding new business into agency culture resonated strongly with the audience.
After the big reveal of the 2025 list and a lively networking break, the spotlight turned to a panel of independent agency leaders Chris Newell, Creative Partner at Syn; Dom Carter, CEO & Co-Founder at Serotonin; and Nicola Orrell, Managing Director at Edison Media.
The panelists reflected on how their agencies have evolved, emphasising the role of people, culture and differentiation in driving growth. “When you’ve got an agency, make sure you’ve got the right people,” Chris told the audience, stressing the need to align values and vision with tangible action.
Nicola highlighted the importance of flexibility for staff, particularly parents, adding: “If your team aren’t happy around you, then the business isn’t going to be happy. So just make sure you look after the team, because if you look after them, they’ll look after you.”
Dom, however, was characteristically direct in his advice to upcoming founders. “Remember that your employees are a team,” he said “They’re not your family. If they’re underperforming, be prepared to fire fast.”
His two other key tips to get a good CFO and to make sure you always have a plan.
What all of the panelists shared were examples of resilience, building culture and passion. Nicola summed things up perfectly reminding the audience of one critical thing that most of us, including her, too often forget.
“Live in the moment,” she said. “Enjoy it. Smile your way through some of the challenges that you’re going to face, because if you’re passionate and you care, it’ll come good.”
The event closed with more networking as Manchester’s agency community reflected on the night’s lessons and celebrated the next wave of independents shaping the future of the North’s creative economy.
This list has been compiled by the editorial team at Prolific North, working alongside trusted and knowledgeable observers of the Northern agency sector, to showcase new agencies on an upward trajectory — whether that’s through impressive revenue growth, rapid team expansion or securing major clients — and those making a real impact on diversity, sustainability, or innovation within their sector.
It spans companies from across the North of England and Scotland, showcasing the depth and diversity of the region’s thriving independent agency landscape.
Meet all the agencies featured on this year’s list below…
Prolific North’s Independent Agencies to Watch list 2025
*Please note this is not ranked.
SUPERSONIC
Founded: 2023 | Location: Leeds and Manchester | Key clients: Stagecoach Bus (lead agency), William Hill, Jet2, Dusk.com, De Vere, British Land.
With a promise to be “smaller, faster, stronger” away from the traditional agency model with layers of management, SUPERSONIC has had a rapid rise since its launch. In that time, the agency has grown from four to 14 senior-level creatives, strategists and industry pros, now working with an enviable list of national and international brands. But a big focus on company culture is just as important as client work, as the agency shares 10% of annual profits equally among all employees, regardless of role. Delivering impressive turnover growth along the way, SUPERSONIC also recently expanded into Manchester with the launch of its second office.
JACK RYAN
Founded: 2021 | Location: HQ in Glasgow with operations in London and Belfast | Key clients: NHS, First Group Plc, SSE, Robert Gordon University, HSC Health & Social Care NI, The British Council, NHS London, GoConstruct.
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 | Location: York (but operates remotely) | Key clients: YorkTest, Algomarketing, bethebrand, onebite, Visicover, The Curve, Reflect Digital, 34SP, WorkBuzz, Darts Corner, Tank, and AGSS Group.
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, a ten-week group programme addressing strategic skill gaps, particularly for agency teams.
Noticed
Founded: 2023 | Location: Manchester | Key clients: NHS England, NHS Mersey Care, Ocean Beach Ibiza, Smart Start (based in US), Behrens.
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.
Cairn
Founded: Sale | Location: 2023 | Key clients: Kutchenhaus, Whirlpool, Blum, PJH, Hexagon and Sensio.
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.
Excite OOH
Founded: 2022 | Location: HQ in Manchester with an additional London office | Key clients: Monday Haircare, Major League Baseball, Pizza Express & Visit Maldives.
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 | Location: Newcastle | Key clients: Nursem, Fairstone, Viovet, Fashion Eyewear.
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 | Location: Manchester | 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.
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 been able to exceed 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 | Location: Manchester | Key clients: Castore, Sweaty Betty, Card Factory, Adanola, The Works, Oak Furniture Land, Brother, Travel Counsellors, SCS, Pharmacy2U.
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, which eliminates GA4’s data delays.
Another Concept
Founded: 2023 | Location: Leeds | Key clients: RugbyPass, World Rugby, PPS, PayCaptain, TechRadar.
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 | Location: Leeds | Key clients: Brass Monkey, Luminate Education Group, Lloyds Clinical, West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
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.
