Revealed: Prolific North’s Top 50 Digital Agencies 2025

Today we can reveal the hotly anticipated Top 50 Digital Agencies list for 2025, the benchmark ranking for top-performing agencies across the North of England.

Over the last decade, Prolific North’s Top 50 ranking has fast become the go-to guide for this thriving sector across the North.

A big thanks goes to Prolific North’s long-term research partners Mustard for independently compiling the list again this year. 

Every eligible agency is considered for the ranking, with Mustard analysing a range of financial and operational metrics to build the final list. Factors include balance sheets, turnover and pre-tax profit, as well as publicly available information.

Analysis

Thanks to Mustard’s research, Prolific North has delved into the data and discovered the Top 50 Digital Agencies in 2025 are powering nearly £818.5m for the Northern economy – but pre-tax profits have dipped considerably to £19.2m over the past year. That’s a 63% decline.

The total turnover of last year’s Top 50 stood at around £699m, before climbing to nearly £818.5m in 2025 – a 17% increase year-on-year.

READ MORE:  Introducing the new entrants on Prolific North’s Top 50 Digital Agencies list

“This year’s rankings suggest a sector entering a new phase that’s not defined by explosive growth but by strategic consolidation for most,” explains Richard Walker, Director at Mustard.

The latest data also shows that the total workforce across the Top 50 has decreased from 5,726 last year to 5,368.

Walker explains how although growth may have slowed in some areas there are “stronger balance sheets, steady profitability and leaner operations – signaling that our Northern agencies are focusing on becoming more efficient, financially disciplined and focused on sustainable performance”. 

“Top players are adapting to shifting client demands, economic pressures and technological change to create a more resilient digital economy in the North,” he adds.

👉 Need a refresher? Revisit the 2024 Top 50 Digital Agencies ranking here

However, it’s important to note this comparison is for all agencies that made the Top 50 list in 2024 vs the agencies that made the Top 50s this year, and merely offers a snapshot of what may be happening across the wider digital agency sector in the North.

Beyond the data, it’s worth remembering at this point that this is not a list that aims to find the biggest agency or necessarily the most profitable agency, but instead uses a carefully considered algorithm – that has remained constant throughout the last few years – that seeks to identify the top agencies in a given year.

So, the big reveal is finally here. A big congratulations to everyone that made the ranking – especially to KINESSO for retaining the top spot for a second year running!

You may notice a major shift in the Top 10 as Leeds-based CDS has climbed nine places into second position, while UNRVLD has had a meteoric rise, rising 10 places into fifth position.

There were real standout performers elsewhere on the list too – well done to Summit (13th), Velstar (14th), Cantarus (25th), Enigma Interactive (29th) and Fat Media (32nd).

It’s fantastic to see a wide range of regional representation across the North plus two new entrants on this year’s list – well done to Middlesbrough-based Mabo (39th) and Manchester’s Serotonin (46th). And of course, a shout out to a number of new and returning agencies breaking into the Top 50 for 2025 – Skyrise* (24th), Perfect Storm (48th), Salience (49th) and Reason Digital (50th). 

Check out the full rankings for 2025 below…

Make sure you join in the conversation on social media using the hashtag #PNTop50.

The Prolific North Top 50 Digital Agencies for 2025

* Please see notes at end of ranking

Ranking	Previous	Company	Location	Ownership	Headcount	Key clients
1	1	KINESSO	Leeds	Networked agency part of IPG Mediabrands	214	Hertz, Kroger, BambooHR, Chapel Down and Tempur
2	11	CDS	Leeds	Bailie Group	325	Bank of England, National Rail, Insight Investment, Yorkshire Water
3	6	Apadmi	Manchester	Independent	272	Asda, Poundland, iD Mobile, Domino’s, NHS
4	4	Open Partners	Manchester, Liverpool	Independent	134	Greene King Brewing & Retailing Limited, Intrepid Travel PTY Ltd, Injury Lawyers 4U
5	15	UNRVLD	Manchester	Independent	147	Biffa, Flora, NTT, Barratt Homes, Parkdean Resorts
6	7	Add People	Altrincham	Thrive Media Group	235	3,000+ SME clients
7	3	Visualsoft	Stockton-on-Tees, Newcastle, Manchester	Independent	250	HMV, Leader Online, SportsShoes.com, Grenade, Charles Clinkard
8	5	26	Leeds, Manchester	Part of MSQ	113	Asda, CIPD, Corinthia Hotels, City Electrical Factors, CVS Group
9	12	ICS-digital	Leeds	Spotlight Sports Group	100	PureGym, Vistaprint, Betfred, Betfair, Plarium
10	13	Havas Market*	Leeds	Havas Market network	117	Burton Snowboards, Explore Learning, Riviera Travel, Bonhams
11	8	Journey Further	Leeds, Manchester	Independent	127	Frasers Group, Adobe, Sky, Virgin Money, Interflora
12	14	DEPT	Manchester	Independent	110	–
13	22	Summit Media	Hull	Independent	80	Wickes, Ann Summers, Hitchinson 3G, Silentnight, Tommee Tippee
14	28	Velstar	Liverpool, Leeds	Independent	91	Neom Wellbeing, Castore, Euro Car Parts, Montirex, Sculpted By Aimee
15	20	Connective3	Leeds, Manchester	Independent	130	Avon, Ocado, Wren Kitchens, Love Holidays, HSBC
16	9	AND Digital	Manchester, Leeds, Halifax	Independent	732	Beauty Bay, Bensons for Beds, Richer Sounds, Sports Shoes
17	17	Jellyfish	Warrington, Manchester	Fimalac (France)	30	Experian, Suzuki, Google UK, Harrods, Netflix
18	16	CTI Digital	Manchester, Lancaster	Private	139	Visit Britain, Chester Zoo, British Council, Prezzo, Mind
19	2	IDHL	Leeds, Manchester	Independent	353	Hammonds, Aston Barclay, British Retail Consortium, Swoon, Hachette Learning
20	23	Leighton	Newcastle	Independent	101	British Airways, IAG Loyalty, BBC, iamproperty, Atom Bank
21	25	Engage Interactive	Leeds	Independent	57	Jet2Holidays, Whitbread, Mattel, Yoplait, Bellway Homes
22	24	The SEO Works	Sheffield	Independent	80	DHL, Effat University, Clinical Partners, David Nieper, Rave Coffee
23	10	Dark Matter Commerce	Manchester	Part of Dark Matter Group	84	Jessops, Cotton Traders, Richer Sounds, Bensons for Beds
24	–	Skyrise*	Manchester	Independent	34	–
25	35	Cantarus	Manchester	Independent	59	British Army, British Medical Association, Royal College of Physicians, The Fostering Network
26	27	Embryo	Manchester	Independent	64	The Range, Dental Law, Roland DG, Totum
27	30	Circus PPC	Leeds	Independent	20	Roman, Booths, Cinesa, MaxiNutrition, RSM
28	18	Nexer Digital	Macclesfield	Wholly owned subsidiary of Nexer Group AB	78	AstraZeneca, Convatec, Department for Education, BRC/LGC, University of Cambridge
29	41	Enigma	Newcastle	Independent	41	National Grid, Solopress, Snaparazzi, Open University, North East Combined Authority
30	26	EM Code	Manchester	Part of WPP	75	Hunter Douglas UK Retail Ltd, Bluestone Resorts Ltd, The Go Ahead Group plc
31	19	Mediaworks	Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds	Independent	113	Metro Bank, Cinch, Southern Water, CR Smith
32	46	Fat Media	Lancaster	Independent	66	Lakeland, Maximum Adventure, OCS, Four Seasons Health Care
33	32	Hedgehog Lab	Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester	Independent	62	AJ Bell, Aviva, Deliveroo, Virgin Money, Santander
34	44	Mando Group	Liverpool	Independent	35	JCB, British Red Cross, USS, Electricity North West, United Utilities
35	31	Parallax	Leeds	Independent	48	Glencore, Brass Monkey, SCIEX, Hexagon, Ninja Leisure UK Leeds Ltd
36	37	Shout Digital	Newcastle	Independent	41	ICO, Northumbrian Water, Parkdean, Novuna, iamproperty
37	21	SocialChain	Manchester	Group	69	John Lewis Partnership, Holland & Barrett, British Army
38	42	Rise at Seven	Sheffield, Manchester	Independent	70	Parkdean Resorts, Pretty Little Thing, Boohoo, ODEON, Interflora
39	New	Mabo	Middlesbrough	Independent	65	MyMotorWorld, Plum Play, Globber Scooters, JT Dove, Sustainable Furniture
40	33	Fusion Unlimited	Leeds	Independent	20	Pharmacy2U, Edinburgh Airport, Grand Central Rail, Healthy Stuff, Saga
41	29	Evolved Search	Newcastle	Independent	55	Vanarama, Peter Vardy Group, Marks Electrical, tombola, Gridserve
42	48	AYKO	Leeds	Independent	39	Silverfish, CPL Distribution, Douglas & Graham, Wynnstay Group, HC Slingsby
43	49	Bonded Agency	Newcastle	Independent	27	Northgate, Bravissimo, Barker & Stonehouse, CEF, Spire Healthcare
44	50	House Digital	Manchester, Burscough	Independent	40	Nadine Merabi, Ello Group, BiGDUG, World Travel Holdings, EGO
45	45	Click Consult	Cheshire	Ceuta Group	43	UEFA, Zurich, Viessmann, Chums, Liverpool Airport
46	–	Serotonin	Manchester	Independent	19	ASSOS of Switzerland, Bella Italia, SUDU, Ourvita, SWI Cycling
47	43	Digitaloft	Manchester	Independent	69	booking.com, RVU, JD Outdoors, BOXT, Christmas Tree World
48	–	Perfect Storm	Leeds	Independent	20	Retirement Villages Group, FIFA, Stagecoach, Sterling Pharma Solutions
49	–	Salience	Chester	Independent	31	Dreams, BRITA, Riviera Travel, The Entertainer, The Independent Pharmacy
50	–	Reason Digital	Manchester	Independent	44	Charity and healthcare clients

• *Havas Market, formerly known as Search Laboratory prior to merger with Havas Market.
• *Skyrise – merger between Regital and Skyrise Intelligence.