Mustard is proud to have collaborated with Prolific North on an initiative to uncover the definitive countdown of the Top 50 PR companies in the North, and we can now announce the final rankings.
The list has been predicated largely by financial data –gathered through online sources (including Fame BVD) and volunteered by many of the agencies themselves. This data has included balance sheet value (shareholder funds), turnover and growth figures.
The final rankings have also been influenced by the results of an online survey to capture responses from a select group of senior decision makers on brand awareness, perceptions and consideration.
It was pleasing to hear, anecdotally, how many agencies are reporting an upturn in fortunes, and we look forward to repeating the study next year in the hope of revealing more success stories from a profitable 2013.
The rankings:
Rank Company name Offices in the North Full time staff Selection of clients
1 Weber Shandwick, Manchester
2 Citypress, Manchester
3 Tangerine, Manchester
4 Brazen, Manchester
5 Scott Partnership, Holmes Chapel
6 Good Relations Regional, Macclesfield, Leeds, Liverpool
7 Barrett Dixon Bell (BDB), Altrincham
8 Spinoza Kennedy Vesey Communications (SKV), Manchester
9 de Winter PR & Marketing, Chester
10 Peppermint Soda, Hale
11 Pelican Public Relations, Oldham
12 Kenyon Fraser Liverpool, Leeds
13 Beattie Communications Group, Leeds, Manchester
14 Triangle Public Relations, Manchester
15 Martin Tait Redheads PR, Newcastle upon Tyne
16 The Public Affairs Co, Leeds
17 Roland Dransfield, Manchester
18 Active Profile, Liverpool, Manchester
19 Context, Macclesfield
20 Mason Williams, Manchester
21 MTJ Associates, Leyland
22 MCG, Leeds
23 RMS, Altrincham
24 JAM, Manchester
25 Paver Smith & Co, Liverpool, Manchester
26 Label PR, Manchester
27 Quest, Harrogate
28 Finn Communications, Leeds
29 Freedman Brown Communications, Wigan
30 Umpf, Leeds
31 Smoking Gun, Manchester
32 Eldon Associates, Newcastle upon Tyne
33 Rumpus, Altrincham
34 Freshfield Public Relations, Preston
35 Mere, Altrincham
36 Profile Communication, Winsford
37 The Write Angle, Chorley
38 Lexicon, Ilkley
39 Hatch Communications, Leeds
40 Admiral, Newcastle upon Tyne, Manchester
41 Judge & Howard, Manchester
42 The Bird Consultancy, Manchester
43 Acceleris, Harrogate
44 Down at the Social, Manchester
45 IPB Communications. Sale
46 Cicada Communications, Harrogate
47 HatTrick, Manchester
48 Beyond, Sheffield
49 Cameron Wells Communications, Sale
50 iseepr, Otley