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

Weber Shandwick Manchester

Citypress, Manchester

Tangerine, Manchester

Brazen, Manchester

Scott Partnership, Holmes Chapel

Good Relations Regional, Macclesfield, Leeds, Liverpool

Barrett Dixon Bell (BDB), Altrincham

Spinoza Kennedy Vesey Communications (SKV), Manchester

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