We are delighted to officially announce the rankings for the Prolific North Top 50 Integrated agencies of 2019.
Now in its seventh year, and like previous years, the list is mostly driven by financials, such as shareholder funds, turnover, % growth and pre-tax profit, however, we also take into consideration factors such as staff headcount.
Thank you to all of those who volunteered their information to us this year. All data is checked and verified using online sources such as Bureau van Dijk’s Fame database and Companies House.
As the popularity of The Top 50 list grows, we had over 150 agencies enter into this year’s rankings, a new record. Like with previous years, we have seen some new names make their way straight into the Top 50.
The top spot
Firstly, congratulations to McCann Manchester who continue to hold the number one position for the seventh year in succession.
New entries and big climbers
This year saw a number of new entries, with the most noticeable being The Creative Engagement Group in at 7th position, Accord Marketing at 28th, Alchemy Media at 38th and One agency at 39th. Other new entries include Blue Chip at 43rd, HGA Creative at 44th, Aire Design at 48th and Access Advertising at 50th.
2019 also saw some re-entries from MC2 who entered at 29th position, Clear Marketing at 47th and Everything Different at 49th.
The biggest climber for 2019 came from Big Brand Ideas who gained an impressive 17 places from 39th to 22nd this year. Other notable improvements came from Heckford Advertising, gaining 15 places now ranked at 30th, Cravens gained 11 positions putting them at 32nd and Parker Design, improved by 10 places to appear at 36th.
Both gaining 7 places were Gecko who moved from 16th in 2018 to 9th this year and TBWA\Manchester who moved from 23rd to 16th.
2019 Rankings:
Previous year ranking in brackets
| Ranking | Company | Private / Group | Location | Employee count | Key clients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1) | McCann Manchester | Interpublic | Manchester | 383 | Matalan, Aldi, CrossCountry Trains, Magnet Kitchens, Peugeot/Vauxhall |
| 2 (2) | Havas Lynx | Havas Network | Manchester | 408 | Astra Zeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi Genzyme |
| 3 (3) | Adelphi Group | Omnicom Group Inc | Bollington | 360 | Top Pharma companies |
| 4 (4) | Intermarketing | Advantage Smollan Group | Leeds | 213 | Adidas, Moda, KIND, Maoam |
| 5 (6) | Home | Independent | Leeds | 198 | Jet2.com & Jet2holidays, Jaguar Land Rover, Royal Canin, Chicago Town, Dr Oetker |
| 6 (5) | Jaywing | Public (AIM) | Sheffield | 256 | First Direct, Castrol, Virgin Money, Pandora, Insurance2go |
| 7 | The Creative Engagement Group | Huntsworth PLC | Manchester | 150 | AstraZeneca, Roche, Google, BBC, HSBC |
| 8 (8) | MB Advertising & Marketing Ltd | MB Group (UK) Ltd | Sheffield | 69 | Drive Motor Group, JCT600, Marshall Motor Group, Motus, Robins & Day |
| 9 (16) | Gecko | Private | Leeds | 62 | Volkswagen, Grosvenor Casinos, EuroCamp, Peninsula, Mecca Bingo |
| 10 (12) | BJL | Dentsu Aegis Network | Manchester | 72 | Florette, The Co-operative Bank, Craghoppers, BASF, Ronseal |
| 11 (10) | Drummond Central | Private | Newcastle | 55 | bet365, Tor Coatings, Greggs, Stoke City Football Club, Tracerco |
| 12 (13) | Momentum Instore | Private | Handforth | 120 | Tesco, Sainsbury’s, BP, Google, Harry’s |
| 13 (15) | Love Creative | Private | Manchester | 58 | BrewDog, Botanic Lab, Häagen-Dazs |
| 14 (9) | Media Agency Group | Private | Manchester | 35 | ISAWITFIRST.COM, Never Fully Dressed, Greene King, Malaysia and Sykes |
| 15 (14) | Elmwood | Private | Leeds | 112 | Carlsberg, Alpro, Joii, LW Theatres |
| 16 (23) | TBWA\ Manchester | Private | Manchester | 61 | Jacamo, Alton Towers, Remington, Papyrus, Pizza Hut, Warwick Castle |
| 17 (7) | Fresh | Private | Cheadle | 78 | Co-op, Santander, M&S, BMW, Clarks, DFS |
| 18 (22) | Uniform | Private | Liverpool | 64 | Ideal Standard, Unilever, Innocent, Liverpool FC & Primark |
| 19 (18) | Propaganda | Private | Leeds | 50 | Clipper Logistics Plc, Roberts Bakery, Gym King, The Car People |
| 20 (20) | Refinery | Private | Manchester | 61 | Manchester Arndale, Clearpay, EGO, Siemens, Varta, AkzoNobel |
| 21 (17) | SteinIAS | Private | Bollington | 67 | ABB, HSBC, Ingredion, Oracle, Republic Services |
| 22 (39) | Big Brand Ideas | Private | Cheshire | 56 | Shell, Tyres On The Drive, Hoover, Nextbase, Willerby |
| 23 (39) | Workhouse Marketing | Private | Preston | 42 | Stax Trade Centres, Crown Paints, Hempel, Shell, Topps Tiles |
| 24 (25) | A&P | Private | Preston | 41 | DAF Trucks, Redrow Homes, Furness Building Society, Princes, VEKA |
| 25 (11) | CreativeRace | Private | Leeds | 96 | Asda, Icelolly.com, Radley, Help-Link, Evans Cycles |
| 26 (30) | Principles | Private | Leeds | 34 | Arla, Barratt, Butterkist, Astonish |
| 27 (27) | Shoot the Moon | Private | Manchester | 48 | TUI, Lakeland, Pets at Home, Stoves, Synexus |
| 28 (new) | Accord Marketing | Private | Manchester | 6 | Handicare UK, Anchor Hanover, Titanic Spa, Just Travel Cover, Claire House |
| 29 | MC2 | Private | Manchester | 40 | Krispy Kreme, NPIF, Mondelez International, Crawford Healthcare |
| 30 (45) | Heckford Advertising | Private | Preston | 32 | Priestley College, Wainhomes, Sandcastle, Vimto, Tomy |
| 31 (28) | Delineo | Private | Manchester | 34 | Co-op Insurance, Penguin, East Lancashire Hospice, Aldermore Bank, WST Travel |
| 32 (43) | Cravens | Private | Newcastle | 18 | Ladbrokes Coral, London City Airport, Gala Interactive, First Bus, Sail GP |
| 33 (36) | Creative Marketing Services | Private | Leeds | 20 | Mobility Plus, Premier Bathrooms, Bathing Solutions, Adjustamatic, Network Rail |
| 34 (35) | Cirrus | Private | Wilmslow | 44 | BT, Allianz, EE, Bupa, Sainsbury’s Argos |
| 35 (24) | FPP | Private | Newcastle, Leeds | 58 | Rowntrees, Ferrero Rocher, Anchor, Quorn |
| 36 (46) | Parker Design | Private | Northwich | 31 | AstraZeneca, Ineos Group, Thomson Reuters, Sage UK, United Utilities |
| 37 (33) | Live & Breathe | Private | Leeds | 65 | Kraft Heinz, Dixons Carphone, Peroni, The Happy Egg Company |
| 38 (new) | Alchemy Media | Private | Harrogate | 12 | Boost Drinks, Harrison Spinks, Methodist Homes, Primula, Hisense |
| 39 (new) | One Agency | Private | Manchester | 30 | Footasylum, The Couture Club, Hype, Tinsdills, BJ’s Bingo, Charlotte Tilbury |
| 40 (34) | Ponderosa | Private | Leeds | 45 | Russell Hobbs, Puerto De Indias, Ski Club of Great Britain, Hisense, George Foreman |
| 41 (31) | driven | Private | Wilmslow | 28 | Dr Wolf, 1:1 Diet, Go Outdoors, Subway, Vanquis Bank |
| 42 (29) | Bluestorm | Private | Hull | 34 | Greenport Hull, Ullyotts, Hollands Pies, Lincat |
| 43 (new) | Blue Chip | Private | Manchester | 28 | Cushelle, Rustlers, Kellogg’s, O2 |
| 44 (new) | HGA Creative | Private | Manchester | 21 | Nationwide, Travelodge, Brakes, Manchester United FC, BASF |
| 45 (32) | Seventy7 | Private | Manchester | 80 | Creative England, Carrier, PartyLite, Ego Shoes |
| 46 (37) | Oakbase | Private | Wilmslow | 30 | Avalon Funeral Care, Joe Wicks, TJ Hughes |
| 47 | Clear Marketing | Private | Manchester | 19 | Thomas Cook, Cala Homes, Hoover, Cala Homes, Brother |
| 48 (new) | Aire Design | Private | Leeds, Manchester | 75 | Kellogg’s, Unilever, AB InBev, Mondelez, Quorn |
| 49 | Everything Different | Private | Newcastle | 37 | BBC, P&G, Carpetright, Skym AutoTrader |
| 50 (new) | Access | Private | Manchester | 31 | WaterAid, Stagecoach Bus, Edrington, Greater Manchester Moving, National Grid |
