Top 50 Digital Agencies 2017

We are delighted to announce 2017’s ranking of the Top 50 Digital Agencies in the North of England

Now into its fifth year, the Prolific North Top 50 Agency rankings has quickly become the “go to” source for a definitive breakdown of the biggest and fastest growing agencies in the region.

As with our rankings of the Top 50 Integrated Agencies and PR Agencies, inclusion in the list is not optional. It works as a result of the fantastic cooperation of the agencies involved. We have built up a network including hundreds of agencies who have shared the key data that derives the rankings – i.e. balance sheet value, turnover, growth and headcount. Thank you to everyone that supplied this information so readily. All data supplied is checked against our online sources, including Fame BVD.

Some notable findings from this year’s research:

  • Silverbean are the biggest movers this year, jumping from 40th place in 2016 to 29th place this year.
  • Other big climbers include Newcastle agency Orange Bus (into the top 20), Harrogate agency Web Marketing Group (who moved from 7th to 3rd), Branded3 (climbing 8 places) and Apadmi (moving up 10 spots).
  • There are also several new additions to the rankings as Hedgehog Lab, Isotoma, Strawberry, e3creative and Jo Pollo, have all entered the rankings for the first time in 2017.
  • Finally, Leeds continues to dominate, and is now home to half of the Top 10 digital agencies including Sticky Eyes (who retained top spot), Twenty Six, Epiphany, CDS Digital and Branded 3.

The Top 50 is as follows:

Ranking

2017

Last Year’s Ranking

Company

Northern Office

Ownership

Staff

Clients 2017

1 1 Stickyeyes Leeds IPG Mediabrands  98 Hertz, Staples, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Ladbrokes, Leeds Building Society
2 2 Amaze Manchester, Liverpool St Ives Group 200 Emirates, Lexus, Unilever, Toyota, The Cooperative Group
3 7 IDHL Group Harrogate Independent 118 Intercontinental Hotels, HMV, IG Index,  AON, Peugeot Citroen, Retail UK
4 4 twentysix Leeds Part of MSQ Partners 145 P&G, LSEG, NHSBT, Talk Talk, The Co-operative Group
5 3 Epiphany Leeds Jaywing Plc 190 ScS, Pandora, QHotels, Euro Car Parts, Carphone Warehouse
6 5 Visualsoft Stockton-on-Tees, Leeds and Manchester Independent 244 Canterbury, John Greed, Big Dug, Charles Clinkard, TJ Hughes
7 6 CDS Digital Leeds The Baird Group 87 Royal Mail Group, Metropolitan Police, Cabinet Office, Aberdeen Asset Management, National Rail Enquires
8 8 Summit Media Brough TCC Global 97 Argos, Carpetright, Peugeot, Reckitt Benckiser, Homebase
9 12 Code Computerlove Manchester MediaCom North group 83 Hillarys, BBC, Asda, Centre Parcs and Amnesty International
10 18 Branded3 Leeds St Ives Group plc 76 Ladbrokes, Vue Entertainment, Provident Financial, First Direct, Travelex
11 11 Latitude Digital Marketing Warrington Callcredit/GTCR  89 Post Office, Bet Victor, Yours Clothing, Noddle, Cyclestore
12 15 Building Blocks Manchester Affiliated with Dept  60 Triumph Motorcycles Ltd, DFDS, Imperial Brands, AstraZeneca, Yara International
13 14 Click Consult Wirral Independent 75 Netflights, Oxfam, Flogas, ABTA, Lloyds Pharmacy
14 17 Fusion Unlimited Leeds Independent 38 Halfords, RBS Group, Lloyds Pharmacy Group, Vertu Motors, McCain
15 13 CTI Digital Manchester Paperhat Group 58 Merlin Entertainment, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Greater London Authority, College of Occupational Therapists, McGraw-Hill Education / High Street TV
16 9 Search Laboratory Leeds Independent 128 Viking (Office Depot), Superdry, O2, SkyBet, Hootsuite
17 36 Orange Bus Newcastle Capita/G2GE 75 HMRC, Joules, Pearson, Argon, NHS
18 10 Lakestar Media Limited Manchester Part of McCanns 47 Halfords, Kuoni, Navman Wireless
19 17 Rippleffect Liverpool and Manchester Idox plc 58 Aldermore, Arsenal FC, Aston Villa FC, Everyman & Playhouse, Everton FC, Liverpool FC, UK Sport, Visit Guernsey, Visit Lincolnshire
20 30 Apadmi Manchester Independent 65 BBC, Argos, NHS, Guardian, Travel Counsellors
21 19 ActiveWin Manchester Independent 104 Betfred, Tote, Betable, Moneyplus, Foxy
22 16 Fat Media Lancaster David Durnford 87 Lancaster University, Lakeland, GambleAware, Iceland, Swissport
23 28 Mando Liverpool Independent 51 TalkTalk Business, Together Money, United Utilities, GE Healthcare, Electricity North West (ENW)
24 20 Think Newcastle Independent 72 Vue, LV= (Liverpool Victoria), Arup, Shop Direct, Butlin’s
25 25 Leighton Durham Independent 80 British Airways, Home Group, Tourism Australia, Sunderland AFC
26 22 Results Through Digital Warrington Independent 54 Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Reebok, Barclays, Catalent Pharma , NHS
27 21 Axonn Media Manchester Independent 54 Bruntwood, Monarch, Tefal, Brookson, NCR
28 23 Delete Agency Leeds Independent 27 Southampton Football Club, iGuzzini, Safestore, Carter Jonas, Rackspace
29 40 Silverbean Newcastle Independent 46 Flybe, L.K.Bennett, ATG Tickets, Optegra, Berghaus
30 24 Degree 53 Manchester Independent 50 Betfred, Sofology, Co-op Bank, CardOneBanking and Intralot
31 29 Mediaworks Newcastle Independent 52 Yorkshire Water, House of Fraser, Ralph Lauren, Lookers Group, Northgate.
32 46 Engage Interactive Leeds Independent 27 Whitbread, Jet2, Leeds Building Society, British Ceramic Tile, Giraffe Restaurants
33 43 Return on Digital Manchester Independent 39 Boo Tea, Liverpool John Moores University, Vertbaudet, Kaplan
34 44 Venn Digital Limited Wilmslow Independent 50 Bahco, Rekorderlig, Siemens, Eurostaff, JW Lees
35 37 Prodo Digital Chester Independent 53 The Aspinall Foundation, Knowsley Safari Park, Payzone, Lancashire County Cricket Club, DWF.
36 27 Webtise Wirral Independent 53 iCandy, Utility, Oddbins, Shop Direct and Drench
37 50 Enjoy Digital Leeds Independent 40 Costcutter Supermarkets Group, Manheim / Cox Automotive, Bank of Ireland, Pitman Training, Marsh
38 Hedgehog Lab Newcastle Independent 57 Fitch Learning, B&M Stores, AkzoNobel, Huntsman, Northumbrian Water
39 Isotoma Manchester/York Independent 32 Imperial College, HarperCollins, Ten Lifestyle Group, The Key, Wilmington Group
40 39 The Neighbourhood Manchester Independent 32 JD Sports, Marketing Manchester, Urban Splash, Commercial Estates Group, Heston Blumenthal/The Fat Duck
41 26 Sigma Consulting Solutions Ltd Macclesfield Independent 34 Astra Zeneca, Sport England, BBC, NCC Group, InterContinental Hotels Group
42 45 SearchQuest Europe Ltd Lancaster Independent 40 CityBlock, European Springs, Belvoir!, Dean Group International, Smart Storage.
43 Strawberry Hull Independent 38 Qwiddle, Hugh Rice, Beal Homes, Storetec
44 38 RO Eye Manchester Independent 16 HMV, Jessops, Coral, Best Western, Harveys
45 32 ICS-digital LLP* Leeds Independent 35 bet365, Webgears, 888, Oddschecker, Tiger Sheds
46 e3creative Manchester Independent 31 Ascot Racecourse, Human Appeal, Living Ventures, South Bank London, Hotel Football
47 33 Enigma Interactive Newcastle Independent 35 BBC, Northern Powergrid, Traidcraft, RSPCA, Open University
48 35 Clicky Media Chester Independent 38 Darwin Escapes, Travis Perkins, Elegant Resorts, The Tabor Group, DayInsure
49 Joi Polloi (Previously Rocket) Sheffield Independent Channel 4, Xi’ian Jiaotong Liverpool University, The Children’s Hospital Charity, Zoella
50 31 RE:Systems Bakewell, Manchester Independent HarperCollins, Ticketmaster, Land Securities, Heathrow Express

* ICS-digital LLP has invested in two other businesses over the past year and expects to realise initial profits from those ventures in late 2017/early 2018.