We are delighted to announce 2017’s ranking of the Top 50 PR Agencies in the North of England
Now into its fourth year, the Prolific North Top 50 PR 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 Digital Agencies, inclusion in the list is not optional. It works as a result of the fantastic cooperation of the agencies involved. For those who didn’t submit data, we use Fame.
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, profit 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:
- Forepoint are the biggest movers this year, jumping from 59th place in 2016 to 16th place this year, comfortably making their way into the top 50.
- Other big climbers include Manchester agency PR Agency One and Leeds agency Hatch Communications (both moving into the top 10), RMS (who moved from 35th to 20th), Social Communications (moving from 40th in 2016 to 25th place) and Umpf (who have moved from 49th to 38th).
- There are also several new additions to the rankings as Fig Creative, Refresh PR and Harris Associates have all made it to the top 50 in 2017.
- Finally Manchester continues to dominate, and is now home to 7 of the top 10 PR agencies, including Citypress, Tangerine PR, Weber Shandwick, Brazan PR, Havas PR, Beattie Communications Group and Influential PR.
The Top 50 is as follows:
Ranking
2017 |
Last Year’s Ranking | Company | Northern Office | Ownership | Staff | Clients 2017 |
1 | 1 | Citypress | Manchester, Liverpool | Private | 75 | Lloyds Banking Group, Aldi, British Gas, Coca-Cola, British Land |
2 | 2 | Tangerine PR | Manchester | Private | 55 | Johnstones, Pizza Hut, Interface, Well, Garmin |
3 | 4 | Weber Shandwick | Manchester | Interpublic Group | 32 | Alliance Manchester Business School, Visit Wales, Kyocera, Iceland, Salvation Army |
4 | 5 | Finn Communications | Leeds | Private | 35 | GHD, Morphy, IPN (Wagg), R&R, Taylors, Vivergo |
5 | 6 | Barrett Dixon Bell | Cheshire | Private | 32 | Tata, tna, DSM, MWheels, Pentair |
6 | 7 | Brazen PR | Manchester | Private | 32 | Wilko, Magnet, Dr Oetker, Lyons Coffee, Merlin Entertainments |
7 | 3 | Havas PR UK | Manchester | Havas Group | 25 | Asda, Kellogg’s, Greggs, Pets at Home, Mecca Bingo |
8 | 8 | Beattie Communications Group | Leeds, Manchester | Private | 22 | Specsavers, Tesco, Biffa, Flybe, La Redoute |
9 | 11 | Influential PR | Liverpool, Manchester | Private | 25 | Morgan Sindall Group, Camelot UK Lotteries Limited, Grosvenor Liverpool Fun (Liverpool One), Grant Thornton UK LLP, Manchester Science Partnerships |
10 | 59 | Forepoint | Preston | Private | 18 | Moto, Hewlett Packard, Sellafield, Tata |
11 | 16 | Kenyon Fraser | Liverpool | Private | 37 | Int Business Festival, LIPA, Aintree, MerseyTravel |
12 | 12 | Corporate Culture | Liverpool | Private | 18 | Co-operative Group, Water UK, WRAP, United Utilities, Sainsbury’s Bank |
13 | 22 | PR Agency One | Manchester | Private | 22 | Gift Voucher Shop Ltd, Fletchers Solicitors Ltd, YMCA, RADA, Appliances Direct |
14 | 9 | Lucre | Leeds | Private | 18 | BIC, jet2.com, WVR, Holiday Extras, Dulux |
15 | 19 | Democracy | Manchester | Private | 20 | Zip World, Baxters Food Group, Travis Perkins, CORGI HomePlan, Halewood Wines and Spirits |
16 | 13 | Carousel PR | Manchester | Private | 18 | MGA Entertainment, Broadwick Live, Selfridges, Savills, JLL |
17 | 23 | Intelligent Conversation | Manchester | Private | 13 | Synectics plc, EMIS Group plc, United Utilities plc, Home Instead Senior Care, Brother International Europe |
18 | 25 | Hatch Communications | Leeds | Private | 18 | Boost Energy Drinks, Diageo, Remington, Russell Hobbs, Thomas Cook Sport, Wensleydale Cheese, Chill Factore |
19 | 17 | Scott Partnership | Cheshire | Private | 13 | Agilent Technologies, Crown BioScience, Sciformix, Allscripts Healthcare, Precision Polymer Engineering (Idex) |
20 | 35 | RMS PR, Design & Marketing | Cheshire | Private | 20 | Warburtons, Swizzels, Hiscox, Character World, Jerrold Holdings |
21 | – | Harris Associates | Leeds | Private | 14 | Howarth Timber, Lakesmere, Senior Architectural Services, PPG, Washroom Washroom |
22 | 21 | SKV PR | Manchester | Private | 13 | Crown Commercial Services, BUPA, Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub, BDP, Lowry Hotel. |
23 | 20 | MCG PR | Leeds | Private | 16 | Pink Lady; Tenderstem; Damart; Northern; Costcutter Supermarkets Group; Vileda |
24 | 18 | Smoking Gun | Manchester | Private | 18 | Silentnight Group, Virgin Holidays, Nobia UK (Magnet Kitchens), Holt LLoyd International, Red Bull, Persil |
25 | 40 | Social Communications | Manchester | Private | 22 | National College for High Speed Rail, Bradford Council, Places for People, London and Continental Railways |
26 | 26 | Pelican Public Relations | Oldham | Private | 14 | APEAL, British Frozen Food Federation, Fowler Welch, British Aerosol Manufacturer’s Association, BRF Europe. |
27 | 30 | HR Media Ltd | Sheffield | Private | 13 | Westfield Health, Stagecoach, B Braun, SIV, Redbrik Estate Agents |
28 | 28 | iseepr | Otley | Private | 12 | EMVCo, GlobalPlatform, SIMalliance, FIME, Rambus Payments |
29 | 87 | Fig Creative | Glossop | Private | 18 | Buxton & Leek College, Phonak plc, Risco Group, Cottage Delight, Bradburys |
30 | 36 | Active Profile | Manchester | Private | 12 | Riello UPS, Pozzoni Architecture, Muse Developments, Energy Innovation Centre, Valor Hospitality |
31 | 14 | Peppermint Soda | Manchester | Private | 13 | Home Bargains, Story Homes, Muse Developments, Farjo Hair Institute, James Cropper Plc |
32 | 15 | Mason Williams | Manchester | Private | 12 | Accor, TOMY, Fruit Heroes, Holland’s, Athenaeum |
33 | 29 | Roland Dransfield PR | Manchester | Private | 15 |
Legal and General, Sale Sharks Rugby Club, GVA, Ask Real Estate, Manchester Hoteliers Association |
34 | 27 | Context Public Relations | Macclesfield | Private | 10 | Check Point Software Technology, Positive Solutions, Simoco Wireless Solutions, Algosec, Yubico |
35 | 33 | Acceleris | Harrogate | Private | 11 | Utilita Energy Ltd, Royal Alfred Seafarers, NFFO Ltd, Nexus Vehicle Management Ltd, Meridian Motor Group Ltd ( Vantage) |
36 | 24 | DTW | Guisborough | Private | 12 | The Law Society, City of Sunderland (New Wear Crossing), Solicitors Regulation Authority, Merseylink , Merseyflow |
37 | 41 | Prohibition PR | Leeds | Private | 11 | Goldsmiths, Interflora, Watches of Switzerland, Keepmoat, Sealy (Silent Night Group) |
38 | 49 | Umpf | Leeds | Private | 9 | Glen Dimplex Home Appliances, Land Securities, Methven, NHS, Park Inn by Radisson |
39 | 31 | Hattrick PR | Manchester | Private | 10 | Desso, Tarkett, Certas, REPIC, EMR Group |
40 | 34 | Plinkfizz | Newcastle-under-Lyme | Private | 11 | JCB Finance, Stairbox, Dukes Bailiffs, City Learning Trust, Bowcock & Pursaill Solicitors |
41 | 37 | The Write Angle | Chorley | Private | 12 | PfP Energy, Morson, Sika, Equator Design, LGBT Foundation |
42 | 32 | Label PR | Manchester | Attercopia Ltd | 10 | Optical Express, Mark Hill Hair (Boots UK), skincare brand Proactiv+ (a joint venture between Nestle and Guthy-Renker), Fragrance Direct, Footasylum and Freemans-Grattan |
43 | 39 | Ramarketing & PR | Newcastle upon Tyne | Private | 9 | Cambrex, Recipharm, Juniper Pharma Services, Zenith Technologies, Symbiosis Pharmaceuticals |
44 | 45 | MANC FRANK | Manchester | Enero Group | 7 | Anki, Carole Nash, Fiddes Payne, Suntory, Weetabix
Ownership: Group |
45 | 48 | MTJ Associates Ltd | Preston | Private | 7 | Rustlers, AG Barr, Burton’s Biscuits, Grace Foods UK, Republic Technologies |
46 | 38 | de Winter PR & Marketing Ltd | Chester | Private | 12 | Bank of America, Chester Grosvenor Shopping Centre, Aaron & Partners, Royal Crown Derby, Nuffield Health |
47 | 77 | Refresh PR | Manchester | Private | 11 | Gourmet Meat Club, SkinnyBrands Ltd (Skinny Larger and Skinny Cocktails), Heating Installer Awards, Glass & Glazing Federation, Vaillant |
48 | 44 | The Partners Group | York | Private | 8 | Dynamic Networks, Eggborough Power Station, Saint-Gobain Glass, York Dungeon, York Science Park. |
49 | 42 | JAMpr Ltd | Manchester | Private | 8 | Argos for Business, Argos Pet Insurance, Money Advice Group, Aviate World, Tuxedo Money Solutions |
50 | 47 | Allott & Associates Ltd | Knaresborough | Private | 9 | PHS Group, Ulma Packaging, Confederation of Paper Industries, Pickersgill-Kaye, Ulrick & Short |