Top 50 PR Agencies 2017

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