Creative agency posts record turnover

Phil Harvey

A Derbyshire creative agency turned over £2m for the first time – in the year it celebrates its 15th anniversary.

Fluid Ideas began trading in January 2004 from the basement of a beauty salon and turned over £85,000 in its first 12 months.

In its latest financial year, to the end of November, the firm says revenues grew 40% from £1.6m to £2.25m.

Fluid Ideas’ client base spans the UK and Europe and includes retirement community operator Inspired Villages, which are owned by Legal & General, BUPA, not-for-profit housing group Anchor Hanover, property franchise Belvoir, nursery chain Bright Horizons, the University of Nottingham and global chemical distribution businesses.

The company is based at Darley Abbey Mills, Derbyshire, a converted cotton mill where it occupies 2,700 sq ft. It has 29 staff, up from 23 a year ago.

Founder and managing director Phil Harvey is one of six shareholding directors, including Ed Bowler and Laura Cooper and Dan Chadwick. Laura and Dan initially joined Fluid Ideas for work experience while they were studying at college in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

Harvey said: “We have gone from strength to strength and thanks to the fantastic efforts of the entire team we have achieved record results in our latest financial year.

“We are fortunate to have a great team of people who work hard for each other and for our clients, going above and beyond what is expected of them.

“Our biggest strengths are that we are genuinely creative and genuinely full-service. Our in-house CGI, video, digital and social marketing operations have created a comprehensive breadth of services for our target clients.

“We’ve shaped the company so we can improve and protect every part of our customers’ brand experience and this approach has helped take our turnover past the £2m mark.”

He added: “The business has enjoyed a strong start to this year as demand for our services continues to rise.

“Several major new projects are under way for new and existing clients, as our flexible and creative approach to help them achieve their goals resonates across a growing number of sectors, both in the UK and overseas.”

Close