Business collective acquires innovation agency Skylab
Manchester-based Inc & Co Group has acquired digital innovation agency Skylab, whose clients include some of the biggest names in sport, for an undisclosed sum.
Skylab, based in Trafford Park, Manchester, has worked with the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City, Formula 1 teams Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso, and national governing bodies such as Swim England and the British Paralympic Association and world federations such as FIFA and the IOC.
Skylab was founded in 2005 by BAFTA Award-winner Nigel Collier with strategy director David Logan joining shortly after.
Both will continue to support Skylab which will sit within Inc & Co Group’s creative collective alongside fellow digital agencies Cuhu and Neon.
The acquisition of Skylab further strengthens Inc & Co’s agency network bringing expertise in digital strategy, websites and web applications, alongside Neon’s offering of digital marketing and Cuhu’s focus on mobile app development. It boosts the overall Inc & Co workforce to more than 100.
Jack Mason, group chief executive of Inc & Co Group, said: “This is the next step in our ongoing and successful growth plan.
“Acquiring Skylab strengthens our digital innovation capabilities, offering all members of the agency collective, as well as new and existing clients, a chance to tap into Skylab’s specialist skillsets.
“Our ambition is to be a leader in the digital space and bringing together Skylab with agencies, Cuhu, Neon, and our PR agency Brass, puts us in a strong position to make this happen.
“We are very excited to welcome Skylab to Inc & Co and I’m thrilled to be working with Nigel, David, and their team.”
Nigel Collier said: “Our vision is world-class work, on a world stage.
“Becoming part of Inc & Co gives our staff and clients the additional resources to achieve that vision.
“With our shared commitment to delivering excellence and maintaining long-lasting relationships with our clients, I look forward to working alongside Jack and the rest of the Inc & Co team.”
Inc & Co Group is a business collective that has recently acquired several digital agencies including Brass, Neon, and Cuhu, as well as on-demand dry-cleaning and laundry delivery platform, Laundrapp.
Inc & Co has also recently acquired Prospect Business Centres, under Inc & Co Property Group, a property development business with serviced offices throughout London and Leeds.
Nigel Collier
The business helps integrated agencies and businesses thrive by providing collective resources such as business development, strategy, financial, and HR support across the group.
Mason added: “It’s an exciting time for the Inc & Co brand. We have a strong acquisition strategy for 2020 and are actively encouraging businesses to get in touch to see how Inc & Co can support them.”
Mr Mason and a business partner, Mylo Kaye, were behind a Manchester apps developer, Dreamr, which they founded in 2017.
However, in May 2019, they filed for insolvency, owing HMRC £250,000.
The company filed a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) which meant it would be able to continue trading and pay back creditors over due course. A spokesperson said it was on track to pay creditors in full by the end of this year.
