Ambitious digital agency to launch Down Under after hitting £200K revenue

GROWING Manchester digital agency Project Octo is launching Down Under after celebrating three years trading with its turnover topping £200,000.

The firm is based in the city’s King Street district, alongside other legal firms, financial services companies and high-end retail brands and boasts a staff of six.

One of its two founders and directors Ketan Mistry is now taking the bold step of taking the Project Octo brand to Melbourne, joining a select few UK agencies such as INK and Digital Next, that have made the brave move to join Australia’s tech scene.

Mistry launched the firm with Adam Pritchard and says the opening of an Australian office represents an audacious move to grow the agency in a way that few other British agencies have attempted.

“The decision to relocate to Australia is something that fits with Project Octo’s long term expansion plans, which have always been to be a globally recognisable name,” said Mistry, from Bolton. “It’s also something that my wife and I have always wanted to do as a family, and so we realised we had to go for it.

“It’s also something that my wife and I have always wanted to do as a family, and so we realised we had to go for it”.

Taking his family, including a young son, to the other side of the world will pose logistical challenges, though ones they are prepared for.

“We’ve got a big job ahead of us, but I’m really exciting to be putting a British flag in the ground in Melbourne, as I think we’re one of very few UK digital agencies to open an office there.”

Up until now, the company says it has eschewed awards ceremonies and self promotion during the rapid growth years, instead focusing on developing strong, long-term client relationships and providing first class digital services.

But has now built up an array of clients including major retail food outlet Subway, online outdoor goods retailer Addaca and B2B insurance brokers Chase Templeton.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on producing the very best work that we can, with quality, attention to detail and innovation at the core,” said Pritchard.

“We’re now ready to take things to the next level by adding many more staff, announcing a new office in an exciting location, and releasing our own ecommerce platform to the wider agency and enterprise market. Next year is going to be a big one for the company.”