You’re hired – Apprentice winner agrees to invest in PR firm
A former winner of the BBC TV series The Apprentice has announced a new investment into a Worcestershire PR firm.
Mark Wright, who was selected by Lord Sugar in 2014, is ploughing investment into Malvern-based Make More Noise.
Founded by PR and marketing consultant, Hannah Haffield, in October 2015, Make More Noise has grown rapidly over the past two years, during which time it has Worcestershire-based hotel, The Wood Norton, and national education technology firm, e-Careers.
The agency first started working with Mr Wright in November 2015 when it was contracted to provide personal PR representation, together with an overarching PR strategy for Climb Online – the digital marketing agency he founded and launched on winning series 10 of television show.
Impressed by the service he has continued to receive, Mr Wright approached Make More Noise offering investment. He is now a director of the firm and is set to play a key role supporting the agency’s growth – one aspect of which could be a move into Birmingham.
Ms Haffield said: “Both the team and I are extremely excited about Mark’s investment and feel he will be a true asset to the agency’s growth over the coming years.
“His business capability is showcased in the outstanding success of Climb Online – which is the only Apprentice-born business to have turned over in excess of £1m during its first year of trading, and now boasts four office locations across the UK.
“Mark’s investment into Make More Noise is certainly the best way to celebrate our second year in business, and I am very excited to see what the future holds.”
Mr Wright said: “PR is a sector that has always interested me, and one that is becoming increasingly important to digital marketing, as Google continues to place high value on quality content that directly engages web users.
“I have worked with Hannah and the Make More Noise team for two years now and have always been impressed by the service and results received – therefore an investment into the firm seemed an obvious step, and is one I am very excited about.
“Hannah and I already have a number of game-changing plans in place, with one of the first being an expansion into Birmingham.”
Profitable from month two, and able to return Lord Sugar’s initial investment of £250,000 by month nine, Climb Online now works with more than 450 businesses from across the UK and overseas including household brands Groupon, Be Wiser Insurance and Karma Kola.
