Agency roundup: Yasper; Bolser; 26PMX; and more

Leeds-based PR agency, Yasper, has been appointed by BR2.0 – formerly the Big Red Group – to deliver a media relations and content brief across its group businesses.

Yasper will initially be tasked with supporting the firm as it moves its headquarters to Manchester city centre and launches new brands, Xpercity and Inspired, which will sit alongside its established construction business, Big Red, to provide an end-to-end property solution.

The agency’s work will initially focus on communicating the group’s points of difference and helping to establish its offer across the North.

In addition to a regional and national property media brief, it will also seek to establish new brands, Xpercity and Inspired, in their respective trade titles. The agency will also support the production of unique content across the group’s social media channels and website.

Yasper founder and managing director, Julian Pearce, said: “I’ve watched Big Red’s growth closely and seeing what Mike and his team has achieved in such as short space of time has been inspirational.

“This piece of work plays to Yasper’s strengths, not only in the sector, but also in taking two or more of our core services and expertly blending tactics towards a known goal.”

Mike Lomas, founder and CEO of the group, added: “The Yasper team has the regional contacts and industry expertise that we need to really push on at this exciting time for the businesses.

“Together, we’ll be looking to further establish the brands as we work towards delivering 750 residential units per year by 2030. I’m hugely excited about this next phase of growth.”

Originally founded in Huddersfield in 2018, Big Red has built a number of high-profile developments, particularly in Manchester city centre.

The move to become a full-service property company through the launch of its development arm Xpercity, and its facilities management arm, Inspired, follows investment into the business and a reorganisation of its service offering.

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The National Theatre has chosen digital agency, Bolser, to execute a global search engine and app store optimisation programme for its flagship theatre home streaming service in the UK and globally.

Leeds-based Bolser will audit National Theatre at Home’s existing platform and assets to create a clearer journey for online users discovering the platform, while amplifying its search presence.

It will also include the optimisation of its presence across both the Apple and Android stores, making the platform more accessible for audiences.

National Theatre at Home was launched following the success of the NT’s streamed series of filmed plays in 2020.

Sixteen productions resulted in 15m views in 173 countries. There are now over 80 productions on the platform with new titles added each month.

Top shows with all-star casts including ‘Fleabag’ with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, ‘The Seagull’ with Emilia Clarke and ‘Frankenstein’ with Benedict Cumberbatch , are just a handful that are available to viewers on the platform.

Ashley Bolser, founder and managing director of Bolser, said: “Working with such an iconic organisation, a hub for creative excellence is incredibly exciting for us as an agency.

“We hope to amplify the success they’ve already achieved and help engage a wider audience of theatregoers.”

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Performance marketing agency, 26PMX, has been appointed as lead digital agency for PPC, paid media and affiliate channels for waterproof accessories provider Sealskinz.

It marks a significant step in Sealskinz’s growth plan, supported by recent investment from retail magnate Ray Kelvin and Next plc.

Applying the Leeds, Manchester and London-based agency’s digital expertise, the collaboration aims to maximise Sealskinz’s digital footprint and drive substantial growth by expanding its market reach.

John Ward, business development director at 26PMX, said: “I am extremely pleased to announce this strategic partnership.

“Sealskinz is an amazing brand with a fantastic team creating high-quality products. We are eager to contribute to their growth and success.”

Scott Sadeghian-Tehrani, media strategy director at the agency, said: “We are happy to partner with Sealskinz and further bolster our retail credentials.

“They are a surging international brand with clear and credible growth aspirations – it feels great to engage with Sealskinz at the beginning of what could turn out to be an exciting journey.”

Richard Edmonds, chief marketing and digital officer at Sealskinz, added: “We have appointed 26PMX to advance our PPC, paid social and affiliate channels in this exciting period of growth for our business.

“John, Scott and the team have demonstrated that 26PMX have the right ambition and strategic outlook to partner with our business.

“We are all looking forward to the start of this relationship and what we can achieve together.”

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Digital agency, Engage, has secured its B Corp certification for the fourth year running.

Certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit network behind the global B Corp movement, Engage undertook a social and environmental assessment for a second time to determine the 2024 recertification and its overall ‘impact BIA’ score.

The agency’s impact BIA score, which has improved 8.3 points to 96.8 from the initial assessment, is a reflection on the agency’s ongoing commitment to sustainable practices, its people and customers outside of shareholder profit.

In 2021, Engage became the first Leeds-based firm to achieve B Corp certification, joining 450 other businesses in the UK.

Since the initial assessment, the Engage team has increased financial transparency, formalised ethical supplier processes, implemented volunteering initiatives and gained a carbon neutral certificate.

Alex Willcocks, co-founder and director, said: “This recertification validates our commitment to making a positive impact to our community, society and the environment.

“We hope this will also encourage our clients and peers to also consider applying for the certification.

“Since we founded Engage we’ve always wanted to be a company with strong ethics at its heart.

“As we continue to grow we remain committed to these goals and being B Corp certified has given us a fantastic basis to benchmark best practice, resulting in multiple improvements across the business. We’re extremely proud of our score increase.”