Agency round-up: Agency51; Tried&True; Halston Marketing; and more

York-based digital marketing firm, Agency51, has acquired a new director of digital – Adam Rogers, former senior account director at Search Laboratory.

He has joined the team with the goal of aiding the agency in achieving sustainable growth by delivering outstanding strategy and performance for both existing and new clients, as well as the agency itself.

He will lead the Digital Marketing team, whilst focusing on ensuring that the best digital strategy is applied to all clients and campaigns moving forwards.

In his previous role, Rogers managed a multitude of clients, projects and campaigns and worked with some of the most notable brands operating in the country.

This has enabled him to bring a vast amount of knowledge and expertise to Agency51.

He said: “Agency51 provided me with an opportunity and challenge that matched my ambitions for the next stage in my career.

“Moving from such a large and globally-respected agency like Search Laboratory, I bring a wealth of experience having managed large-scale multinational and multilingual campaigns for some of the most recognised brands in the UK.

“Using this knowledge and experience to help Agency51 achieve its goals is something I am enormously excited to be able to do.”

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Harrogate agency Tried&True has been handed the PR and strategic comms brief for the launch of a new weekly rugby podcast, Offload.

Offload is the latest addition to the RugbyPass family, which boasts five million unique users to its platforms each month and nearly two million followers across social media.

The podcast, hosted by Rugby Players Ireland’s Christina Mahon, includes a stellar cast of Dylan Hartley, the retired former England captain, former Ireland winger Simon Zebo, Scotland back row Ryan Wilson and Wales & Lions legend Jamie Roberts.

The weekly podcast is available now across iTunes, Spotify and other major platforms, as well as www.rugbypass.com and its YouTube channel.

Tried&True managing director, Mick Tilley, said: “2020 has changed the way we do things, including how we consume sport.

“With uncertainties around when crowds can return, the demand for strong online content and news updates is higher than ever.

“Add to that the built-in trust that listeners have for their podcast hosts, the boom in UK podcast listeners and the amazing cast that RugbyPass have lined-up, this is an advertiser’s dream. Offload will be the go-to podcast for any rugby fan.”

Ben Ball, brand partnerships director at RugbyPass, added: “Podcasts have such a huge, untapped potential for advertisers and that potential has soared in 2020.

“We are very excited to have the Tried&True team on board to spread the word about our new podcast, Offload.

“We’ve had major success with podcasts in the past five years that has led to tens of millions of downloads and views, and Offload might be our best yet.”

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Leeds-based B2B marketing agency Halston Marketing has made four new hires off the back of its ongoing work within the tech sector as it marks its fourth anniversary.

Among its catalogue of tech clients, Halston Marketing has recently added satellite technology company SatSense and sustainable blockchain-led regtech firm ALT/AVE.

The agency has also been working with business intelligence firm Panintelligence and Fintech innovator Recordsure.

Panintelligence co-founder, Zandra Moore, said: “As a growing tech firm, we really needed a marketing partner who were experts in our sector; we don’t have the time to overexplain our tech.

“The Halston Marketing team took our offering and ran with it, their work has been punchy, penetrative and completely fit for purpose.”

 Head of product delivery and marketing at Recordsure, Steven Hewlett-Light, said: “Halston Marketing have been instrumental in the campaign-based marketing we’ve launched this year.

Their shrewd understanding of not only our target markets but the Fintech/Regtech markets themselves made for the perfect partnership.”

New members of staff have been added to the agency’s creative, account management and PR teams to allow it to continue to service and push the boundaries for its highly technical client base.

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Jason Scarfe

Creative digital agency The Bigger Boat has recruited four full-time staff and a one-year work placement student to further support the growth of its UK and overseas customer portfolio.

Having grown its global footprint – which includes launching websites across Europe, the Middle East and Africa for toy manufacturing client Little Tikes – the Yorkshire-based organisation has transformed both of Zapf Creation UK’s BABY born and Baby Annabell brands and is managing its social media accounts nationwide.

The Bigger Boat has also recently launched food surplus redistributor Company Shop Group’s The Luminary Programme – a learning and development tool to educate employees in reducing waste.

Ruth Saxton

Internationally recognised brands including Amazon, Nestle and Unilever, have already signed up.

Each new recruit will support the 19-strong team’s international customer portfolio which provides data-driven marketing campaigns for sectors including leisure, food, manufacturing and healthcare.

Jason Scarfe has come in as a senior front-end developer alongside web developer Steven Powers, digital account manager, Ruth Saxton, and junior content writer Mike Hargreaves.

Year-long digital marketing apprentice, Enya Key, will be providing social media management and paid search support.

Steven Powers

Recruited during the March 2020 lockdown, Scarfe said: “It was daunting to join a new firm in the middle of the pandemic, but I knew The Bigger Boat had the perfect dynamic to help me to adapt and diversify my skillset – I couldn’t wait to join.”

Saxton added: “Brands are realising how vital it is to invest in digital technologies so they can continue to speak to customers.

“It’s our job to support these organisations and help them drive online campaigns that truly matter.”

Powers said he believes The Bigger Boat’s international presence will continue to grow throughout 2020 and beyond.

Mike Hargreaves

He said: “We’ve got to keep building on our international and UK relationships so that we continue to provide the best possible service for our clients.

“As we develop internally, our skillsets will also assist even more globally-recognised brands.”

Commenting on the role that digital comms has to play in the next 12 months, Hargreaves said: “Effective content can alleviate any customer concerns during economic uncertainty.

“We’ve got a responsibility to make sure that the businesses we’re working with are speaking with honesty and authenticity throughout.”

Enya Key

Andy McCaul, account director and The Bigger Boat co-founder, added: “Many of us haven’t ever experienced such economic volatility, and that’s why I couldn’t be prouder of how everyone has risen to the challenge.

“I’m excited to see our new recruits develop their roles, build critical relationships and become integral to further enhancing our company culture.”