Turnover rises during year of growth for communications agency
The Leeds office of integrated communications agency Social has promoted Julian Pearce to head of media in its regional senior team after closing its books on a fourth consecutive year of rapid growth.
In the year ending 31 October, the Leeds agency increased turnover by 50% to over £900,000, posting increased profits.
The business, which has clients including the NP11, Extra MSA Group, Caddick Developments and The Piece Hall, has already seen a significant spike in new contracts in the first quarter of the new financial year, prompting further recruitment to its eight-strong team.
Having joined the agency in 2018, Pearce will work alongside managing director Pete Wrathmell, associate director Victoria Starkey, recently appointed head of strategy Racheal Johnson and chairman Gerald Jennings to deliver on a growth strategy to take the regional business to over £2m turnover by 2023.
Social Leeds MD Pete Wrathmell said: “Our business has seen strong and consistent growth since we opened our office in Leeds in 2016 and Julian has played a crucial role in that success – most recently in helping us steer through the challenges presented by COVID-19.
“Having experienced the same spring-time stresses as many businesses in our sector, we quickly returned to our growth path and finished the year strongly with a number of exciting new business wins and an expanded offer incorporating strategy and marketing.
“With an exceptionally strong senior team in place, we look forward to the challenges of 2021 with great confidence and a firm ambition to establish Social as the number one Place and Built Environment communications agency in this region.”
Pearce will lead the team’s media relations activity as well as focusing on a wider role in the continued growth of the business.
He said: “Despite the challenges of the past year, we have proven the value we bring to clients and continued our strong record of growth.
“We’re ambitious and have set out a plan to continue this trajectory over the coming years, and as such we are now looking to expand our PR team.
“I’m looking forward to helping the regional business and wider agency to continue to grow and provide a first class service for our clients.”
Social was founded in Manchester in 2013, and together with Leeds has offices in Bristol and London.
