Agency roundup: The SEO Works; Aberfield; Present Works; and more

Office supply provider, HuntOffice, has extended and expanded its partnership with Sheffield-based digital agency The SEO Works, following impressive year one results.

Founded by the Hunt brothers, John and Seamus, this business initially tasked the digital growth specialists with taking its SEO and PPC to the next level.

As a large e-commerce business, selling over 150,000 products, a market-leading SEO and PPC strategy is essential for continued growth.

The company will now be using the Paid Social services of The SEO Works too – believing a strong integrated campaign can continue to elevate its business.

John Hunt, co-founder and director, said: “HuntOffice has a diverse and fast-changing set of traffic channels.

“We were looking for a partner with skill sets across multiple channels, and The SEO Works have proven they have a really knowledgeable team.

“Not just on PPC and SEO but in the general understanding of relevant audience targeting across multiple channels including social.”

Managing director of The SEO Works, Ben Foster, said: “As an agency that focuses on providing real commercial returns, nothing brings us more satisfaction than long term relationships with clients.

“We’re pleased that HuntOffice can see the impact of our work and look forward to continuing the success.”

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Aberfield Communications has been appointed by Calderdale College to design and deliver an integrated marketing plan to drive enquiries for Collaborative Apprenticeships.

This is a project focused on increasing and improving the quality of apprenticeships in Calderdale and its surrounding areas.

The Leeds-based PR, social media and brand communications agency will be creating the marketing strategy for the project, which is set to run until June 2023, before developing and delivering an integrated plan that engages with employers through a combination of paid and earned activity, including PR, case studies, PPC, social media and website and event support.

Collaborative Apprenticeships is managed by the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges and funded by the European Social Fund (ESF).

Calderdale College is supporting the delivery of the project, and will be launching a range of free training courses and providing support targeted at SMEs in the Calderdale area, designed to help them either introduce, or enhance their, apprenticeships.

Aberfield has a long-standing relationship with the college, having supported various projects with PR and marketing for over five years, most recently for its Skills Support for the Workforce Programme, free skills training for SMEs in Tees Valley and York, North Yorkshire and East Riding.

Claire Williams, head of employer engagement at the college, said: “We received a high volume of applications to become our marketing partner for the project, but what stood out about Aberfield was its audience-first approach and deep understanding of SMEs in the area.

“Their insight really shone through in the pitch, and we were impressed with how their plans ticked all the boxes – and more – of what we had envisioned for the programme.”

Tim Downs, director at Aberfield, said: “Education and skills are sectors that we thrive in at Aberfield, having worked with the likes of Leeds Beckett and Leeds Trinity Universities, as well as on skills campaigns with West Yorkshire Combined Authority, so we’re looking forward to supporting such an important project for Calderdale College.

“Apprenticeships bring so many benefits to employers, but our insight shows us that it’s not always easy for employers, and particularly for time-poor SME owners, to understand how they can easily implement high-quality apprenticeships within their own businesses.

“We’ll be tackling this throughout our campaign through a combination of tactics, but with our audience at the heart.”

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Leeds-based marketing agency, Present Works, has added new tech and AI businesses to its growing portfolio.

Representing a range of tech capabilities, the latest clients include AI Insurance specialists, Loadsure, Paris-based B2B Digital Commerce experts, DJUST, website hosting business, Fasthosts, Leeds-based Hexagon Consultants, and retail AI pioneers, HyperFinity.

Present Works is supporting its new partners across a range of activities. This includes brand refinement and development, go-to-market strategy creation and ongoing content development.

Peter Denby, director of HyperFinity, said: “Present Works really understands what we need. We are an established data science business with new technology to take to market, and the Present Works team has helped us craft our language, assess the market and our position in it, and developed a multichannel plan aimed at achieving our objectives.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship with the agency.”

Brett Jacob, MD of Present Works, added: “We have real experience in working with data-led, AI and technology driven businesses, and working across this sector has been a deliberate part of our business strategy.

“We ‘get’ this industry and know exactly how to best position our clients to drive business growth.”

To support the agency’s expansion Alys Marshall, formerly of Jaywing, has recently joined the business as senior copywriter.

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