Marketing agency The Bigger Boat nets communications specialist

Integrated marketing agency The Bigger Boat has acquired B2B communication specialist Scriba PR, for an undisclosed sum.

The move – which follows almost eight years of the two West Yorkshire firms collaborating on a number of client projects – demonstrates The Bigger Boat’s ambition to expand its service portfolio for clients in the UK and beyond.

While the brands will continue to exist as individual entities, the deal means the business duo now employs a total of 40 marketing professionals – looking after more than 70 retained clients – with a combined turnover of more than £2m.

Founder and former managing director Katie Mallinson will remain with Scriba in the position of director of communications, concentrating on delivery of more complex client projects.

The Bigger Boat’s founders Andy McCaul, Doug Main, and Lee Boothroyd, will become owner directors, supported by a leadership team which spans both firms.

Scriba, which marked its 10th anniversary this month, has experienced significant growth over the past three years.

The Bigger Boat is a 25-strong digital marketing, brand and website specialist, which seeks to expand the SEO and content marketing arms of its business.

McCaul, managing director of The Bigger Boat, said: “We pride ourselves on our ability to understand our clients’ organisations inside out, so we become an extension of their own teams.

“And our focus is on driving tangible results. We generate leads, increase sales and, ultimately, fuel growth to enhance their bottom lines.

“You could apply almost the exact same description to Scriba, an agency whose entire existence focuses on crafting words that make an impact, which is why the move makes perfect sense.

“Combining our in-house marketing expertise with Scriba’s wealth of experience and talent in the comms sphere, creates a suite of complementary services and the opportunity to deliver even more value for each of our expanding rosters of customers.”

Mallinson said: “I believed I’d found a gap in the market helping technical firms with complex stories, but never could I have imagined it would grow to have the reputation, and team, I am so proud of today.

“It’s time, now, for someone else to take the reins.

“While I have loved being a managing director, I miss my craft. I have so many communications ideas I haven’t explored yet and that’s what excites me now, the opportunity to see what else I can do, knowing I’ve built an incredible business and it’s in safe hands.”

Main, creative director at The Bigger Boat, added: “We have thought about various acquisitions over the last few years, but every opportunity has stalled due to the ‘fit’.

“With Scriba, it was a different story. We’ve collaborated for so long, the two businesses are like-minded with similar values, and we’ve worked hard to build relationships across the same industries.”

Scriba, which counts 15 people within its team, will maintain its HQ in the loft of Heritage Mills in Lindley, Huddersfield. All jobs will be retained.

The Bigger Boat’s 25-strong workforce will continue to work from Wheatley Mills, in Mirfield.