Agency roundup: Perfect Storm; Show+Tell; Altitude PR; and more

Leeds-based digital agency, Perfect Storm, has achieved a record £3m turnover for the 2023-24 financial year just completed – a 35% increase year-on-year.

And it has been appointed as transport group Stagecoach’s digital and content agency.

The agency will be working with the group on its customer journey planning and developing campaign briefs to optimise marketing spend.

The central team at Perfect Storm has grown from 14 to 18 during the last 12-months, its eighth year of trading. Staff moved into a new office in central Leeds in March 2024, doubling their floor space.

Perfect Storm has forecast further growth of 30% for the coming financial year.

Adam Errington, co-founder of the agency, said: “It’s been a fantastic year, but that’s not to say we haven’t had to work really hard to deliver those results.

“Without a doubt it’s a cautious market. Clients are reviewing marketing budgets constantly with one eye on the wider economy, tightening belts and taking longer to make decisions.

“Having appointed one of the best – George Vann – at the helm to lead our sales and marketing function, puts us in a great place.

“A strong new business strategy and being clear on your position in the market and what you offer has never been so important.

“I fear that those agencies who work strictly in delivery mode and have a ‘we can do everything for everyone’ proposition are going to find it tough going.

“That said, we’re very much looking forward to a successful year ahead, and it’s fantastic to be helping Stagecoach with its digital and content strategy. We’ve set ourselves tough targets and we intend to hit them.”

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Harrogate-headquartered branding, creative and digital agency, Show + Tell, has welcomed Josh Dodd as its new marketing manager.

With a strong back catalogue of marketing roles for both B2B and B2C organisations since 2018, he will be responsible for the agency’s marketing and content strategies, brand development, tactical campaigns and more.

He will aim to help the agency achieve its next revenue target of £1m in the next financial year. 

Most recently, Dodd served as commercial marketing co-ordinator at CMS Distribution, a supplier of business and consumer technologies.

He played a pivotal role in marketing lead generation, strategy and campaigns that drove brand awareness and customer engagement, specifically with customers in the UK and Ireland.

In his new role at Show + Tell, he will leverage his experience and strategic insight to drive the agency’s marketing initiatives forward, helping it reach its ambitious financial objectives and brand goals.

Charlie Hartley, founder and CEO, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Josh to our team. His impressive background in B2B marketing and his passion for creativity and innovation make him the perfect fit for this role.

“It’s a significant hire for us as an agency, and we are confident Josh will make significant contributions to our marketing efforts and help us achieve our goals for growth and success.”

Dodd added: “The agency’s commitment to creativity, innovation and excellence aligns perfectly with my own values and aspirations, and it’s exciting to be part of an organisation that has just received two industry awards for the Best B2B Website.

“I’m looking forward to driving impactful marketing initiatives that contribute to the continued success and growth of Show + Tell.”

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Amy Lloyd

Sheffield-based PR agency, Altitude PR, has added two more professionals to its growing team as it strengthens its service offering and expands across the UK.

B2B specialist Amy Lloyd joins the consultancy as a senior account manager and motorsport specialist Ellie Fish joins as marketing manager, focusing solely on Altitude’s F4 racing driver client, Rowan Campbell-Pilling.

In just over two years, Altitude has grown from two to six permanent team members and offers PR, media relations, strategic communications, marketing services, crisis management, training, and social media support.

New clients include not-for-profit membership organisation The Whitehall & Industry Group, renewables company Shawton Energy, national charities Teenage Helpline and Breast Cancer UK, business consultancy The Director’s Helpline and care home group Milewood.

Lloyd, who spent five years at B2B agency Scriba PR and has more than eight years’ experience, said: “I’m over the moon to be joining the Altitude team.

“Having spent five years delivering B2B PR and communications for clients in niche, often complex, sectors — from waste and recycling to technology and charity — I’m really looking forward to getting under the skin of the amazing brands Altitude works with and sharing their stories.”

Ellie Fish

Fish, a University of Sheffield journalism graduate, has been creating content for top motorsport sites such as The Checkered Flag since the age of 16.

Her role at Altitude will see her solely manage the marketing for F4 driver Campbell-Pilling as he climbs the rankings on his way to achieving his F1 dream.

She will attend track days and races, manage media interviews, liaise with Motorsport UK and engage with corporate clients and partners. British F4 races are broadcast live on ITV.

She said: “This is a really exciting time for Altitude and me as this season will see Rowan gain so many new opportunities in motorsport. I’m really excited to get stuck in ahead of the F4 season.”

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dxw, a Leeds-based employee-owned digital agency, has partnered with Wellcome, a global charitable foundation supporting science to solve urgent health issues.

The two year contract will ensure dxw’s digital services, products and technology support the delivery of Wellcome’s strategic vision and ambitions.

The agency will work alongside Wellcome’s growing Digital & Technology team across a variety of projects.

Through its user research and service design expertise, dxw will put users at the centre of Wellcome’s digital estate, identifying how products and services can be enhanced to create more efficient and user-friendly processes.

Early work will include an exploration of systems tracking and managing the wide range of items in the Wellcome Collection, and new tools and systems to support the finance team at the heart of Wellcome.

dxw will also focus on accessibility and inclusivity, making sure audiences connect with the collection’s knowledge and information in a way that challenges how they think and feel about health.

Alex Nisbett, head of service design at dxw, said: “The team at Wellcome live and breathe everything they do. They value design as a way to enhance not just their audience’s connection with their resources, but also the efficiency and ease of use of internal tools and systems.

“We look forward to seeing what we can achieve together and helping them deliver their vision to provide truly inclusive and user-centred digital services.”

Katie Taylor, head of user research and design at Wellcome, said: “We are embarking on a real shift at Wellcome and have seen increasing demand for knowledge and expertise in user-centred design, accessibility and user research.

“This meant we needed a partner who would align with our values and deliver on our goals.

“It was clear that dxw would be the right partner to work with us, supporting our design team to grow and flex as we look to help everyone benefit from science’s potential to improve health.”