Media Buzz: Shackleton PR; Digital Media Centre; Analogue

LEEDS-based Shackleton PR has appointed Kate Dixon as client services director as the agency gears up for the next stage of its ambitious growth strategy.

Dixon joins from Manchester PR agency Tangerine, where she was deputy managing director of the agency’s corporate and business-to-business division.

She will be taking on the day-to-day direction of the consultancy’s growing team and client base. Her appointment takes Shackleton PR’s staff numbers to double-figures.

With more than ten years’ experience in public relations, Dixon has designed and delivered communications campaigns for clients including Sony, Dulux, Mars and Michelin.

She will be joined on the board of Shackleton PR by Chris Hughes who has been promoted to commercial director, having previously held the role of head of PR and social at the agency since its inception.

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COMPANIES in Barnsley’s Digital Media Centre are bringing business into the town from across the globe.

The landmark building in Barnsley town centre has recently celebrated its strongest year yet with the highest occupancy levels since opening in 2008.

The centre has also seen 50 new jobs being created in the past year as a result of tenants growing their businesses.

Companies in the centre are now bringing business to the town from as far as Morocco, New Zealand and America.

Bob’s Business, an information security awareness training provider has experienced significant growth in recent months which has resulted in an office move within the centre. The security experts have won contracts in Morocco and New Zealand within the last month and are looking forward to winning more.

Procentus Consulting, an international management training and leadership development consultancy based in the DMC, delivers contracts as far away as the Middle East.

Meanwhile Bigfoot Digital, an internet marketing business which has recently taken on two new members of staff, manages the social media for American business Munchkin, assisting the baby product brand in penetrating the UK market.

Gareth Scargill, the Digital Media Centre’s manager, said “We’re very proud of the work being done by the businesses in the centre, not just here in Barnsley, but across the world.

“This shows how important the digital businesses in Barnsley are – and we’re always on the lookout for likeminded companies to join the DMC’s network.”

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A WEST Yorkshire-based brand and digital design agency that works alongside top global brands including Nickelodeon and Universal has cemented its continued growth with a move to larger premises and a series of new appointments.

Analogue, which has moved to new offices on the outskirts of Leeds, has welcomed a new digital specialist as the company continues to grow its client base with an aim to become the most ‘creative’ agency in Yorkshire.

Billy Burgoyne joins the Analogue team as digital director after three years at B Reel Digital Production Company in London where he led projects for a wide range of global brands including Google, Pepsi, Honda and music download giant Spotify.

The agency recently completed a project designing the global merchandise and packaging guidelines for the world famous children’s character SpongeBob SquarePants – a brand worth $6 bn annually – as well as creating the brand identity for the Cielo Blanco Mexican restaurant in the Trinity Shopping Centre, Leeds. The eatery is now planning to roll out the branding as it expands.

Analogue has recently moved to a new office at the Seven Hills Business Centre in Morley. The agency’s new space is double the size of its former premises and includes a photography studio, boardroom and its own self-contained bar inspired by Analogue’s work within the restaurant and hospitality industry.

The company has also appointed Hattie Crook as producer and Adam Graham, the co-founder of digital agency Saint London, as non-executive director to support the business’ growth strategy.