Steve Connor, the chief executive of ‘issues based’ communications firm Creative Concern, has spoken to How-Do about his agency’s new Leeds office and his desire to open up a ‘Northern Way’ solution to marketing.
Connor sat down with How-Do after it came to light that the Manchester-based agency has now opened a satellite operation East of the Pennines.
He took the time to explain the motivation behind the move, imparting that the success of the five-year old firm (and its sustainable principles) has simply meant that demand for its services has spread beyond its immediate Manchester home:
“We've been doing more and more work in Leeds with a range of clients,” Connor stated, “and are really keen to grow our portfolio right across Yorkshire and Humberside.”
He continued: “We've worked for a number of years with Recycling Action Yorkshire, particularly with regard to their online presence and their brand; we're also working with the Academy for Sustainable Communities, with Future Energy Yorkshire and with Integreat Yorkshire, the region's regeneration centre of excellence.
“There are some strong synergies with the organisations and issues we work on in the Northwest and hopefully, if we prove our worth, we'll be able to build a similarly strong presence on the eastern side of the Pennines.”
Connor revealed that the new set-up is based in the Holbeck Urban Village because, he says, the team “really liked the energy” of the area and that the mixture of creative and sustainable businesses based there made the location “a perfect fit” for Creative Concern.
Holbeck: CC's new home
The office will be staffed by a mixture of existing Creative Concern employees and new starters, with agency MD Chris Dessent spending “at least one day a week” at the Holbeck satellite.
Connor also stressed that the Leeds arm would not simply be a sales office, stating that the agency would “probably mix creative and advocacy work” at the Yorkshire base and are currently on the look out to recruit a full time senior advocate.
Wrapping up the insight, he concluded: “More generally, we really love working across the TransPennine Tract of Liverpool-Manchester-Leeds.
“The connectivity is good, the creative briefs are always challenging, and we believe that there is something to be said for the 'Northern Way' idea of the three northern English regions working together in a more joined-up fashion.
“Manchester is our home and we're very, very proud of it, but we've been lucky enough to work on projects right across the North.”
Creative Concern is currently working on a number of high profile briefs, including, as featured on How-Do recently, the re-branding of Wythenshawe.
A first for the North West - How-Do's Top 100 Marketers. These leading professionals help drive the creation and generation of prosperity in the region. READ
The North West’s media folk who wield the greatest combination of influence, power and employment, primarily in the region but also, in many cases, well beyond. READ
Working with Hill Dickinson, the CBI and the CIM, How-Do reveals the region’s leading brands across a variety of business sectors and categories. READ
The How-Do poll
Latest comments
Anon.: Yes indeed, consider those NWDA sentiments seconded.
READ
Alex Blyth: I couldn't agree more with your comments about the tender document for 315....
READ
journo: Well said Mr Sock. I read the 66-page report from Policy Exchange last week...
READ
Comments (2)
