Agencies with strong Northern roots have been recognised among the UK’s most exciting and fast-growing firms in a first-of-its-kind ranking from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising announced today
The IPA Beacon List celebrates 25 agencies that are reshaping the marketing industry, spotlighting those that are digital-first, mission-driven, and pushing boundaries across creative, media, and strategic services.
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Among those flying the flag for the North are Manchester-based Campfire, a fast-growing social and content agency building communities for global brands, and performance brand agency Journey Further, headquartered in Leeds, with offices in Manchester. Lesniak Swann, Measure Lab, Ride Shotgun, Vega Comms and 360 OM were other businesses with strong Northern footprints to make the list.
The list was curated through months of research, interviews, and industry outreach, led by Paul Mead, founder of VCCP Media and former Jellyfish board director. It aims to recognise agencies that may sit outside the mainstream networks but are delivering real impact through innovation, culture, and client service.
“With the launch of the IPA Beacon, we want to celebrate the sheer breadth of innovation in the UK agency sector,” said Paul Mead. “The Beacon is a recognition of the shifting landscape and a testament to the extraordinary creativity, resilience, and vision being demonstrated by agencies of all sizes and stages of growth. Many of these founders are creating new models from scratch or reimagining what they’ve learned inside the network world – and they’re doing so with remarkable success.”
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Some agencies on the list are early in their journey, while others are scaling rapidly or experimenting with entirely new service structures. Common threads include agility, cultural relevance, and a strong commitment to client relationships.
“We know what makes IPA member agencies exceptional,” continued Mead. “Now we’re taking a wider lens to the market – to welcome future members, showcase diverse voices, and inspire the next generation of agency founders.”
The IPA intends for the Beacon List to become an annual fixture and is calling on the industry to help identify the next wave of standout agencies for future editions. “This list is just the tip of the iceberg,” added IPA Director of Media Affairs Nigel Gwilliam: “There are many more stories out there waiting to be discovered. We hope the IPA Beacon acts as a catalyst – not just for recognition, but for collaboration, innovation, and growth across the entire industry.”
THE FULL LIST
- 360 OM
- Ark Agency
- Attachment
- Bark
- Campfire
- Hello Yellow
- Hookflash
- Journey Further
- Lesniak Swann
- Meanwhile
- Measurelab
- Nest
- Novos
- Purple Goat
- Push
- Ride Shotgun
- Sine Digital
- Spin Brands
- Toaster
- Uncharted
- Uncovered
- Vega Comms
- We Discover
- Wilderness
