The Prolific North Top 50 Integrated Agencies 2017

The ranking is predicated on a formula which examines a variety of factors including shareholder funds and/or balance sheets, turnover, pre-tax profits and headcount. Because roughly only one third of the agencies file full accounts (over £6.5m turnover), part of our agreement with companies providing confidential information is that we will not itemise or publicise their individual financials.

Agencies were not offered the option to be included or not.

This does mean that certain agencies may appear – usually – lower in the ranking than many observers might have expected but offering agencies the option to opt out rather than report on a one-off disappointing year would dilute the definitive nature of the list.

In total, we have engaged over 130 agencies and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the agencies – whether they are included or not – for their time and attention in helping to create this unique financial snapshot of Northern marketing services excellence.

This year’s ranking

McCann Manchester top the ranking for the fifth year in succession, with another Manchester operation, Havas Lynx, holding on to second place.

Yorkshire agencies make the remainder of the top five, however, with Leeds-based Intermarketing leaping three places to third, with Sheffield’s Jaywing and Leeds’s Home slipping a place each to third and fourth respectively.

A couple of other Yorkshire agencies in the top 10 make good progress up the table this year, with Sheffield’s MB Advertising & Marketing climbing three places to number seven and Elmwood surging 10 spots to nine.

Media Agency Group, based in Manchester, jumps six places on last year to claim a top 10 slot at eight. WRG, at six, and 10th-placed CreativeRace complete the top 10. 

The Prolific North Top 50 Integrated Agencies 2017