Fast-growing Manchester agency Social Communications has opened a fourth office, in Bristol.
The new South West operation will be run by directors Ben Lowndes and Amy Bodey, who have nearly 20 years’ combined experience in PR roles across the region.
Social Communications was set up just five years ago by managing director John Quinton-Barber and this is the agency’s third new office opening in less than two years, after Leeds and London. The group now has almost 30 staff and last year turnover reached £1.7m, with a growing client list including Places for People, Mace construction group and local authorities across England.
Quinton-Barber said: “I worked alongside Ben and Amy on high-profile, challenging and time-pressured projects before I set Social Communications up and I knew they were the right people to help us expand into the South West.
“Bristol is a fantastic city for us to invest in. The team has an incredible knowledge of the region, combined with strategic nous, insight and creative brilliance that clients expect of a modern communications agency.
“It’s great to have a foothold in the South West and we’re already making significant strides towards building a strong presence here.”
Lowndes, who has worked in a communications role for the government’s housing body and two of Bristol’s best-known comms agencies, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to build something special, with the support of an amazing team.
“The South West is a brilliant place to work and the reaction to our launching a new business here has been incredibly positive. Businesses can see we have an excellent offer. We’re committed to the region and excited about what 2018 has in store for us.”
Bodey joins from the University of Bristol, where she worked in a senior communications role for nearly four years.
She added: “We’ve got off to a great start in Bristol and are already working on a couple of fantastic, important projects. We have exciting plans for the South West office and intend to hire a couple of people this year to continue Social Communications’ growth.”
The team is already working for a local authority on a significant public consultation for a £500m investment programme and will soon start delivering a public relations campaign for a successful UK tidal energy operator. The new office is on Great George Street in Bristol.
