Business Growth Archives | Page 5 of 32 | Bristol Creative Industries

BRISTOL — Torchbox Public, the public sector division of digital agency Torchbox, has been awarded a contract to develop and implement a new intranet for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, one of the UK’s largest and busiest NHS trusts.

The project will transform internal communications across the Trust by providing one easy-to-use, fully accessible digital space for staff to connect and find essential information across all hospital locations and on any device. The new platform will serve over 23,600 staff across multiple sites, including five hospitals and 23 local community health centres.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ currently has two different intranet sites and wants to support all staff by creating one consistent experience. The new intranet will make it quicker to access the information they need, and reinforce that, despite the Trust’s size, staff are part of one organisation with shared values and a reputation for clinical excellence, high-quality teaching, and research.

The new intranet will be built on Wagtail NHS Intranet, an open-source platform developed by Torchbox specifically for NHS organisations. This innovative solution was made possible through the initial support of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and continues to evolve through collaborations with other trusts, including Gloucestershire NHS.

The solution builds on successful implementations for multiple healthcare providers, where the intranet has improved staff communication, information access, and operational efficiency while eliminating ongoing license fees.

The project will take a phased approach, with initial discovery and design work already underway.

About Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Guy’s and St Thomas’ provides 2.8 million patient contacts in acute and specialist hospital services and community services every year. The Trust includes Guy’s Hospital, St Thomas’ Hospital, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Royal Brompton Hospital, Harefield Hospital, and adult and children’s community services in Lambeth and Southwark

As one of the biggest NHS trusts in the UK, with an annual turnover of £2.9 billion, Guy’s and St Thomas’ employ around 23,600 staff. www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk

Guy’s and St Thomas’ is part of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a collaboration between King’s College London, and Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts. www.kingshealthpartners.org

About Torchbox

Torchbox Public is a specialised division of Torchbox that partners with public sector organisations to tackle complex challenges through progressive, collaborative approaches.

As a certified B Corporation and 100% employee-owned business, Torchbox brings together a diverse team of over 120 digital specialists committed to creating inclusive, accessible, and sustainable digital solutions. The company has delivered transformative digital projects for leading organisations across healthcare, charity, and cultural sectors, including Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Samaritans, Mind, Children’s Health Ireland, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), and London Museum. Torchbox is a leader in open-source technology and distinguishes itself through its evidence-based approach, collaborative partnerships, and commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

Strategic communications agency AMBITIOUS reports £2.1m turnover & the fourth year of 30+ % year on year growth

AMBITIOUS, the strategic communications specialist based in Bristol is reporting a £2.1 million turnover in 2025, marking the fourth year of 30% year-on-year growth. The milestone represents a significant chapter in the agency’s evolution as it continues to scale its impact across the UK and internationally.

The latest industry rankings show that agencies outside of London are thriving. AMBITIOUS is an example of an agency that continues to outperform industry averages with its people-first approach, attracting high-growth clients across sectors.

28 new clients have joined AMBITIOUS in the last year, with brands such as Yell, Accurise, Granicus, Kohler Mira, Tympa, Exacta Technologies, Future Leap and Warp Technologies added to its client portfolio. 50% of AMBITIOUS’ work is with companies in Bristol with a remit to support them nationally, internationally, and within key sectors.

To support its continued momentum, AMBITIOUS has also announced a number of key internal promotions. Laura Lear has been promoted to Managing Director, Joe Wright has been promoted to Strategy and Insights Director, Elli Robinson has stepped into the role of PR Consultant, and May Mower has been promoted to Marketing Manager. These appointments reflect the agency’s commitment to nurturing talent from within, recognising the contribution of team members to its sustained success.

A pivotal part of AMBITIOUS’ growth is the launch of its standalone content services division at the start of 2024, which now represents 25% of its total revenue. This expansion required strategic investment, including new hires, new supplier partnerships, and upskilling the team. By the end of 2024, AMBITIOUS had secured briefs from the National Police Chiefs Council and Greece’s first unicorn tech business, PeopleCert. The strategic move has positioned the company for even greater growth in 2025.

Laura Lear, Managing Director at AMBITIOUS explains, “We have always created content – videos, social assets, reports, and graphics – as part of our broader campaigns. Despite never marketing this as a standalone service, we have seen an increasing client demand for these services.

“In the past year, we’ve competed successfully against network agencies for briefs and won, leading to hiring a production manager and videographer, securing supplier agreements, and investing in team training. The demand for content services has quickly grown since, validating our decision and demonstrating the huge opportunity for us.”

Originally founded in 2012 as a PR and communications agency, this continues to be a core strength for the agency. AMBITIOUS is driving excellence and retaining its trajectory in key rankings including placing in a number of categories for the PRWeek Top 150 2024, including number 27 in the corporate and financial table, 30 in agencies outside of London, and 35 in B2B. B2B marketing also named AMBITIOUS 7th in the Top 10 Rising Stars in the UK.

Growth hasn’t come at the expense of culture. AMBITIOUS was Highly Commended by PR Week in their Best Places to Work awards and included in The Sunday Times 500 Best Places to Work in the UK in 2024.

At a time when agencies are reporting skills shortages within their teams, the 25-strong team has proudly maintained 0% attrition in its client service team since 2020.

Employee wellbeing and empowerment are built into its model, with quarterly team forums, regular feedback sessions, and one of the highest engagement scores among independent agencies in the UK, as ranked by industry body, the Alliance of Independent Agencies.

AMBITIOUS is co-owned by Sarah Woodhouse and Lis Anderson. On the agency’s success, Sarah Woodhouse comments, “In a fast-changing industry, we’re extremely proud of the work that we do. Our growth has been deliberate and sustainable.”

AMBITIOUS founder, Lis Anderson adds: “Our story is proof that regional agencies can lead nationally and compete globally. By investing in our people, backing bold ideas, and building long-term partnerships, we’re able to create real impact for both our clients and team whilst staying true to our original values. As we look ahead, we’re focused on scaling with purpose by growing our capabilities and our people, building influence and continuing to deliver meaningful, measurable results.”

AMBITIOUS is an independent strategic communications agency. Based in Bristol, but with a national and international reach, AMBITIOUS helps clients find, engage and grow audiences.

In an ever-changing world, AMBITIOUS unlocks insights for organisations that shape ideas to build and amplify brand awareness and protect business reputations.

Its dynamic, strategic and trusted team of communication and creative experts span property, construction & built environment, tech, financial & professional services, pharma & healthcare, education, public sector, ESG and sustainability.

From print and digital PR to communications strategy, social media and content services – it connects clients to the conversations that matter.

Female-founded, owned, and run, AMBITIOUS celebrated its first decade in business in 2022.

AI is changing marketing fast.

But this isn’t a cautionary tale about machines taking over. It’s about what happens when human expertise and intuition meet cutting-edge technology. It’s about unlocking new possibilities. It’s about creating deeper, more meaningful connections between brands and the people they exist for.

At Proctor + Stevenson, we believe great marketing has always been human at heart. Emotional. Empathetic. Powered by creativity, insight and experience. And with AI, we now have tools that can make those human qualities even more powerful – helping us understand audiences more deeply, respond more personally and connect more meaningfully, at scale.

We see AI not as a replacement, but as a willing partner. When used intelligently, it enables us to do what we do best – and hopefully better.

Real-time, deeply personal, unmistakably human

Audiences today expect relevance. They want to be seen, understood and spoken to like individuals. In B2B as much as B2C, they crave experiences that feel personal, rather than generic. But here’s the challenge: how do you do that at scale?

We’re using smart platforms and tools that help us go beyond broad segmentation to deliver hyper-personalised experiences in real time. Crucially, they give us more time to focus on what really matters: crafting the campaigns, content and experiences that make those connections memorable.

Here are just a few of the ways we’re exploring a combination of AI and imagination:

These tools don’t just streamline workflows: they unlock creative opportunities. They help brands be more responsive, more relevant and more remarkable.

From insight to foresight: predictive AI that powers proactive marketing

AI doesn’t just help us understand what’s happened. It can also predict what’s coming next.

Thanks to predictive analytics, we can now anticipate the needs of your customers – sometimes before they even know them themselves. It means better lead prioritisation. Smarter targeting. And more timely, relevant campaigns that reach people when they’re most ready to act.

At Proctors, we’re constantly experimenting with these tools, combining them in ways that bring out the best in your brand and deliver real business impact.

The magic is in the mix

Let’s be clear – AI is amazing. But it’s not the headline act. You are. Your brand. Your story. Your voice. AI is just here to help amplify it, to help you move faster, personalise more deeply and connect more powerfully.

When human insight meets machine intelligence, the results can be extraordinary.

More creativity, not less. More connection, not distance. More time to focus on the things machines can’t do – like telling compelling stories, understanding complex emotions and building lasting trust.

We’re not just using AI to save time. We’re using it to make space for better ideas.

If you’re curious about how AI can help your brand be more personal, more agile and more effective – without ever losing its human heart – we’d love to talk.

At Proctor + Stevenson, we believe the future of marketing is collaborative, creative and joyfully human. With the right tools, it’s a future we can build together.

The cost-of-living crisis in the UK is still hitting both businesses and their employees hard. As operational costs rise and consumers tighten their belts, businesses face the dual challenge of maintaining profitability while ensuring their staff are adequately compensated.

The key is to empower your employees. In the midst of the escalating cost-of-living crisis, new research reveals a stark reality: One example…87% of hospitality workers’ mental health is worsening because of financial concerns, exacerbating an already challenging situation. With wages stagnating and essential expenses on the rise, workers face mounting challenges, including housing and food insecurity, limiting their ability to save and thrive. According to recent studies, nearly 60% of workers struggle with financial stress, with over 40% citing it as a major concern affecting their overall wellbeing.

Amidst these challenges, one pioneering solution that has emerged is Earned Wage Access, which revolutionises the traditional pay cycle by providing instant access to earned wages, empowering employees to navigate their financial obligations with newfound flexibility and control.

By eliminating the need to wait for payday, new employee benefits providers enable workers to address immediate expenses without resorting to high-interest loans, thereby alleviating financial stress and promoting overall wellbeing.

Recent user surveys conducted by one industry provider underscore this impact, with 92% feeling more in control of their money thanks to Earned Wage Access and 88% being more likely to stay working at their current employer when this benefit is offered.

Another key solution is supporting workers with financial wellbeing benefits and education to reduce financial stress and help them better manage their finances.

These can take many forms such as personalised educational resources, financial coaching, money management tools, employee discounts, and flexible pay options, among other things.

PwC revealed that financially stressed employees are 5 times more likely to be distracted at work, highlighting the potential productivity gains for employers. By investing in these programs, hospitality companies can therefore enhance both employee wellbeing and operational resilience.

Another key focus are smart budgeting strategies which can significantly benefit companies during the cost-of-living crisis. By regularly monitoring expenses, implementing energy efficiency measures, optimising inventory management, adjusting staffing levels based on seasonal demand, and negotiating bulk purchasing agreements, companies can reduce operational costs and improve financial stability.

For employees, smart budgeting strategies are equally crucial. Creating a detailed monthly budget, setting aside an emergency fund, prioritising debt reduction, automating savings, and utilising employee discounts can help workers manage their finances more effectively. These practices reduce financial stress, increase disposable income, and provide a buffer against rising living costs, ultimately fostering a more engaged and productive workforce.

Where do you start? Well, you can talk to professionals such as myself who mitigate these employee risks…or if nothing else have a look at the Government website www.moneyhelper.org.uk where you can find simple and straightforward with tools to direct your employees.

Standard benefits packages won’t cut it for Gen Z. Here’s how they’re raising the bar and what you can do to meet it in 3 easy ways.

The generation that won’t settle for more of the same. Gen Z is here and they’re changing the game.

Born between 1997 and 2012, they’ve grown up digital, purpose-driven, and ready to challenge how work works. By the end of 2025, they’ll make up a quarter of the global workforce

If you want to attract, engage, and retain Gen Z talent, you’ll need a benefits experience that feels as personal, digital, and values led as they are. So being part of the Bristol Creative’s network let’s explore how this generation is raising the bar for benefits and what you can do to meet it.

Firstly, digital Natives Expect Digital-First Benefits! Gen Z grew up with smartphones, social feeds, and instant everything. So, when they join your workforce, they expect the same seamless experience from your benefits. A company’s tech influences whether they want to work there. They expect business tools to be as intuitive as TikTok and as mobile-friendly as their banking apps. If your benefits platform feels clunky or old-school? You’ll lose them before they’ve even logged in.

Secondly, they care deeply about purpose. For Gen Z, work isn’t just a job. It’s a platform for impact. Often, purpose at work matters more than a pay cheque. If your benefits don’t reflect your social and environmental commitments, you’re missing a massive engagement driver.

Then there’s the whole avenue called “flexibility”. Gen Z doesn’t measure success by hours logged. They care about outcomes and flexibility of schedules. In addition, there’s flexibility with regards to personalised benefits which I have mentioned numerous times. Forget biscuit-cutter packages. Gen Z expects choice: mental health support (which is non-negotiable being essential not optional), help their sustainability goals/carbon footprint, help with student loan repayments, help with community impact…all good examples.

Why? Well, it’s not rocket science – lower turnover, higher engagement and it makes you stand out in the crowd as an employer.

Gen Z is raising the bar for what great benefits look like. If you’re still offering one-size-fits-all packages, you’re missing a huge opportunity to engage the workforce of tomorrow.

Because if your benefits aren’t easy to access, easy to understand, and easy to love, they aren’t working hard enough.

Get your networking hat on in May, June and July! We have some brilliant networking opportunities over the next few months. They are free or discounted for Bristol Creative Industries members.

22 May: Screen industries meetup, Nine Tree Studios in Bristol

Our second screen industries meetup focuses on skills and opportunities for people in the industry, and the challenges for finding work or moving to different sectors.

The event is £5+VAT for BCI members, £8+VAT for non-members. Tickets include food and drinks. Register here.

22 May: BCI members’ lunch at The Square Club in Bristol

BCI’s free members’ lunches are the perfect opportunity to catch up with fellow members and the BCI team which enjoying a delicious Mediterranean buffet lunch too.

10 June: Freelancer networking drinks at The Square Club

Open to freelancers and those who engage with freelancers, join this event to widen networks, make new connections, discuss common problems, and discover potential opportunities for collaboration.

The event is free with a free drink for BCI members, or £5+VAT for non-members.

13 June: Walk & Talk outdoor networking in the Cotswolds

A great opportunity for members to make new connections whilst getting some much needed fresh air! This event is for BCI members only and costs £10+VAT.

26 June: BCI members’ lunch at The Square Club in Bristol

24 July: BCI members’ lunch at The Square Club in Bristol

Bristol, UK – March 25, 2025 – All About Guitar, the UK’s premier resource for guitar enthusiasts, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Distiller Music Group. This collaboration aims to enhance the range of services offered to guitarists, combining All About Guitar’s expertise in custom-built instruments and educational content with Distiller’s renowned recording facilities and industry network.

David Gillam, founder of All About Guitar, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership:

“At All About Guitar, our mission has always been to support and inspire guitarists at every level. Teaming up with Distiller Music Group allows us to expand our offerings, providing unparalleled resources and opportunities for the guitar community.”

“This partnership is about more than just services; it’s about building a community where guitarists can thrive. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, we’re here to support your musical journey.”

All About Guitar is the UK’s leading platform for guitar enthusiasts, offering custom-built instruments, professional setup and repair services, educational resources, and a supportive community for guitarists of all levels.

Distiller Music Group is an independent, artist-focused company encompassing records, publishing, live events, and a state-of-the-art recording studio. Their mission is to support musicians at every stage of their creative journey.

A couple of weeks back was Earth Day, and the 2025 theme is Our Power, Our Planet. This year, the Earth Day movement is uniting the globe around renewable energy to help us achieve ‘triple clean energy’ by 2030. Sustainability is at the heart of Bristol Creatives and as a community we should constantly strive to innovate and provide eco-friendly employee benefits.

But where do you start? Well, here’s a few pointers to embed sustainable and eco-friendly employee benefits into your business.

With CSR strategies becoming a must-have, companies are coming forward en masse to share their green credentials, giving birth to the term “Greenwashing”, where organisations talk the talk but don’t walk the walk when it comes to employee wellbeing practices. The same is true with greenwashing, but the scrutiny is even higher. If you make a claim about your environmental commitments, you must have the data to back it up. Without the data, it’s simply talk, and you’re at risk of being seen by your clients, consumers, and partners as greenwashing.

Clients and employees increasingly seek businesses that do good environmentally and socially, but they will also want to see the proof. Being branded a greenwasher will harm your reputation among employees, clients and partners, and you could find yourself in court.

There’s a long list of ways you can embed sustainability into your business through eco-friendly benefits and ways of working. Employees want to work for a business that authentically demonstrates ethical behaviours, and they’re scrutinising your corporate social responsibility policy alongside your Employee Value Proposition (EVP). Conscious quitting is a growing trend among socially conscious employees seeking equally socially conscious employers who contribute to the communities and environment in which they exist. By 2025, Millennials will make up nearly three quarters of the global workforce, and they’re looking for socially responsible employers.

Climate anxiety is real, especially among the younger generations, and these are the people who will make up the future workforce. Research tells us that young people don’t think the government is doing enough to avoid a climate crisis and expect their employers to act responsibly.

How can business’s embrace sustainable business practices through eco-friendly employee benefits. How about helping employee’s retro fit their homes…double bonus of improved financial wellbeing with energy bill savings and improvements in sustainability?

You can’t discuss eco-friendly employee benefits without stepping into the world of green car and cycle to work schemes. Both encourage greener ways of commuting to work, whether by an electric vehicle or bike and bring tax and NIC savings to employers and employees. Greener commuting and money back in your pocket! The more employees who take up a salary sacrifice scheme within your business, the more you’ll save on National Insurance Contributions. Cycling promotes physical wellbeing, and healthy people have less sickness absence = another saving to your outgoings. Your employees’ finances also benefit from a reduction in the taxable element of their payslips.

Cycling may not be feasible for those travelling long distances, but with your support, they can still make their commute greener. Offer your employees a salary sacrifice car scheme to create tax savings and make low-emission travel more affordable.

How about considering CSR Partnerships? Embedding paid volunteering opportunities into your strategy boosts morale, social value, and engagement. There are clear benefits to the business, such as being more attractive to potential partners and customers, but it isn’t without cost. Whenever you pay for a person to be out of the business, you’re funding time that’s essentially non-productive from a business output perspective.

Still, most employees think their employers should incorporate paid volunteering days as an employee benefit, claiming it allows them to learn new skills they can bring back to the business. There are employee benefit providers that allow employee to access even more volunteering opportunities within their local communities and is proving incredibly popular – a definite morale booster!

Post COVID flexibility in contracts is becoming the norm, which is excellent because they’re in demand. There are also measurable business benefits, such as a high increase in productivity. Offering flexible, hybrid, and remote contracts helps talent acquisition and retention, with two thirds of job seekers claiming they’d reject a role that didn’t offer flexibility. The more flexible you are as an employer, the more you support your employees in finding a healthy work-life balance, which will increase employee engagement levels.

From a sustainable business practices perspective, there are additional benefits to having a hybrid workforce including lower fuel and energy usage within the office and fewer employees driving to the office means lower emissions that you can chart against your climate or social value pledge.

In November, we attended the Bristol Property Awards at Ashton Gate Stadium, after being nominated in the Workspaces category.

We are incredibly proud to share that we have once again won the award for Best Workspace in Bristol at this year’s Bristol Property Awards!

We have been finalists in this category three times, and with two wins under our belt, there really is no doubt that we represent the very best in flexible working in Bristol.

The judges had this to say: “Always a step ahead of the game – massively growing its membership and had its best year to date. A clear sense of what they’re trying to achieve.”

Thank you to our wonderful team who work so hard to make Square Works a success, and thank you to our members who form our incredible community. We can’t wait to see what successes 2025 brings for us at Square Works!

To find out more about us and to take a tour, contact us today.