Marketing and creative agencies to acquire in the North West

Name: Marketing and creative agencies to acquire in the North West
Creator: Firmbase
License: https://firmbase.co/terms

Updated 9 November 2026

Looking to acquire a marketing or creative agency in the North West? Firmbase ranks 345 marketing and creative agencies using public company information to help buyers prioritise firms for research and potential outreach. The Approach Score ranks firms using public signals including director age and tenure, ownership, business scale, financial strength and recent changes. These firms are not listed for sale, and the ranking does not indicate that an owner is considering a sale.

The median firm has 8 staff and has been in business for 11 years; 1 firm is owned by a group that has acquired several firms in this sector. Looking beyond the North West? Explore the full UK list of marketing and creative agencies.

345

Firms

UK 3,434

14%

Every director 55+

UK 16%

29%

Held 75%+ by one person

UK 30%

Median years in business

UK 12

Median headcount

UK 8

£250k to £500k

Median turnover band

UK £250k to £500k · includes our estimates

Towns with the most firms

Manchester 191 firms
Liverpool 47 firms

The first 25 firms, in Approach Score order

Rank	Firm	Approach Score	The facts behind the score
1	Context Public Relations Macclesfield, Cheshire	Approach Score 88/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged under 45 · longest in post since 1998 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 11 staff · turnover £787k Net assets £946k (Mar 2026) Director resigned Oct 2026 Company no. 03643421 · Companies House contextpr.co.uk
2	The SignBox Oldham Manchester, Lancs	Approach Score 84/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2006 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 14 staff · turnover est. £339k Net assets £235k (Jan 2026) Company no. 05676074 · Companies House thesignbox.com
3	BUY ME Media Manchester	Approach Score 83/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2016 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £626k Net assets £84k (Sep 2025) PSC register changed Dec 2024 Company no. 10385728 · Companies House buyme.media
4	Happy Creative Burnley, Lancashire	Approach Score 82/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2005 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £297k Net assets £23k (Dec 2024) Company no. 05437508 · Companies House happy-creative.co.uk
5	R T a Publicity Bolton A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 80/100	2 directors aged 70 or over 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 13 staff · turnover est. £1.4m Net assets £1.5m (Jul 2024) Company no. 01716977 · Companies House rtapublicity.co.uk
6	SKY Parlour Manchester	Approach Score 80/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2009 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 16 staff · turnover est. £1.6m Net assets £663k (Dec 2025) Company no. 07009362 · Companies House skyparlour.com
7	The Door Creative Wirral, Merseyside	Approach Score 79/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2014 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £314k Net assets £11k (Feb 2025) Company no. 08864720 · Companies House thedoorcreative.co.uk
8	True North Communications Manchester	Approach Score 77/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2001 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £247k Net assets £278k (Jun 2026) Company no. 04240580 · Companies House
9	Fieldway Advertising Services Blackpool, Lancashire	Approach Score 75/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2001 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £210k Net assets £600k (Dec 2025) Company no. 04332504 · Companies House
10	Triad Trade Textiles Congleton, Cheshire	Approach Score 75/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 45-49 · longest in post since 2006 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £382k Net assets £69k (Apr 2025) Company no. 01743627 · Companies House weloveyourbrand.co.uk
11	Impact Graphix and Signs Warrington	Approach Score 74/100	1 director aged 60-64, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2024 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £203k Net assets £12k (Mar 2026) Director resigned Feb 2026 · PSC register changed Feb 2026 Company no. 07730365 · Companies House signagewarrington.co.uk
12	Bella Design & Marketing Knutsford, Cheshire	Approach Score 74/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2005 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £487k No net assets figure held · accounts made up to Jul 2025 Company no. 05500657 · Companies House belladesign.co.uk
13	Wash Studio Preston	Approach Score 73/100	1 director aged 60-64, 1 aged 45-49 · longest in post since 2003 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £281k Net assets £60k (Jun 2025) PSC register changed Mar 2026 Company no. 04696891 · Companies House washstudio.co.uk
14	Imagine Events Stockport, Cheshire	Approach Score 73/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 45-49, 1 aged under 45 · longest in post since 1996 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £391k Net assets £36k (Apr 2025) Company no. 03172290 · Companies House imagine-events.com
15	Sharp Ahead Manchester, Greater Manchester	Approach Score 72/100	1 director aged 60-64, 1 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 2014 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 17 staff · turnover est. £828k Net assets £350k (Apr 2026) Company no. 08971343 · Companies House sharpahead.com
16	Nationwide Partners Cheadle, Cheshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 71/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2023 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 13 staff · turnover est. £17k Net assets £815 (Sep 2025) Company no. 15172961 · Companies House
17	Huge Media Liverpool, Merseyside	Approach Score 71/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2011 Held via a trust or firm · independent More about this firm 6 staff · turnover est. £269k Net assets £28k (Feb 2025) PSC register changed May 2026 Company no. 07513284 · Companies House hugemedia.co.uk
18	City Outdoor Media Liverpool, Merseyside	Approach Score 71/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2012 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £4.7m Net assets £937k (Dec 2025) Company no. 08044454 · Companies House cityoutdoormedia.com
19	Bluestripe Group Burscough, Lancashire	Approach Score 70/100	2 directors aged 55-59, 1 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 2011 Independent More about this firm 22 staff · turnover est. £1m Net assets £2k (Sep 2025) Company no. 07761055 · Companies House bluestripe.co.uk
20	David Antrobus Marketing Warrington, Cheshire	Approach Score 70/100	Longest in post since 2000 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £481k No net assets figure held · accounts made up to Mar 2026 Company no. 03954769 · Companies House davidantrobus.com
21	Design Chorley	Approach Score 69/100	1 director aged 60-64, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 1995 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £705k Net assets £348k (Oct 2025) Company no. 02862845 · Companies House incdesignlimitedcompany.com
22	Plan IT Build IT T/A First Choice Extensions Manchester, Lancashire	Approach Score 69/100	Director aged 55-59 · in post since 2024 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £16k Net assets £6k (Apr 2026) PSC register changed Feb 2025 Company no. 15486523 · Companies House
23	Creative Frenzy Northwich	Approach Score 69/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 55-59, 1 aged 50-54, 1 aged 45-49, 1 aged under 45 · longest in post since 2007 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 10 staff · turnover est. £322k Net assets £198k (Jun 2025) Director resigned Feb 2025 · PSC register changed Feb 2026 Company no. 06245585 · Companies House creativefrenzy.co.uk
24	Octopus Project Engineering Runcorn, Cheshire	Approach Score 69/100	2 directors aged 65-69, 1 aged under 45 · longest in post since 2011 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £289k Net assets £13k (Nov 2025) Company no. 07842298 · Companies House
25	VSM Manchester, Greater Manchester	Approach Score 69/100	We hold older figures than Companies House 2 directors aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2003 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 7 staff · turnover est. £626k Net assets £161k · newer accounts made up to Oct 2025 Company no. 04854830 · Companies House vsmhealthcare.com

320 more firms are in the list, in Approach Score order.

You're seeing the first 25. Buy all 345 for £799 + VAT, with the facts behind each score, director names, shareholders and financials.

Buy the list of all 345 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

Each row comes with the facts behind its score, financials with dates and contact details.

What's in the file

One row per firm, in Approach Score order, as Excel + CSV.

It holds the facts behind each score, points for each part of the score, financials with dates, publicly available contact details, where identified, director names and named shareholders.

Some people with significant control appear as Other individual, with no further detail. Director email lookups are not included.

How this list is filtered

5 or more staff, from filed headcount or our estimate where none is filed.
Registered office in the North West.

See every filter on the UK list

How this list is built

The Approach Score ranks firms mainly on public Companies House information about owner tenure and age, ownership, size, financial strength and recent register changes.

Firms with higher scores appear first in each list.

Use the ranking to order research, then check each business directly.

Read how the Approach Score works

What it does not mean

No firm here is for sale, and the score says nothing about any owner's plans.

At least 95% of the firms where we hold directors had them checked in or after November 2026.

What we do not cover

Regulatory information is not included in this list. Buyers should check the relevant register as part of their due diligence. Agencies have no single sector regulator. Check advertising obligations against the ASA's Advertising Codes and search its published rulings; the ASA regulates advertisements rather than licensing agencies.

Why age bands but no people's names

Age bands come from the month and year of birth on Companies House. This page shows no exact ages and no people's names. Both come with the purchased list. The band edges from 45 to 65 are the ages where the score changes. A row shows no age bands when a director's surname is in the firm's name, its group's name or its website. Those directors' ages still count towards the score.

Is this your firm?

You can ask us to take it off every acquisition page, and out of every list we sell after that. Give us your name and work email, and we send you a link to confirm. If your email address is on the firm's own website domain, the firm comes off once you confirm. If it is not, a person reviews your request first. A list already sold stays with its buyer.

To have personal data erased, see our privacy policy.

Other areas

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Related sectors

PR agencies Recruitment agencies

The standard Firmbase list

Marketing Agency Companies in the UK

Buy the list of all 345 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

Each row comes with the facts behind its score, financials with dates and contact details.