MEDIA
Director Michael Harvey with creative director Deena Walker
New
media
Meet Constantine Media - a creative agency with an exciting new approach
WORDS : JULIE BURNISTON . PICTURE : TOM BANKS .
Affordability , simplicity and inclusivity – these are the buzz words of Constantine Media , currently making a splash from their HQ at Launchpad in Middlesbrough ’ s Victoria building .
Shortlisted in the recent Tees Tech Awards Best Newcomer category , the company was created just over eight months ago by directors Michael Harvey and James Lawton , ostensibly to help local and national businesses with affordable digital promotions , videography , photography , campaign creation and social media management .
“ We wanted to be a company that is affordable to the masses , “ explains Michael . “ It ’ s pointless saying a job will be £ 10k when we know that isn ’ t in most people ’ s budgets .
“ But we have never been about the money - we ’ re about our clients and our success and about keeping the talent in the area by employing local Teesside people and not outsourcing to London or Manchester .”
Constantine Media was named in honour of Joseph Constantine , the man who funded the building of Teesside University , and the company ’ s logo is the front of a ship in commemoration of this Teesside shipbuilder .
The name is also apt as Constantine have vowed to support postgraduates and youngsters from both the University and Middlesbrough College .
Their first employee , Middlesbroughborn Deena Walker , was a post grad in fashion marketing and communications when she took on the role as creative director – and is now a shareholder in the company !
“ With help and guidance from Steve Dougan , head of enterprise at Teesside University , we met and interviewed various post grad students , but we chose Deena because she really blew us away with her passion and ideas ,” says Michael .
“ We gave her a full-time job before she had received her Masters and also gave her equity in the company , so she had a full time job and was a co-director before she left university officially .
“ Thanks to Deena and her university lecturer , Constantine now have four interns working with us . It gives them great experience and allows them to fulfil the three and a half months of their course which has to be done in industry , but the plan is to take at least 50 per cent on fulltime .”
For Deena , her job offer meant she could stay in her hometown .
“ It was a pinch me moment ,” she admits . “ I had the interview with James and Michael at 1pm to sign the contracts and they said they were going to make me a partner . At 3pm I went home and handed in my dissertation !
“ That sort of thing doesn ’ t happen – especially in Middlesbrough . I never thought I ’ d find the work I wanted to do here , let alone a position like this . I was born here so it ’ s great that I can stay here and not join the brain drain to other cities .
“ Every day is completely different . I will be making social posts , graphics , Tik Tok reels writing copy for social posts trend research constantly keep an eye on what ’ s trending . Working in social is a 24 / 7 thing .”
Constantine ’ s client base is steadily building using organic means . They have contracts with a large NFT client , Tees Valley Sport and Luna Blu cocktail bar among others .
“ The plan is to keep on growing organically and that ’ s really important to us ,” says Michael .
“ We don ’ t give it the hard sell – it ’ s all word of mouth and referrals , and it ’ s working . Being shortlisted for Best Newcomer at the Tees Tech Awards proves that .”
Not bad for a young company with a different approach !
The voice of business in the Tees region | 53