MARKETING
Vision – Outrank operations director Francesca Kosina is passionate about training local young people.
PICTURE: TOM BANKS
We are smarter and stronger together.”
Lucy’ s role extends into the business’ sustainability.
“ It goes beyond just employee engagement,” she said.“ I ensure our CSR strategy is structured, measurable and meaningful.
“ We are constantly reviewing wellbeing, inclusion and community contribution as foundational elements. We want to ensure that as we grow, the community grows with us.”
A pivotal part of Outrank’ s growth has been a radical overhaul of recruitment policy.
Recognising that the digital sector – specifically areas like SEO analysis, paid media optimisation and technical content production – requires focus and analysing, the agency has adapted its environment to better support neurodivergent talent.
By designing hiring and onboarding around individual strengths rather than rigid corporate conventions, Outrank has unlocked a demographic of talent often overlooked by traditional firms.
This shift toward“ psychologically safe” team environments and adaptable working structures isn’ t just about social responsibility, it is about building a more capable, creative and resilient workforce.
Francesca Kosina, operations director at Outrank, believes this inclusive mindset is what will keep Teesside’ s best minds in the region.
She said:“ To remain competitive, we had to rethink the very definition of a standard recruit.
“ Our growth is predicated on our ability to innovate and you cannot innovate if
everyone thinks the same way.
“ By adapting our policies to hire and support neurodiverse people, we aren’ t just filling roles, we are enhancing our collective problem-solving ability.
“ It’ s about creating a workplace where staying in Teesside is a more attractive prospect than taking a remote role in London because the support and culture here are unmatched.”
Perhaps the most significant strategic shift is the move towards growing your own.
Outrank has strengthened its collaboration with regional training providers, local colleges and Teesside University to create clear, paved routes from the classroom to the boardroom.
A recent partnership with Middlesbrough College is helping with the recruitment of three apprentices – an investment designed to address immediate demand while strengthening the region’ s future talent base.
This model of embedding employers directly within the education cycle is seen as critical to stopping the“ brain drain” that has historically seen graduates head south.
Francesca said:“ Apprenticeships are part of our underlying economic infrastructure. They allow us to shape capability around real commercial requirements while providing high-value career routes for local residents.
“ If we want Teesside to lead the next phase of the UK’ s economic progress, we have to stop viewing education and business as separate entities.
“ We are smarter and stronger together. It reduces duplication and ensures the skills we are teaching are the skills the industry actually needs.”
The trajectory of Teesside’ s growth will depend heavily on how effectively the talent challenge is addressed over the coming years.
Flexible and hybrid working are now baseline expectations, but for Outrank, the differentiator is the alignment of purpose and performance.
The agency’ s CSR activity spans community partnerships, charitable fundraising and education engagement, all aimed at widening local participation in the digital economy.
For the modern recruit, the decision of where to build a career is increasingly influenced by where they can make the most significant social and economic impact.
Lucy said:“ We are proud of Teesside’ s status as a digital powerhouse. But being the fastest-growing hub means we have a responsibility to lead by example.
“ We want to show that you can build a national-scale agency without losing that personable, community-focused heart. People, not just projects, will shape the next phase of our economy.”
As competition for digital talent intensifies, Outrank is ensuring that no one – and no talent – is left behind.
Visit www. outrank. co. uk
The voice of business in the Tees region | 35