Serving the Teesside Business Community | 37
FOCUS ON T E E SSID E’S CREATIVE AND DIGITAL SECTOR
YOU CAN BANK ON US
T
here can be few more impressive
growths within Teesside’s
booming digital sector than Viral
Effect, the Middlesbrough-based
digital marketing and customer
engagement agency.
Having recently increased its headcount
to 35, the firm has now trebled in size in just
three years.
The ongoing growth has resulted in an
expansion to take the entire top floor in
Boho Four Gibson House, a 19th Century
bank now converted into modern office
accommodation.
Contrasting with Boho Four’s classical
façade is Viral Effect’s hi-tech, state-of-the-art
service business that recently took on four
new staff and an apprentice following several
contract wins.
Viral Effect carry out a range of marketing
for businesses working in a broad spectrum
of industries including restaurants, bars and
boutique retailers.
Managing director Jamie Pennington,
who set up the business whilst studying at
Teesside University, said: “We’re working
with increasing numbers of organisations
across the North East and beyond because
of the way we help them win new business
and grow.
“Rather than being a one-man band who
is a jack of all trades but master of none, Viral
Effect has individual teams with experts in
every field of marketing.
“Whilst we’re perhaps best known as
specialists in social media marketing, we’ve
recruited experts in all areas of marketing to
ensure we can provide a full-service offering.”
Going Viral: Jamie Pennington
(centre) with some the fast-
growing Viral Effect team.
Jamie says the firm prides itself on giving
a personalised, bespoke service to each
client for the ultimate customer service
experience.
He said: “We’ve developed and invested
in some very clever marketing ideas that
our clients love, moving into automation to
allow our clients to enjoy improved customer
response.”
A firm believer in the philosophy that happy
staff make for happy customers, Jamie
has introduced a range of novel employee
incentives in a company where, against the
industry trend, more than half of the team
are female.
Viral Effect’s staff initiatives include:
> Bring your dog to work days
> Pizza and barbeque days
> An Employee of the Fortnight parking
space
> Bonus scheme
> External team-building events
> A pay to leave scheme for those who aren’t
totally happy
> Staff discounts across the group with Viral
Effect’s partner brands
Jamie added: “We’re on a road that will see
us eventually employ 200 staff so we believe in
looking after our people, as they’re responsible
for making sure our clients are happy too.”