Serving the Teesside Business Community | 61
New recruits fuel growth at
fast-growing PPC specialists Mabo
By Martin Walker
A
rapidly-expanding specialist digital
marketing agency is on target to hit
an impressive recruitment target after
moving to larger offices following a number
of key appointments and contract wins.
Award-winning Middlesbrough-based
Mabo revealed four months ago it planned
to increase staff numbers from 25 to 40 this
year alone – with a three-year plan to grow to
more than 100.
The pay-per-click (PPC) agency has already
added 10 senior employees to its ranks after
relocating to 6,000 sq ft offices at the heart
of the refurbished Albert North development
in central Middlesbrough.
Mabo says it’s on course to hit its target
of reaching 40 employees before the end
of 2018, while the firm is also on track to
achieve record annual sales of £1.4m.
Marketing director James Lees said:
“We’ve had some big local contract wins
recently which coincided with our expansion
to larger offices. We need to ensure, as we
win more business, that we can continue to
provide our award-winning service.
“We’ve brought in a number of key
personnel which has increased our capacity,
so we’re now in a position where we can
take on bigger accounts on a more regular
basis, which will support our growth plans.
“So it has already been a hugely
encouraging year for Mabo, with more good
news to come.”
Among Mabo’s new recruits are marketing
and events manager Scarlett Reeves, senior
PPC account manager Gary Murphy, head
Mabo marketing director James Lees with marketing
and events manager Scarlett Reeves, senior PPC
account manager Gary Murphy, head of development
Peter Calvert, senior digital consultant Chris McDonald
and brand manager Laura Jackson.
of development Peter Calvert, senior digital
consultant Chris McDonald and brand
manager Laura Jackson, as well as new
PPC manager roles, new sales people and
apprentices.
Mabo has also given permanent full-time
employment to two apprentices, who had
originally joined the business in 2017, and is
working with local education providers to
create more careers for young people.
Lees added: “We’re building strategic
partnerships with local universities, so we
can take graduates straight from university,
train them up to initially support our PPC
account managers and eventually be
promoted themselves.
“Young people are coming to us and using
their qualifications in creating good quality,
sustainable careers – if they work hard, there
are huge opportunities.
“Next year is a big year for us. We’re going
to try to strengthen our position locally and
nationally while continuing our expansion and
recruitment plans.”
Mabo was formed by managing director
Lee Mableson in 2013 and is already the
largest PPC specialist in the North-East.
It now works with more than 350 clients
up and down the country, offering a no-
strings, contract-free approach to paid search
management services.
Mabo, which works with high-profile
brands including Montane, Lifestyle Fitness,
Boomf and Totes, has enjoyed remarkable
success in its first five years, with an
impressive 97.5% retention rate throughout
2017.
Turnover has doubled year-on-year since
the company was formed and 2018-19 is set
for a record £1.4m.
“People know us as a good, specialist PPC
management for the SME market, which is
our core business,” said Lees.
“We have a strong but growing reputation
in the UK and European market place which
we’re looking to build on in the coming
months and years.”
Earlier this year Mabo was named best
small PPC agency in the European Search
Awards, held in the Czech Republic capital of
Prague, and has been shortlisted for no less
than 14 awards in 2018 – winning Best Digital
Business at the FSB North East awards and
Sales Team of the Year at the Biddable Media
Awards.
The company is recognised by Google as
one of the UK’s Premier Partners, as well
as being one of the first recruits to Bing’s
partner programme.
Find out more about Media Media at
mabo.co.uk