Freshwater, the Wales-based media group, has been ranked 4th in a UK league table of communications consultancies working in the public sector, and is the only Welsh-headquartered agency to feature in the top 25. The table was compiled by the industry journal, PR Week.
The ranking comes after Freshwater saw an eight per cent increase in its income from public sector clients to £727,000 in 2012.
The revenue reflects work for a wide range of clients in the NHS and higher education across the UK as well as its position as a regular supplier of creative services to the Welsh Government.
“You can only achieve growth in this hugely competitive market if you deliver value in terms of both quality and price,” said Steve Howell, chief executive of Freshwater.
“Our teams have done some great work in the NHS, for a number of universities and for the Welsh government in key areas such as economic growth and the food sector.
“Our position in this market is strong because of the range of services we can offer either on a standalone basis or as part of an integrated communications strategy.
“We have a strong presence in both Cardiff and London, but we benefit from the competitive advantage of keeping most of our overheads in Wales.”
Freshwater’s NHS clients include the Welsh Blood Service and a large number of NHS organisations in England such as the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Weston Area Health NHS Trust and the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
Freshwater employs a range of creative staff in its Cardiff headquarters as well as offices in London, Belfast and Edinburgh.
Steve Howell continued: “Healthcare is an exciting and rapidly developing sector where communications can play an integral role in raising awareness in health education campaigns.
“Through our experience of delivering services such as social marketing, design, crisis communications and strategic planning support to some of Wales’ major health organisations, we’re proud to be developing innovative campaigns which are driving and shaping the health landscape.
“We’re delighted to be recognised as a leading health consultancy and believe that our integrated approach to communications, combined with a dedicated creative team and expert health division, enables us to deliver innovative and effective campaigns for our clients.”