Search Laboratory
Search Laboratory is a data-science-led international search and digital marketing agency, now part of Havas Market UK following a January 2025 merger. It delivers evidence-based growth services — including analytics, Google Marketing Platform, multilingual search, SEO, PPC, CRO, and commerce-media — to global enterprise brands across 35+ languages.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersLeeds, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Search Laboratory does
Search Laboratory is a data-science-led international search and digital marketing agency, originally founded in Leeds in 2005. The firm built its positioning around combining data with logic to deliver evidence-based growth for global brands, with core capabilities spanning Data Science & Analytics, Google Marketing Platform implementation (delivered as an accredited GMP Sales Partner), International & Multilingual Search across 35+ languages, Conversion Rate Optimisation, SEO, PPC/Paid Search, and a newer Generative Engine Optimisation line targeting AI-mediated discovery surfaces. The agency is differentiated by its proprietary measurement, modelling, and business intelligence stack applied to multilingual, multi-market campaigns for large international organizations.
Commercially, Search Laboratory operates as a B2B professional services business, generating revenue through consulting engagements and retainer arrangements with enterprise clients. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated per engagement rather than disclosed publicly. GTM motion is enterprise field sales, with direct outreach to global brands seeking sophisticated analytics, international search, and marketing technology integration work. Following its 2021 acquisition by Havas and January 2025 merger with Havas Market UK, the unit now sits within Havas Market UK Limited — a 150-head combined entity under Havas Media Network (part of Vivendi) — operating across Leeds (headquarters), London, Manchester, and a registered office in Maidstone. The merged entity combines Search Laboratory's data and search capabilities with Havas Market's commerce-media and Amazon expertise (Amazon Advertising, Amazon DSP, Account Management, Social Commerce/TikTok Shop), plus a Brand Insights AI add-on.
Technology underpinning the offering includes the full Google Marketing Platform stack (vendor-accredited), multilingual campaign infrastructure supporting 35+ languages, systematic experimentation for CRO, and emerging AI-enabled services. AI is positioned at the feature layer rather than as a proprietary model build. Key leadership named includes former CEO Chris Attewell and founder Ian Harris; the entity is wholly owned within the Havas Media Network rather than independently capitalised, so funding history is not applicable and growth is driven by Havas portfolio strategy.
Search Laboratory firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Search Laboratory
- Legal name
- Havas Market UK Limited
- Website
- https://searchlaboratory.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Search Laboratory is a data-science-led international search and digital marketing agency, now part of Havas Market UK following a January 2025 merger. It delivers evidence-based growth services — including analytics, Google Marketing Platform, multilingual search, SEO, PPC, CRO, and commerce-media — to global enterprise brands across 35+ languages.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Search Laboratory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leeds
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Search Laboratory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Digital Marketing Agency Services: Search Laboratory generates revenue through professional services in data science, analytics, international search, Google Marketing Platform implementation, conversion rate optimisation, and commerce/Amazon services. Revenue is generated through consulting engagements and retainer arrangements with enterprise clients.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Search Laboratory product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Search Laboratory is a B2B digital marketing and data science agency that delivers paid search, SEO, international search campaigns, Google Marketing Platform implementation, conversion rate optimisation, data science and analytics, and commerce/Amazon services to enterprise clients across 18 countries and 35+ languages. Following its January 2025 merger with Havas Market UK, the agency now combines performance marketing expertise with commerce-media and Amazon capabilities under the Havas Market brand.
Product overview
Search Laboratory, now operating as part of Havas Market, is a data-science-led international search and digital marketing agency. Originally founded in Leeds in 2005, the company joined the Havas network in 2021 and merged with Havas Market UK in January 2025. The unified offering combines Search Laboratory's core capabilities (Data Science & Analytics, Google Marketing Platform services, International & Multilingual Search, Conversion Rate Optimisation, SEO, PPC/Paid Search, and Generative Engine Optimisation) with Havas Market's commerce-media and Amazon expertise (Amazon Advertising, Amazon DSP, Account Management, and Brand Insights AI). The result is a 150-strong agency delivering "Limitless Performance & Commerce" across Leeds, London, and Manchester.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Data Science & Analytics Measurement, modelling, and business intelligence services that enable data-driven decision making for global brands. The service combines analytics and data science to support evidence-based growth strategies.
- Google Marketing Platform
Companies that use Search Laboratory
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Search Laboratory technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Search Laboratory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Search Laboratory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Dentsu: Global advertising holding company operating iProspect and Merkle — overlaps with Search Laboratory's paid search and data practice but as part of a much broader agency portfolio.
- Publicis Groupe: Global advertising holding group operating Performics, Digitas and Starcom — competes for enterprise digital and search mandates as part of a diversified portfolio play rather than specialist-only.
- GroupM: WPP-owned global media and digital agency network — competes for the same enterprise media and search budgets at greater scale as part of a wider portfolio rather than specialist search focus.
Direct peers
- Croud: UK-headquartered, data-led digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, programmatic and analytics services to global brands — directly overlapping with Search Laboratory's core service mix and target customers.
- Jellyfish: Global digital marketing agency under Brandtech Group combining data, media, creative and training — competes for the same global brand budgets with a comparable analytics-led, multi-channel positioning.
- Wpromote: US-based, data-driven digital marketing agency covering paid media, SEO, analytics and Amazon — closely comparable in service mix and enterprise brand targeting, though geographically North America focused.
- Brainlabs: Data-led digital marketing agency with deep paid search, SEO and programmatic capabilities serving enterprise clients — directly comparable in offering, scale and performance-marketing orientation.
- Tug: UK-headquartered digital marketing agency focused on paid media, SEO, analytics and CRO for global brands — comparable size, geography and service profile to Search Laboratory.
- Hallam Internet: Nottingham-based digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, paid social and analytics to mid-market and enterprise clients — same UK digital agency category with overlapping service lines.
- Resolution Digital: Performance-led digital agency specialising in search, programmatic and analytics, now part of Omnicom — sits in the same specialist SEO/PPC niche serving enterprise UK and international clients.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Search Laboratory social profiles
Digital presenceSearch Laboratory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Search Laboratory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Search Laboratory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Search Laboratory M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Search Laboratory
What does Search Laboratory do?
Search Laboratory is a B2B digital marketing and data science agency that delivers paid search, SEO, international search campaigns, Google Marketing Platform implementation, conversion rate optimisation, data science and analytics, and commerce/Amazon services to enterprise clients across 18 countries and 35+ languages. Following its January 2025 merger with Havas Market UK, the agency now combines performance marketing expertise with commerce-media and Amazon capabilities under the Havas Market brand.
Is Search Laboratory a public or private company?
Search Laboratory is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Search Laboratory founded?
Search Laboratory was founded in 2005. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Search Laboratory based?
Search Laboratory is headquartered in Leeds, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Search Laboratory make money?
One revenue line is on record: digital Marketing Agency Services.
Who are Search Laboratory's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Dentsu, Publicis Groupe and GroupM. Direct peers are Croud, Jellyfish, Wpromote, Brainlabs, Tug, Hallam Internet and Resolution Digital.
Does Search Laboratory have an API?
No public API is recorded for Search Laboratory.