Search Laboratory

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.

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/search-laboratory
• Xx.com/searchlabs
• Facebookfacebook.com/searchlaboratory

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Search Laboratory