The Social Company

What The Social Company does

The Social Company (operating as SOCO, legally The Social Co) is a privately held, UK-based full-service digital marketing agency group founded in Durham circa 2016–2017 by James Ogilvie and Kane Haig. The group operates through five integrated divisions: The Social Co (core social media management and paid social services), SO.PRO / So.Pro Studios (creative production with a dedicated Newcastle studio), The Social Co Academy (funded digital marketing training in partnership with New College Durham and the Department for Education), SOCO Invest (equity investment and strategic marketing for e-commerce brands), and SO.COM (performance marketing, Google Ads, SEO, Amazon, CRO).

The underlying technology stack consists of platform integrations rather than proprietary systems: Meta Conversions API, TikTok Conversions API, Spark Ads amplification, and multi-platform social management tooling are deployed across client campaigns. The agency reports a 'full-funnel' framework (awareness, consideration, conversion) tested across European markets and showcases quantitative campaign outcomes (e.g., 189.5M impressions for Newcastle United, 12x ROAS for Lusso).

The business model is professional services revenue across four streams: social media management retainers, paid social advertising management fees, content creation (videography, photography, animation, graphic design), and training programmes. Pricing is bespoke and quote-based rather than published. The GTM motion is enterprise field sales targeting mid-to-large enterprises across hospitality, automotive, housing, transport, sports, retail, and e-commerce, with named clients including Newcastle United, Hays Travel, Hard Rock Cafe, NHS, Nûby, Lusso, and Hotel Indigo Edinburgh. Geographic footprint is primarily UK with a UAE regional office and stated operations across UK, EU, USA, Australia, Brazil, and India markets.

Name

The Social Company

Legal name

The Social Co

Website

https://thesocialco.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Social Company (SOCO Group) is a UK-based full-service digital marketing agency group operating across social media management, paid social advertising, content production, training, and equity investment in e-commerce brands, serving enterprise clients including Newcastle United, Hays Travel, NHS, and Hard Rock Cafe from offices in Durham, Newcastle, and Dubai.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Marketing Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising Agencies (54181), Media Buying Agencies (54183), Media Buying Agencies (541830)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Media & Community Management (BPAFAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paid Social Advertising (BPAFACAB), Paid Social Media Buying (BPAFABAD), Digital Performance Marketing (SEM, Paid Social, Programmatic) (BPAFAAAD), Social Media Creative Agencies (Content & Community) (MPAAAAAE)

Keywords

• Social media management
• Paid social advertising
• Content creation services
• Influencer marketing
• Digital marketing training

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Social Media Management Services: Full-service social media management including content creation, scheduling, community engagement, and analytics reporting for B2B clients
2. Paid Social Advertising: Managed paid advertising campaigns across Meta, TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat, and other platforms with performance-based service fees
3. Content Creation: Videography, photography, animation, and graphic design services for clients across multiple platforms
4. Training Programmes: The Social Co Academy offers virtual funded training, bespoke corporate training, and team upskilling programmes
5. Funded Training Partnerships: Partnership with New College Durham to deliver funded training programmes for individuals and organisations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Social Company is a full-service digital marketing agency providing social media management, paid social advertising, content creation (videography, photography, animation, graphic design), influencer management, and digital marketing training to businesses across sectors including hospitality, automotive, housing, transport, sports, and e-commerce. The group operates through multiple divisions: The Social Co (agency), So.Pro Studios (creative production), The Social Co Academy (training), SO.COM (performance marketing including Google Ads, SEO, CRO), and SOCO Invest (e-commerce investment arm). Services span strategy, paid media execution, content production, and brand development under one integrated offering.

Product overview

The Social Company operates as a full-service creative agency group with a multi-brand portfolio. The core offering consists of The Social Co agency providing social media management, paid social advertising, content creation, graphic design, animation, and influencer management services. Supporting divisions include The Social Co Academy (training and upskilling), SO.PRO (creative production with a dedicated Newcastle studio), SOCO Invest (strategic investment in e-commerce brands), and SO.COM (performance marketing including Google Ads, e-commerce consulting, website builds, CRO, email/SMS marketing, SEO, and Amazon management). The integrated group structure enables end-to-end digital marketing capabilities from strategy through creative production to investment backing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Social Co Academy: Training arm providing bespoke marketing and content courses, apprenticeships, and workshops for digital skills development
• SO.PRO
• SOCO Invest
• SO.COM
• So.Pro Studios

Products and services

• The Social Co The core marketing agency brand providing social media management, paid social advertising, content creation (photography, videography, animation), graphic design, and influencer management services to businesses across various industries.
• The Social Co Academy A training and education division offering bespoke digital marketing and social media courses, apprenticeships, and workshops designed to upskill businesses and individuals, including funded training programmes in partnership with New College Durham.
• SO.PRO A creative production house providing high-quality digital campaign videos, TV adverts, and studio production services with a dedicated Newcastle-based studio available for brand content creation and client collaborations.
• SOCO Invest An investment arm that provides capital and marketing expertise to ambitious founders and e-commerce brands, operating across sectors including energy, retail, and cosmetics.
• SO.COM The performance marketing arm of SOCO Group focused on building, optimising, and scaling digital ecosystems. Services include Google Ads management, e-commerce consulting, website design and builds, conversion rate optimisation (CRO), email and SMS marketing, SEO, Amazon marketplace management, and customer engagement strategies.
• Social Media Management Comprehensive social media management including strategy development, content creation, content calendar management, performance tracking and reporting, profile optimisation, and community engagement.
• Paid Social Expert paid advertising strategy and execution across social platforms, including paid media strategy development, audience targeting and segmentation, campaign setup and management, creative development for ads, and performance tracking and reporting.
• Graphic Design Visual design services encompassing brand identity, art direction, packaging design, motion graphics, social templates, website design, signage and wayfinding, and graphic design retainers.
• Animation Tailored animated content creation including 2D animation, 3D animation, motion graphics, brand animation, explainer videos, character animation, title sequences, and social animations.
• Videography and Photography Professional photography and videography services including video editing, VFX, post-production, drone footage, and animation capabilities to capture brand-aligned content.
• Influencer Management Full-service influencer marketing connecting brands with authentic creators through strategy and planning, creator sourcing and vetting, campaign concepting, creator management, briefing and onboarding, contracts and negotiation, and content approvals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 189.5m impressions and 3.4m TikTok followers achieved for Newcastle United
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New College DurhamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver funded training programmes combining academic expertise with real-world digital industry knowledge. Offers innovative, funded training programmes for individuals looking to upskill or transition into digital marketing careers.
• Department for EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership to provide digital skills training and support reaching learners who otherwise might not have access to this type of training. Part of broader efforts to upskill the workforce in digital marketing competencies.
• ImpressminorOthersDiamond Whites Aligners, a SOCO Invest portfolio company, was acquired by Impress (the largest European dental chain) in a deal worth £25 million. SOCO Invest played a pivotal role in building the brand from £0 revenue to £20M.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Brave Bison: UK-based social media and digital performance agency group, formerly known as Social Chain; operates a similar multi-brand model spanning social media management, influencer marketing, and paid social across enterprise clients — the closest direct comparable to SOCO's integrated agency structure.
• Brainlabs: Global digital media agency focused on paid search, paid social, programmatic, and SEO with strong performance marketing credentials; competes head-to-head with SOCO's SO.COM and paid social service lines for enterprise and DTC client budgets.
• Croud: UK-headquartered digital agency offering paid media, SEO, content, and programmatic through a global on-demand network; comparable in size, service mix, and client profile to SOCO and frequently pitched against them for mid-market and enterprise paid social briefs.
• Born Social: UK social media creative agency servicing brands across hospitality, FMCG, and retail with content, community management, and influencer work; a boutique direct competitor in the same social-first creative niche SOCO occupies.
• The Pull Agency: UK digital marketing agency offering social media management, paid social, influencer marketing, and content production to enterprise clients; similar headcount tier and service portfolio to The Social Co.
• Coolr: UK-born social-first creative agency specialising in TikTok, Instagram, and influencer-led campaigns for brands like TikTok, Amazon, and Disney; competes directly with SOCO's TikTok-led work for Newcastle United and Hays Travel.
• Bountiful Cow: Independent UK media and creative agency focused on performance-led advertising with strong paid social capabilities; a peer competing for similar mid-market and challenger brand clients in the UK.

Broad incumbents

• Jellyfish: Global digital marketing agency within Brandtech Group offering paid media, social, content, and creative services; a broader incumbent competing for the same enterprise and global brand budgets that SOCO serves (Adidas, Under Armour).
• Dentsu UK: UK arm of the global Dentsu network (including Carat, iProspect, dentsu X); a much larger incumbent competing for the same enterprise paid social and creative budgets that SOCO wins at the mid-market tier.

Emerging players

• Two Thirds (TikTok Agency): UK-based TikTok-specialist creative and influencer agency; comparable in TikTok-led campaign capabilities and sports/brand client focus to SOCO's Newcastle United work but at a smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thesocialco_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thesocialco.7956
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheSocialCoUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thesocialco
• Instagraminstagram.com/thesocialco_
• TikToktiktok.com/@thesocialco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 The Social Company