The Bigger Boat

What The Bigger Boat does

The Bigger Boat is a privately held integrated marketing agency headquartered in Wakefield, West Yorkshire (registered address: Suite 7, The Watermill, Wheatley Park), serving UK-based mid-market and enterprise clients as well as growth-stage startups and scaleups. Founded in 2009 and operating with an 11-50 person team, the agency delivers an end-to-end service stack spanning brand strategy, branding, creative, content marketing, web development, SEO, paid search, social media, email marketing, and PR under a single client relationship. Its core technology foundations include headless CMS architecture (notably through an official Storyblok partnership), traditional CMS deployments on WordPress, ecommerce builds on Shopify and Magento, modern frontend frameworks (Astro, Gatsby), and integrations with HubSpot, Zoho, and Microsoft Dynamics for CRM and marketing automation. The agency is a certified Google Partner with 15+ years of paid search experience, and operates a proprietary SaaS-style brand guidelines tool called Brandfinite, which it positions against Frontify.

The agency's revenue model combines project-based professional services with managed retainer engagements; pricing is custom and quote-based rather than publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, anchored by a content marketing programme (The Hub blog), SEO, paid search, organic and paid social, email newsletters via Mailchimp, gated thought-leadership content (a headless whitepaper), and an extensive case study portfolio. Customer segments span growth-stage businesses (with a dedicated "Brand for investment" vertical targeting startups, scaleups, and buy-and-build strategies) and mid-market/enterprise firms seeking consolidated agency relationships; named clients include Microsoft Studios, Pearson, Little Tikes, BeFibre, Duckhams, ANDYSMANCLUB, University of Huddersfield, and Escape Studios. In June 2023 the agency acquired Scriba PR to extend its B2B strategic communications and digital PR capability, with Scriba continuing to operate as a separate brand. Co-founders Andy McCaul (Managing Director) and Doug Main (Creative Director) lead a named team including a Commercial Director, Growth Strategist, Content Strategist, Senior Account Manager, and Senior UI/UX Designer.

Name

The Bigger Boat

Legal name

The Bigger Boat

Website

https://thebiggerboat.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Bigger Boat is a West Yorkshire-based integrated marketing agency serving UK mid-market and growth-stage clients with branding, web development, digital marketing, PR, and content services under one roof. It operates a proprietary brand guidelines SaaS product (Brandfinite) and acquired Scriba PR in 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mirfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services (Project-Based): The primary revenue stream is project-based professional services spanning brand strategy, branding, web development, digital marketing (SEO, PPC, email, social), content marketing, and PR. Projects are scoped and quoted individually, with deliverables including brand identities, websites, campaigns, and ongoing retainer arrangements for managed services.
2. Managed Services / Retainers: Ongoing retainer engagements for digital marketing, content creation, social media management, and brand stewardship. The agency references continuous improvement cycles (e.g., SEO, CRO) and evergreen content marketing as ongoing engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Bigger Boat is an integrated brand agency that diagnoses business problems before prescribing tailored solutions across branding, web development, digital marketing (SEO, PPC, email, CRO), content marketing, PR, social media, and creative services. It operates as a one-stop integrated marketing partner, bundling all core marketing disciplines in-house. The agency also offers Brandfinite, an in-house online brand guidelines platform that centralises brand assets and guidelines.

Product overview

The Bigger Boat is an integrated marketing agency offering a comprehensive suite of services under one roof. The core offering includes brand strategy, branding, web development (headless and traditional CMS), digital marketing (SEO, PPC, email, CRO), social media, content marketing, PR, and creative services. The agency also offers Brandfinite, a proprietary online brand guidelines platform that centralises brand assets and guidelines. Following the 2023 acquisition of Scriba PR, the agency's PR and communications capabilities have been expanded, with both entities continuing to operate as separate brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Brandfinite: An online brand guidelines tool developed by The Bigger Boat as an alternative to Frontify. It provides a centralised hub for brand guidelines and key assets, replacing static PDFs.

Products and services

• Brand Strategy Services Integrated brand agency services including brand strategy, brand positioning, and business-aligned strategy formulation for marketing decision-makers at UK-based growth and established businesses.
• Branding Services Brand identity creation services including brand workshops, tone of voice guidelines, brand guidelines documents, and visual identity development for growth-stage and enterprise clients.
• Web Development Website design and development services including headless CMS implementation using Storyblok and traditional WordPress builds, focused on user experience and conversion optimisation for marketing and ecommerce clients.
• Digital Marketing Comprehensive digital marketing services including SEO, paid search (PPC), email marketing, and conversion rate optimisation, delivered by a Google Certified Partner with 15+ years of Google Ads experience.
• Social Media Services Social media marketing including organic social media strategy and paid social campaigns with audience targeting and data-led learning strategies for brand-building and lead generation.
• Content Marketing Strategic content creation and distribution services including content audits, blog posts, videos, and newsletters to promote brands and improve SEO for B2B and B2C clients.
• PR Services Public relations services including strategic communications and digital PR, now incorporating the capabilities of the acquired Scriba PR B2B communications specialist.
• Creative Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Changing a lead image on a page has reduced bounce rates by 80%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and standard.

• Scriba PRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2023The Bigger Boat acquired Scriba PR, a B2B communication specialist, in June 2023. The acquisition aimed to expand The Bigger Boat's service offerings, specifically creative content and digital PR capabilities. Both firms continued operating as separate entities post-acquisition, with Scriba PR now incorporated into The Bigger Boat's brand as 'Scriba for strategic PR and communications.'
• StoryblokcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial Storyblok partner and one of only a handful of UK-based Storyblok partners. The partnership provides access to the Storyblok partner portal, sandbox development environment, and comprehensive support for building headless websites and applications for clients.
• Google (Certified Partner)coreTechnology or IntegrationCertified Google Partner recognised for maximising campaign success and driving client growth through search and Google Ads. The agency has over 15 years of Google Ads experience and manages significant monthly ad spend for clients.
• ShopifystandardTechnology or IntegrationOfficial Shopify partner building conversion-driven ecommerce stores for clients. Shopify integration is used in conjunction with headless CMS (Storyblok) for product catalogue and ecommerce functionality.
• WordPressstandardTechnology or IntegrationThe agency builds WordPress websites as the world's most popular CMS, offering flexibility and customisability. Also builds using headless WordPress implementations.
• HubSpotstandardTechnology or IntegrationInbound marketing, sales automation, and customer insights partner. HubSpot is used to build strategies that attract, engage, and convert customers for client projects.
• ZohostandardTechnology or IntegrationCRM, marketing, and automation integrations for building smart, smooth-running digital ecosystems for clients.
• Microsoft DynamicsstandardTechnology or IntegrationCRM and ERP integration partner for crafting seamless customer journeys and operational efficiencies at scale for enterprise clients.
• StatamicstandardTechnology or IntegrationModern flat-file CMS used to build dynamic, content-rich websites without the bloat of traditional platforms.
• MagentostandardTechnology or IntegrationRobust, scalable ecommerce platform used for high-performance online stores with serious customisation for growth-focused brands.
• AstrostandardTechnology or IntegrationAll-in-one web framework that optimises websites and unlocks higher conversion rates with better SEO.
• GatsbystandardTechnology or IntegrationThe 'fastest frontend for the headless web,' facilitating rapid build speeds and page load times with SEO benefits.
• AlgoliastandardTechnology or IntegrationLeader in globally scalable, secure, digital search and discovery experiences integrated into client websites.
• NetlifystandardTechnology or IntegrationModern web framework hosting and deployment platform with support for every modern web framework and broad ecosystem of API integrations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hallam Internet: Nottingham-based integrated digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, content, web development, and brand strategy to UK mid-market clients. Directly comparable in size, service breadth, and UK regional agency positioning.
• Impression: Nottingham-headquartered digital marketing agency providing SEO, paid media, content, digital PR, and CRO services. Comparable in size, UK mid-market focus, and integrated service offering with strong technical SEO pedigree.
• StrategiQ: UK integrated marketing agency offering branding, web development, SEO, paid media, and creative services. Similar size, service mix, and positioning around integrated brand + performance marketing.
• Wagada Digital: UK-based integrated digital agency offering SEO, web development, content marketing, and digital training. Comparable in size and full-service digital marketing positioning.
• Cyber-Duck: UK digital agency specialising in web design, web development, and digital transformation with strong UX and technical credentials. Comparable integrated service offering and mid-market client focus.
• Hedgehog Lab: UK-based digital agency offering web development, mobile app development, and digital product design. Comparable in technology-led integrated service positioning and UK enterprise client roster.
• Atomic Smash: Bristol-based integrated digital agency offering web design, development, branding, SEO, and digital marketing. Comparable in size, integrated service model, and UK mid-market positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Croud: Global digital marketing agency with significant UK presence offering SEO, paid media, content, and analytics. Larger and more globally distributed than The Bigger Boat but operates in the same integrated digital marketing category.
• Jaywing: UK data-driven digital marketing agency with branding, web development, paid media, and analytics capabilities. Larger and publicly listed; operates in overlapping integrated digital marketing space with similar mid-market to enterprise targeting.

Others

• Frontify: SaaS brand guidelines and asset management platform—directly competitive with TBB's Brandfinite product. Comparable as the established incumbent in the brand asset management niche TBB is attempting to enter with Brandfinite.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/the_bigger_boat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The Bigger Boat