What The MTM Agency does

The MTM Agency (legal entity Merchant Technology Marketing Limited) is a UK-headquartered full-service integrated marketing agency founded in 2009 and operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of IDHL Group (LSE:IDHL). The firm delivers work across five interconnected service pillars — Insight (research and audience analytics), Strategy (brand, digital, marketing, content), Brand (identity, design, film), Experience (UX, websites, CMS, hosting), and Activation (PR, social, SEO, PPC, events, influencer marketing) — and has added a dedicated Creator and Influencer Marketing offering. Services are delivered through a five-office network spanning Southampton (HQ), London, Manchester, Leeds, and New York, serving enterprise and mid-market clients.

The agency's underlying technology stack is services-led rather than product-led, leveraging third-party enterprise platforms including Optimizely, Kentico Kontent (recognised by Gartner as best-in-class), Sitecore, and WordPress for client digital delivery, alongside Salesforce CRM and SeeTickets integrations where relevant. No proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capabilities, or software products are disclosed. The firm holds technology partnerships with major CMS vendors to position itself as an enterprise implementer for complex digital transformation mandates.

MTM generates revenue through professional services fees on project-based and retainer engagements with enterprise clients. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured per engagement, negotiated on bespoke quote bases typical of integrated marketing agencies. Client acquisition is driven by direct field sales, competitive pitches, RFP processes, industry reputation, Drum Recommended rankings (top 5 UK, #1 South Coast in 2024-2026), referrals, and award recognition. The client portfolio spans marine, maritime, energy and renewables, sport, professional services, membership organisations, financial services, construction, and space and geo verticals, with named enterprise clients including Airbus, INEOS, Lloyd's Register, British Cycling, Thredd, Fairline Yachts, England Hockey, TSSA, and the Bahamas Maritime Authority.

Name

The MTM Agency

Legal name

Merchant Technology Marketing Limited

Website

https://themtmagency.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The MTM Agency is a UK-headquartered full-service integrated marketing agency and wholly owned subsidiary of IDHL Group (LSE:IDHL), delivering insight, strategy, brand, digital experience, PR, and activation services across five UK and US offices to enterprise clients in marine, energy, sport, and professional services sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Integrated Marketing Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

CRM Strategy & Consulting (BPAFAFAA)

Keywords

• Integrated marketing services
• Digital marketing agency
• Public relations services
• Brand strategy consulting
• Creative marketing campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Southampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 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 and Agency Fees: MTM generates revenue through project-based and retainer engagements delivering integrated marketing services including strategy, digital development, brand, PR, and activation to enterprise clients. Revenue is earned via professional services fees, likely structured as retainers, project milestones, and/or time-and-materials arrangements. The agency is a wholly owned subsidiary of IDHL Group (LSE:IDHL), a publicly listed digital commerce group.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The MTM Agency is a full-service integrated marketing agency delivering research-driven insight, strategic planning, brand development, digital experience design, and multi-channel campaign activation for enterprise and mid-market clients. Services are organised across five interconnected pillars (Insight, Strategy, Brand, Experience, Activation) plus a dedicated Creator and Influencer Marketing offering, all delivered on a project or retainer basis.

Product overview

The MTM Agency operates as a full-service integrated digital marketing agency offering a unified portfolio of marketing services rather than a software product. The core service offering spans five interconnected pillars: Insight (research and data science), Strategy (brand, digital, and marketing strategy), Brand (identity, design, and film), Experience (digital services and development), and Activation (creative marketing, PR, social media, SEO, PPC, and events). An additional specialized service, Creator and Influencer Marketing, provides end-to-end influencer campaign management. These services are delivered collaboratively across the agency's client portfolio, with expertise spanning multiple industry verticals including space and geo, energy and renewables, marine, maritime, membership organizations, construction, sport, financial services, and professional services. The agency does not offer a standalone software product; instead, services are implemented on a project or retainer basis tailored to each client's needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Insight Research and data science services that gather, analyse and interpret audience insights and big data to provide clarity for outperforming the market.
• Strategy Strategic planning services including brand strategy, digital strategy, social media strategy, advertising strategy, marketing strategy, and content strategy to define opportunities and build roadmaps for achieving client goals.
• Brand Brand development services including brand strategy, brand identity, film and animation, graphic design, and website design to transform brands into powerful tools for engaging audiences and driving behavioural change.
• Experience Digital experience services including UX design, website design and CMS management, digital development, website development, hosting and support, and copywriting to create immersive, curated and connected brand experiences.
• Activation Campaign activation services including creative marketing, exhibitions and events, PPC, SEO, social media, PR, reputation management, CSR, internal communications, media relations, product launches and events, media planning and buying, and influencer marketing to maximise campaign value at scale.
• Creator and Influencer Marketing Full-service creator and influencer marketing including creator strategy and planning, influencer sourcing, product partnerships and seeding, creator-led content production, paid amplification, affiliate and social commerce activation, always-on ambassador programmes, and measurement and reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• +44.9% organic users YoY (DOF)
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers29 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and flagship.

• OptimizelycoreTechnology or IntegrationMTM partners with Optimizely as a technology platform for digital experience and content management. Optimizely is listed as a technology partner alongside other major CMS platforms, indicating MTM implements and integrates Optimizely solutions for enterprise client digital transformations.
• Kentico KontentcoreTechnology or IntegrationMTM partners with Kentico Kontent (headless .NET CMS) as a preferred platform for enterprise website builds, notably used for England Hockey, Great Britain Hockey, TSSA, and other major client digital transformation projects. Kentico Kontent is recognised by Gartner as best-in-class.
• SitecorecoreTechnology or IntegrationMTM partners with Sitecore as a CMS and digital experience platform. Sitecore is listed among MTM's technology partners and is leveraged for enterprise-level digital builds.
• WordPresssupportingTechnology or IntegrationWordPress is listed as a technology partner for MTM. Used for client builds including Lausanne Sport, Bahamas Maritime Authority, and Braemar, where MTM delivers cost-effective website solutions on the WordPress platform.
• IDHL GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMTM is a wholly owned subsidiary of IDHL Group (LSE:IDHL), a publicly listed digital commerce group operating multiple specialist agencies. The parent company provides MTM with scale, shared services, and group-wide resources. MTM trades as The MTM Agency while the registered company name remains Merchant Technology Marketing Limited.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Manifest London: London-based integrated creative and digital agency serving enterprise and challenger brands with brand, digital, and content services. Comparable size and full-service integrated offering.
• AnalogFolk: London-based independent integrated digital agency of comparable size (~150 staff) offering brand, digital experience, and campaign strategy. Closely aligned with MTM in operating model and client mix targeting enterprise brands.
• BJL Group: Manchester-headquartered integrated marketing agency with multi-office UK presence. Similar service scope (brand, digital, PR, content) and comparable client base across membership, sport, and B2B enterprise verticals.
• TMW Unlimited: UK-based integrated marketing agency delivering data-driven creative, CRM, and digital campaigns to enterprise clients. Comparable service pillars and similar positioning as a mid-sized independent alternative to holding-company networks.
• Iris Worldwide: Global integrated creative agency with strong UK presence delivering brand, digital, and PR services to enterprise clients. Comparable full-service model and vertical specialisation across energy, sport, and consumer sectors.
• The Kite Factory: London-based independent integrated marketing agency focused on media, creative, and digital activation for enterprise clients. Similar mid-market positioning and integrated campaign delivery model.
• True Agency: UK independent integrated agency with comparable size and full-service digital/creative offering. Operates in overlapping verticals and pitches to similar enterprise and membership clients.
• Yellowbrick (formerly W Communications): UK-based integrated communications agency with strong consumer, lifestyle, and enterprise practice. Comparable independent positioning and integrated campaign delivery model with PR and digital capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Wunderman / VML UK: Global marketing, commerce, and technology agency (WPP-owned) with significant UK presence. Competes with MTM in enterprise pitches but operates at vastly greater scale with broader service portfolio including martech and commerce platforms.
• Dentsu Creative UK: Global creative and integrated marketing network (Dentsu-owned) with UK operations. Competes for enterprise mandates in MTM's verticals but offers scale advantages, media buying, and technology capabilities MTM cannot match.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheMTMAgency
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@themtmagency
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheMTMAgency
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mtmagency
• Instagraminstagram.com/themtmagency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 The MTM Agency