Big Partnership
BIG Partnership is an independent UK integrated marketing, PR, and communications agency founded in 1999, with offices in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Manchester, and Edinburgh. It serves 350+ enterprise and mid-market clients across energy, property, consumer, financial services, and public sectors with PR, digital, creative, and public affairs services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersGlasgow, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Big Partnership does
BIG Partnership is an independent, full-service marketing, PR, and communications agency founded in Glasgow in 1999, operating from four UK offices (Glasgow, Aberdeen, Manchester, and Edinburgh) with 80-90+ employees. The agency delivers integrated campaigns across three service pillars: Public Relations (strategic communications, digital PR, crisis communications, media training, public affairs), Digital (SEO, paid search, social media, website design and development, CRO, influencer marketing, display advertising), and Creative (brand strategy, visual identity, design, content marketing, campaign concepts). It also offers internal communications and ideas/campaign concepts, with sector specialisms in energy (oil, gas, renewables), property, healthcare, consumer/retail, financial services, and government/public affairs.
The agency serves 350+ clients across enterprise and mid-market segments, including Aldi, Booking.com, Loganair, Asda George, Pall Mall, Barratt Redrow, Onyx, SBS, Johnston Carmichael, On the Beach, and Story Homes. Revenue is generated through professional services fees, project-based engagements, and ongoing retainer arrangements, with pricing negotiated client-by-client and not publicly disclosed. GTM is sales-led, with CEO Allan Barr and office heads driving business development across the four UK locations.
The business is privately held following a 2014 management buyout in which CEO Allan Barr acquired a 75% stake. In 2024, the agency expanded its Aberdeen office into larger premises, appointed a new senior leadership team (Gayle Grant as Director, Shona Hendry, Richard Crighton, Pam Wilson), and announced £500,000+ in new contract wins. The public affairs team has been strengthened with Fraser Paterson as Head of Public Affairs, and a formal partnership with Prolific North was announced for 2026 to support North of England expansion. No external institutional investors, funding rounds, or acquisitions are disclosed; growth has been entirely organic.
Big Partnership firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Partnership
- Legal name
- The Big Partnership Group Limited
- Website
- https://bigpartnership.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- BIG Partnership is an independent UK integrated marketing, PR, and communications agency founded in 1999, with offices in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Manchester, and Edinburgh. It serves 350+ enterprise and mid-market clients across energy, property, consumer, financial services, and public sectors with PR, digital, creative, and public affairs services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big Partnership industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marketing and Communications Services
- NAICS
- Advertising Agencies (541810), Public Relations Agencies (54182)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Brand Campaign & Integrated Communications Agencies (MPAAAAAC)
Keywords
Where Big Partnership is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glasgow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Big Partnership business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Professional Services / Agency Fees: BIG Partnership generates revenue by providing paid marketing, communications, PR, digital, and public affairs services to clients across multiple sectors. Revenue is earned through agency service fees, project-based engagements, and ongoing retainer arrangements with enterprise and mid-market clients.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels10 records
Big Partnership product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BIG Partnership is an independent, full-service marketing and communications agency delivering integrated campaigns across Public Relations, Digital (SEO, paid search, social media, website design, CRO, display), and Creative (brand strategy, visual identity, design, content, influencer marketing). The agency also provides Public Affairs, Crisis Communications, Media Training, and Internal Communications to enterprise and mid-market clients across the UK from offices in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Manchester.
Product overview
BIG Partnership is an independent marketing and communications agency offering a fully integrated suite of services spanning Public Relations (including Digital PR, Crisis Communications, Media Training, and Public Affairs), Digital Marketing (SEO, Paid Search, Social Media, Website Design & Development, CRO, and Display Advertising), and Creative (Brand & Visual Identity, Brand Strategy & Messaging, Creative & Design, Content Marketing, and Influencer Marketing). The agency also provides Internal Communications and Ideas & Campaign Concepts. Services are delivered across four UK offices in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Manchester, and Edinburgh, serving over 350 clients including Aldi, Booking.com, ASDA George, Loganair, Pall Mall, and the SPFL. The agency was founded in Glasgow over 25 years ago and employs 80+ people.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Public Relations
- Digital PR
- SEO
- Paid Search
- Social Media
- Website Design & Development
- Brand & Visual Identity
- Brand Strategy & Messaging
- Creative & Design
- Content Marketing
- Influencer Marketing
- CRO (Conversion Rate Optimization)
- Display Advertising
- Crisis Communications
- Media Training
- Public Affairs
- Internal Communications
- Ideas & Campaign Concepts
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 350 clients served across multiple sectors
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Big Partnership
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Big Partnership technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Big Partnership partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Prolific NorthcoreBIG Partnership announced a formal partnership with Prolific North for 2026, highlighting its growth focus in the North of England. As a partner, BIG gains visibility within one of the key regional marketing and communications industry publications in the North of England, supporting its strategy to expand its presence in Manchester and the broader Northern market.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Big Partnership competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The PHA Group: Independent UK communications agency offering PR, public affairs, digital and creative services. Highly comparable independent, vertically integrated model with strong sector specialisms.
- Beattie Group: UK-based independent integrated PR, creative and digital agency of comparable scale with offices across the UK. Closely matches BIG's independent, full-service, multi-sector positioning and similar target client mix.
- M&C Saatchi: UK-headquartered integrated creative and communications agency group offering advertising, PR and digital. Comparable integrated offering and UK-centric footprint but larger and publicly listed.
Broad incumbents
- Edelman UK: UK arm of global PR network Edelman. Overlaps directly with BIG on PR, public affairs, digital and creative for enterprise clients but at much greater scale and with global reach.
- FleishmanHillard UK: UK operations of global PR network FleishmanHillard. Direct competitor for enterprise PR and public affairs engagements and a natural competitor in BIG's regulated energy, healthcare and property verticals.
- Engine Group: UK-headquartered marketing services group with integrated creative, PR, media and digital capabilities. Wider portfolio than BIG but directly competes for similar enterprise clients across the UK.
- Ketchum UK: UK presence of Omnicom-owned global PR network. Competes head-to-head for integrated communications briefs and global client mandates that BIG's UK-only footprint cannot fully service.
- Ogilvy PR UK: UK public relations arm of WPP-owned Ogilvy. Competes for enterprise integrated marketing and PR business and offers global reach that BIG cannot match.
- Burson (UK): Global PR and public affairs network (now Burson following BCW/WCX merger). Direct competitor for enterprise PR, crisis communications and public affairs accounts across UK regulated sectors.
Emerging players
- Hotwire: B2B tech-PR and digital communications agency with strong creative and influencer capabilities. Comparable in integrated PR + digital offering with a niche tech-B2B emphasis.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Big Partnership social profiles
Digital presenceBig Partnership compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Big Partnership financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Partnership leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Big Partnership funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Partnership 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 Big Partnership
What does Big Partnership do?
BIG Partnership is an independent, full-service marketing and communications agency delivering integrated campaigns across Public Relations, Digital (SEO, paid search, social media, website design, CRO, display), and Creative (brand strategy, visual identity, design, content, influencer marketing). The agency also provides Public Affairs, Crisis Communications, Media Training, and Internal Communications to enterprise and mid-market clients across the UK from offices in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Manchester.
Is Big Partnership a public or private company?
Big Partnership is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Big Partnership founded?
Big Partnership was founded in 1999. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Big Partnership based?
Big Partnership is headquartered in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Big Partnership make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Services / Agency Fees.
Who are Big Partnership's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The PHA Group, Beattie Group and M&C Saatchi. Broad incumbents are Edelman UK, FleishmanHillard UK, Engine Group, Ketchum UK, Ogilvy PR UK and Burson (UK). Hotwire is listed as an emerging player.
Does Big Partnership have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Partnership.
What industry is Big Partnership in?
Big Partnership's product category is Marketing and Communications Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAAAC, Brand Campaign & Integrated Communications Agencies. Its NAICS code is 541810 and its SIC code is 7311.