Big Partnership

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.

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

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

• Public relations services
• Digital marketing agency
• Integrated marketing communications
• Brand strategy services
• Crisis communications consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

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. 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

Core 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

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Prolific NorthcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026BIG 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/BigPartnership
• Facebookfacebook.com/BIGPartnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bigpartnership
• Instagraminstagram.com/big.partnership

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Big Partnership