CQ Strategic Marketing

What CQ Strategic Marketing does

CQ Strategic Marketing Ltd is a UK-based strategic marketing consultancy founded in 2008 by Jackie Cook and headquartered at Epic House, Darnall Road, Sheffield, with a regional office at Moorgate Crofts Business Centre in Rotherham. The firm provides marketing strategy, planning, coaching, training, and practical implementation support to small and medium-sized enterprises, with a stated specialisation in engineering and manufacturing companies and membership organisations that lack in-house marketing resources. The core service is delivered through a proprietary methodology called the CQ Cycle, a continuous process of market understanding, strategic positioning, planning, implementation, and evaluation designed to function as an outsourced marketing team for technical B2B clients. Notable client outcomes include Oracle Precision reporting 167% year-on-year growth and multiple clients shortlisted for regional business awards.

The company operates four distinct sub-brands: the core CQ Strategic Marketing service, CQ 4 Small Biz (fixed-price packages for start-ups and small businesses launched in July 2015), CQ Bid Management (tender writing support, launched 2016), and CQ Marketing Academy (professional training, rebranded 2016). Revenue is generated through a mix of project-based fixed fees, hourly/daily consulting rates charged in half-hour increments on a sliding scale, monthly retainer arrangements paid in advance by standing order, and fixed-price subscription packages under CQ 4 Small Biz. The go-to-market motion is sales-led and relationship-driven, relying on direct engagement with SME business owners, professional network referrals through CIM, Make UK, and the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, and exhibition presence at events such as the Yorkshire Business Festival.

The firm has grown organically since founding, with turnover reportedly set to double in 2016 following a period of team expansion, doubled office floor area in April 2016, and relocation to Rotherham in July 2017. The company remains founder-owned, with no external funding, M&A activity, or subsidiary structure disclosed, operating as a single private limited company (Company No. 08769869) registered in England and Wales. The team comprises 4–6 core staff (MD, Marketing Manager, Admin/Marketing Assistant) supplemented by a network of 13+ marketing and business associates.

Name

CQ Strategic Marketing

Legal name

CQ Strategic Marketing Ltd

Website

https://cqstrategicmarketing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CQ Strategic Marketing is a Sheffield-based marketing consultancy providing strategy, planning, coaching, and practical support to SMEs, with a specialisation in engineering, manufacturing, and membership organisations across the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marketing Consulting Services

NAICS

Marketing Consulting Services (541613)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Customer, Marketing & Sales Consulting (BPAHACAG)

Keywords

• Marketing strategy consulting
• B2B marketing services
• Marketing planning support
• Manufacturing marketing services
• Marketing training coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheffield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Strategic Marketing Consultancy: Providing marketing strategy, planning, coaching, training, and practical support tailored to individual businesses. Services include ongoing support or one-off projects for SMEs in local, national and international markets.
2. Project-Based Services: Fixed price for project-based work or hourly/daily rates for ongoing support. Work is charged in half hour increments with a sliding scale based on the nature of work involved.
3. Retainer Services: Monthly retainer arrangements for repeat or ongoing marketing services, payable monthly in advance by standing order.
4. CQ 4 Small Biz Packages: Fixed price marketing and business support packages for start-up and small businesses including marketing strategy, tender writing, graphic design, social media training, website design, PR, copywriting, and promotional items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CQ Strategic Marketing provides outsourced strategic marketing consultancy to SMEs and membership organisations, including marketing strategy, segmentation/targeting/positioning, marketing planning, practical implementation support, reporting and evaluation, and marketing process design. Services are delivered through ongoing retainers, one-off projects, fixed-price packages, and training programmes, with specialisation in engineering, manufacturing, and membership-organisation sectors.

Product overview

CQ Strategic Marketing operates as a marketing consultancy offering a portfolio of four distinct brands. The core service is CQ Strategic Marketing providing strategic marketing consultancy for SMEs and business support organisations. This is complemented by CQ 4 Small Biz (fixed-price packages for start-ups), CQ Marketing Academy (professional training), and CQ Bid Management (tender support services). The company specializes in manufacturing and engineering sectors as well as membership organisations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CQ 4 Small Biz: Fixed price marketing and business support packages for start up and small businesses, including insurance, pension, legal, tender writing and PR services
• CQ Bid Management
• CQ Marketing Academy

Products and services

• CQ Strategic Marketing Consultancy Core strategic marketing consultancy offering strategy, planning, coaching, and practical implementation support for SMEs and membership organisations, specialising in engineering, manufacturing, and trade-association sectors.
• CQ 4 Small Biz Fixed-price marketing and business support packages for start-ups and small businesses, bundling marketing strategy, tender writing, graphic design, social media training, website design, PR, copywriting, and promotional items into affordable one-stop packages.
• CQ Marketing Academy Training programme for marketing professionals and aspiring students, delivered through workshops and bespoke company coaching to build marketing capability and careers.
• CQ Bid Management Specialist bid management service supporting businesses with tender writing and tender process training, helping them win contracts in competitive bidding environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Client Oracle Precision experienced 167% growth in one year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)coreOthersJackie Cook is a Chartered Marketer and Fellow of CIM. She is an approved Mentor on CIM's Mentor Match scheme and regularly presents on behalf of CIM. Company branding includes CIM affiliation.
• Make UK (Manufacturers' Organisation)coreOthersCompany logo displayed as professional network member. Make UK represents manufacturing sector which aligns with company's target market.
• Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of CommercecoreOthersActive member participating in Chamber events including Chamber Means Business exhibitions. Company exhibits at Chamber events and receives Chamber support for business milestones.
• Women's Engineering Society (WES)minorOthersCompany logo displayed as professional network partner. Supports equality in STEM initiatives.
• The Smart StationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with The Smart Station for rebranding services when company relaunched as CQ Strategic Marketing Ltd in January 2014.
• The work-wise FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for work experience placements and STEM ambassador activities. Company provides regular work experience through work-wise Summer Camp and ambassador programmes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hallam: Larger UK digital marketing agency offering strategy, SEO, paid media, and content services to mid-market clients. A broader incumbent that overlaps with CQ on strategy and B2B digital delivery but operates at significantly greater scale.
• The Marketing Practice: UK-headquartered B2B marketing agency serving enterprise technology and industrial clients globally. A larger incumbent competitor that overlaps with CQ on B2B marketing strategy, planning, and execution but at enterprise scale.

Emerging players

• Parker Management Consultants: UK B2B marketing consultancy offering fractional marketing director and strategic services to SMEs. Comparable through shared SME target market, fractional team model, and strategy-led offering.

Direct peers

• digitalRadish: UK B2B digital marketing agency focused on technology and industrial clients, providing strategy, content, and demand generation. Comparable as a UK B2B marketing firm with similar SME-to-mid-market client base.
• Quarry Integrated Communications: UK integrated B2B marketing agency providing strategy, content, PR, and digital services to technical and industrial clients. Directly comparable as a UK-based full-service B2B marketing firm serving similar SME and mid-market buyers.
• McOnie Marketing: UK industrial and engineering marketing specialist agency serving manufacturers and B2B technical firms. One of the closest direct peers given its explicit focus on industrial marketing strategy and similar SME client base.
• Anvil Marketing PR: UK B2B marketing and PR consultancy working with technical and industrial clients. Similar SME-focused, sector-specialist model delivering strategy and communications for engineering-adjacent firms.
• Strategic North: UK B2B marketing consultancy working with industrial and technical clients on strategy, planning, and demand generation. Closely matches CQ's positioning as a specialist B2B agency serving engineering-adjacent sectors in the UK market.

Regional players

• Koozai: UK digital marketing agency offering strategy, SEO, and content services primarily to UK SMEs. Comparable on strategy and SME client focus, though more digitally weighted than CQ's manufacturing specialism.

Others

• B2B Marketing (B2B Marketing Awards and training): UK B2B marketing media, training, and events organisation. Comparable through shared audience of B2B marketers and CIM-aligned training, and as a venue where CQ and its clients (e.g., Opus-UK) are recognised via regional awards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cq-strategic-marketing-ltd
• Xx.com/CQStrategicMktg
• Facebookfacebook.com/CQStrategicMarketing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 CQ Strategic Marketing