Meanwhile

What Meanwhile does

Meanwhile is a privately-held, Manchester-based B2B creative agency founded in 2022 with approximately 20 employees operating from Michigan Studios in MediaCity. The agency produces bespoke creative campaigns for enterprise clients across the full marketing mix — television, out-of-home, digital, social, experiential, branding, and PR — with a particular emphasis on physically distinctive stunts and one-off builds (real diamond billboards, knitted OOH, the world's first interactive bubble-wrap billboard, a permanent floral bloomboard in Heaton Park). Its technical differentiator includes use of Gaussian Splat technology to scan and digitally recreate real-world environments for continuous content production, as applied in Chester Zoo's 2025 Endless Adventures campaign.

Meanwhile generates revenue through professional services fees on a per-project and retainer basis, selling directly to mid-to-large enterprises via pitches, reputation, and direct outreach rather than through traditional marketing channels. Its client roster spans entertainment (Netflix, ITV, National Geographic), gaming and betting (tombola, Paddy Power), retail and consumer (H&M, Iceland, TravelSupermarket), financial services (Coventry Building Society, ALA Insurance), and charities (Comic Relief, parkrun, Lifeshare, Chester Zoo). The agency is founder-led by CEO Alastair Marchant and CCO James Cross, with Mike Rose as Chair, and the company's own visibility is generated primarily through the earned media and cultural impact of its client campaigns rather than paid marketing.

Name

Meanwhile

Legal name

Meanwhile

Website

https://meanwhile.agency

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Meanwhile is a Manchester-based B2B creative agency serving enterprise brands like Netflix, ITV, Comic Relief, Chester Zoo, and tombola with integrated campaigns across TV, OOH, digital, social, and experiential channels, distinguished by physical stunts and Gaussian Splat 3D content production.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative & Advertising Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising Agencies (54181)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Activation/Experiential Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAO), Brand Activations & Experiential Campaign Design (MPAAAGAA), Creative Concepting & Campaign Development (BPAFAEAD)

Keywords

• Creative agency services
• Advertising campaigns
• Brand development
• Experiential marketing
• Creative content production

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Creative Agency Services: Meanwhile generates revenue by providing bespoke creative campaign services to branded clients. Revenue is earned through project fees, retainer arrangements, and production contracts for work spanning TV, OOH, digital, social, experiential, branding, and PR. The agency is compensated for strategy, creative development, design, production, and campaign execution.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Meanwhile is a Manchester-based creative agency that develops and executes bespoke advertising and brand campaigns across TV, out-of-home (OOH), digital, social, experiential, branded content, and PR for major consumer-facing brands. The agency offers end-to-end campaign services spanning strategy, creative development, design, production, and execution, with particular strength in stunts, brand platforms, and emerging-technology-enabled activations such as Gaussian Splat digital twin production.

Product overview

Meanwhile is a creative advertising agency based in Manchester that offers a comprehensive suite of creative campaign services. Their core offering encompasses creative campaign development across TV, out-of-home (OOH), digital, social media, experiential marketing, and radio. The agency specializes in distinctive campaigns including brand development and identity design (such as the Dwello brand), product design (Red Nose Day merchandise), TV sponsorship idents, and experiential activations featuring innovative technology like Gaussian Splat for creating digital twin environments. Their work spans diverse sectors including entertainment, retail, finance, charity, and sports, delivering both traditional advertising formats and novel experiential experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Creative Campaign Services Full-service creative campaign development spanning TV, OOH, digital, social media, experiential, branding, and PR. Delivered to enterprise brand clients on a project or retainer basis, covering strategy, creative development, design, production, and campaign execution.
• Brand Development & Identity Design End-to-end brand creation service covering naming, brand identity development, visual identity systems, and brand roll-out across multiple touchpoints. Distinct from campaign work in that it produces an entirely new brand asset for clients.
• An Ambitious Podcast Meanwhile's owned podcast series featuring interviews with notable personalities including Bez from Happy Mondays, covering ambition behind brands. Functions as both a content property and a thought-leadership channel for the agency.

Quantifiable outcome

• TravelSupermarket prompted awareness grew by 5% to 55%, package holiday revenue grew 19% YoY, supermarket analogies rose 4382%
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers14 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Build HollywoodsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeanwhile collaborated with Build Hollywood on the National Geographic 'Secrets Of The Bees' bloomboard installation in Heaton Park, Manchester. Build Hollywood contributed to the physical build and execution of the permanent floral billboard.
• Manchester & District Beekeepers' AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeanwhile partnered with the Manchester & District Beekeepers' Association for the National Geographic bloomboard, ensuring the installation supports real pollinator conservation efforts in the city where the bee is a civic emblem.
• Sony Music / RGLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChester Zoo partnered with Sony Music/RGL to launch the Lanterns & Light attraction. Meanwhile created the launch campaign film blending live-action, miniature sets, and 2D animation for distribution across print, social, digital, and on-site activations.
• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMeanwhile's remit for Red Nose Day 2025 expanded to include general merchandising creation in collaboration with Amazon, who acts as official retailer for Comic Relief's Red Nose merchandise.
• ITVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMeanwhile works closely with ITV for the distribution of tombola's sponsorship idents (I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here), leveraging ITV's broadcast reach to deliver brand messaging to mass TV audiences.
• TFGM (Transport for Greater Manchester)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeanwhile partnered with Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) for the Coronation Street Tour Singing Tram campaign, which included renaming the Imperial War Museum tram stop 'Weatherfield North' and altering the tram horn to play the Coronation Street theme tune.
• GAS (Greater Manchester Arts Centre)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeanwhile collaborated with GAS (Greater Manchester Arts Centre) alongside ITV, Coronation Street, and TFGM to create the Singing Tram promoting The Coronation Street Experience at MediaCity.
• How & HowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeanwhile collaborated with branding experts How & How to reposition Chester Zoo with a new brand platform 'Amazing by Nature', helping communicate the zoo's nature-positive efforts and conservation mission.
• RankinsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeanwhile engaged renowned photographer Rankin to shoot the Lifeshare 'Clothes Are Not A Luxury For Some' campaign, launching on BBC Breakfast with Maxine Peake.
• Stefan Abingdon and Ashley Horne (formerly of The Midnight Beast)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeanwhile co-wrote the 'Open For Fun' earworm song with Stefan Abingdon and Ashley Horne (formerly of The Midnight Beast) for tombola's brand platform launch, directed by Big Red Button through Blink.
• Big Red Button / BlinksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeanwhile worked with production company Big Red Button and director Blink to execute tombola's 'Open For Fun' campaign film.
• Noddy HoldersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeanwhile's Iceland 'Not Yet Noddy' campaign involved locking Noddy Holder (Slade) away ahead of the World Cup to prevent him from starting Christmas, with a live feed and social highlights, ultimately leveraging the unofficial start of Christmas.
• Coronation Street / ITV StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeanwhile partnered with ITV and Coronation Street for the Singing Tram campaign promoting The Coronation Street Experience at MediaCity, creating the most Mancunian tram ever with themed illustrations and a custom horn.
• Royal College of General PractitionerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeanwhile's parkrun 'Just What The Doctor Ordered' campaign highlighted how the Royal College of General Practitioners supports prescribing parkrun to patients for mental and physical health conditions.
• Tom DaleysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMeanwhile hired Tom Daley (the nation's most famous knitter) to create a unique jumper for Tom Ellis to celebrate the Thursday Murder Club launch. The post achieved approximately 800k views and 48k likes.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mother: London-based independent creative agency known for culturally resonant, campaign-led work for brands like KFC, Uber, and IKEA. Closest comparable to Meanwhile as a UK indie creative shop with a similar mix of advertising, brand platform, and stunt work for enterprise clients.
• Uncommon Creative Studio: London independent creative agency working with brands such as Nike, B&Q, and BT on purpose-driven, integrated campaigns. Comparable to Meanwhile for its full-service creative model and focus on building distinctive brand platforms for mid-to-large enterprises.
• Anomaly: Independent creative agency with offices in London, NYC, LA, Toronto, and Shanghai. Comparable to Meanwhile for its integrated creative model and work for major consumer brands, though at meaningfully larger scale and global footprint.
• Lucky Generals: London-based independent creative agency working with brands like Virgin, Amazon, and Heineken on campaigns that combine brand strategy with high-impact creative. Closely comparable to Meanwhile\'s model of integrated campaign work for well-known consumer brands.
• Gale (formerly known as Core): Independent creative agency in New York and London producing integrated campaign work and stunts for brands like Verizon, Google, and Mailchimp. Closely comparable to Meanwhile for its emphasis on attention-grabbing creative and stunt-led campaigns for enterprise clients.
• St Luke's: London-based independent creative agency focused on meaningful brand work for clients including IKEA, Adidas, and Cancer Research. Comparable to Meanwhile as an independent UK creative agency working across brand platforms and integrated campaigns, though with longer heritage.

Broad incumbents

• Droga5 (Accenture Song): Now part of Accenture Song, Droga5 is a globally recognised creative network with offices in NYC, London, Tokyo and São Paulo. Comparable to Meanwhile as a creative-led agency producing award-winning campaign work for major brands, but at vastly larger scale and with broader geographic reach.
• Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH): Long-established London creative agency (part of BBH/Global) known for Levi\'s, Audi, and Barclays work. Comparable to Meanwhile in the UK enterprise creative space, but with much longer heritage, larger headcount, and network-level resources.
• The&Partnership: London-headquartered integrated agency network combining creative, media, and production. Comparable to Meanwhile as a full-service creative partner for major brands, though at meaningfully larger scale and with media-buying capabilities Meanwhile does not offer.

Emerging players

• Born Social: UK-based social-first creative agency working with brands such as Nike, Spotify, and Adidas. Comparable to Meanwhile\'s social content and TikTok-flavoured campaign work (e.g. H&M IbraGYMovic), but with narrower channel focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/posts
• Instagraminstagram.com/meanwhileagency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Meanwhile