THE ARK MARKETING & MEDIA LTD

What THE ARK MARKETING & MEDIA LTD does

The Ark Marketing & Media Ltd (trading as The Ark Media) is a privately held, full-service media planning and buying agency headquartered in Pudsey, Leeds, with operations spanning Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and London. The firm delivers strategic media campaigns across out-of-home, audio, TV, and digital channels for a multi-sector client base that includes sports clubs (Leeds United, Bradford City), healthcare providers (Whitehall Clinic, Kirkwood Hospice), retailers (Mamas & Papas, Express Bi-Folding Doors, Elmhurst Windows), education institutions (Leeds City College, Boston Spa Academy), government bodies (West Yorkshire Combined Authority, LeedsBID), and consumer brands (Hisense, Gilchrist Bakery, Reach PLC).

The agency's core offering combines media planning, media buying, and creative production services. Its outdoor advertising proposition is anchored by access to more than 25,000 billboards and outdoor media sites from leading UK media owners, covering transport (rail, bus, tram, taxi, airport), roadside (billboards, digital posters, roundabouts), location-based (shopping centres, hospitals, bars, cinema), and London Underground formats. Audio campaigns span traditional radio, Spotify, podcast, and programmatic audio (Audioadpro); TV campaigns span linear, on-demand, Sky AdSmart, and connected TV/streaming including Netflix ad-tier and ITVX. Video production, data-driven media planning, and an interactive Media Finder Map tool round out the product set. There are no proprietary AI or ML systems; programmatic capabilities rely on third-party platforms such as Sky AdSmart and Audioadpro.

The business operates as a professional services agency monetising through fees for media planning and buying, plus commissions from media owners for placing campaigns. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, with 90% of new projects originating from client recommendations — a strong referral signal but also an indicator of limited outbound demand generation. The company is bootstrapped with no disclosed funding rounds, institutional investors, or acquisitions, and operates with a lean team of 1-10 employees under Managing Director John Ainley. The footer reference to "The Ark Group Of Companies" hints at a broader corporate structure, though no subsidiaries are disclosed.

Name

THE ARK MARKETING & MEDIA LTD

Legal name

The Ark Marketing & Media Ltd

Website

https://thearkmedia.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Ark Marketing & Media Ltd is a UK-based, full-service media planning and buying agency headquartered in Leeds that delivers outdoor, audio, TV, and digital advertising campaigns for multi-sector B2B and B2C clients across Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, and London.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Planning and Buying Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (54181), Advertising Agencies (541810)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Video/CTV/OTT Media Buying (MPAAABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio/Podcast/Streaming Media Buying (MPAAABAF), Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE)

Keywords

• Media planning services
• Out-of-home advertising
• Audio advertising
• TV advertising
• Video production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pudsey, Leeds

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Media Planning and Buying Services: The company charges professional fees for strategic media planning, campaign strategy, and media buying services across out-of-home, audio, TV, and digital channels. Revenue is generated through service fees and commissions from media owners for placing campaigns on behalf of clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Ark Marketing & Media Ltd is a UK media planning and buying agency that delivers strategic advertising campaigns across outdoor (out-of-home, transport, roadside, location, underground), audio (radio, Spotify, podcasts, programmatic), television (traditional, Sky AdSmart, on-demand/streaming), and digital channels, alongside creative production services such as video, animation, and audio production. The agency provides data-informed media planning, media buying, and creative production to brands, sports clubs, retailers, government bodies, charities, and entertainment organisations, with access to more than 25,000 outdoor media sites from the UK's leading media owners.

Product overview

The Ark Marketing & Media Ltd is a strategic media and advertising agency offering a comprehensive suite of advertising solutions across outdoor, audio, and television channels. The company operates as a unified platform combining outdoor advertising (with access to 25,000+ billboards and media sites), audio advertising (radio, streaming, Spotify, podcasts), TV advertising (traditional, AdSmart, on-demand), video production services (social media, corporate, animation, product videos), and data-driven media planning. The agency also provides a media finder map tool for location discovery. As an advertising agency rather than a software product, the company does not have APIs or integrations in the traditional SaaS sense.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Outdoor (Out-of-Home) Advertising Out-of-home advertising service providing clients access to more than 25,000 billboards and outdoor media sites from leading UK media owners, covering transport (rail, tram, bus, taxi, airport), roadside (billboards, digital posters, AdVans, AdBikes, motorway), location-based (hospital, cinema, shopping centres, university, washroom), and underground (tube car panels, lift/escalator, station domination) placements.
• Audio Advertising Audio advertising campaigns across traditional broadcast radio, digital audio streaming platforms, Spotify, podcasts, programmatic audio (Audioadpro), and radio sponsorship/competitions, including audio production services.
• TV Advertising Television advertising solutions including traditional TV channels, on-demand streaming, Sky AdSmart addressable TV, and access to Netflix ad-supported tier, Discovery+, ITVX, 4OD, and Sky Go platforms, with smart TV advertising reaching over 75-76% of UK households with smart TV penetration.
• Video Production Services Full-service video production including social media video, Sky digital video pre-roll, education video, corporate video, animation, event video, explainer video, product video, and testimonial video production.
• Data-Driven Media Planning Strategic media planning service that uses data and audience insight to identify optimum channels and timings, building highly targeted campaigns across outdoor, audio, TV, and digital channels for client-specific audiences and objectives.
• Media Finder Map Interactive media finder map tool allowing clients to discover and explore outdoor advertising locations across the UK, supporting outdoor media planning and site selection.
• Creative Strategy and Campaign Design Strategic creative development, campaign design, and marketing consultation services tailored to client objectives, target audiences, budgets, and chosen media channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of projects stemming from client recommendations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Leeds Bradford AirportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The Ark Media announced a new media partnership with Leeds Bradford Airport, a key gateway for Yorkshire and beyond welcoming approximately 4.5 million passengers every year. The partnership enables brands to connect with highly engaged audiences at the airport through targeted advertising placements.
• HisenseminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025The Ark Media supports global brand Hisense through collaborative media planning and buying sessions with media partners. Marketing team visited London with the Hisense team to explore new media opportunities and share insights, research, and innovation for joint media strategies.
• Futuresounds GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The Ark Media works closely with Futuresounds Group on campaigns promoting music events including Live at Leeds, Slam Dunk Festival, and individual concerts at venues like First Direct Arena. The partnership has delivered multiple standout campaigns for event promotion across digital out-of-home formats.
• LeedsBID (Business Improvement District)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The Ark Media collaborates frequently with LeedsBID on campaigns including the Leeds International Festival of Ideas, Monopoly Leeds Takeover, and other city centre initiatives. LeedsBID organises LIFI as part of its programme to generate interest in Leeds as a destination city, working with businesses across the city centre.
• The Business DeskminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023The Ark Media established a media partnership with The Business Desk for the West Yorkshire Innovation Festival campaign. The partnership included e-shots, sponsored articles, homepage banner takeover, LinkedIn stories, press release launch, and an interview with the Mayor, targeting key business demographics.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Havas Media Group: Global media network within Havas offering integrated media planning and buying. Comparable on service category, but operates within a holding-company structure with significantly greater scale and cross-market capability.
• WPP: World's largest advertising holding company with multiple media agency brands (GroupM). Operates in the same media planning and buying space at vastly greater scale, representing both competitor and indirect channel partner through media-owner relationships.
• Omnicom Group: Global advertising holding company whose media brands (OMD, PHD, Hearts & Science) compete directly in media planning and buying. Represents structural competition from much larger, diversified competitors.
• Publicis Groupe: Global holding company with major media agency brands (Zenith, Starcom, Mediahub). Competes in the same media planning and buying category but with global scale and proprietary data and technology assets.
• Manning Gottlieb OMD: Long-established UK media agency within the Omnicom Media Group network. Comparable as a UK-headquartered media planning and buying provider, but with significantly greater scale and holding-company backing.
• Zenith: Global media agency network within Publicis Groupe offering integrated media planning and buying. Comparable on core service offering but operates at significantly greater scale with international reach.

Direct peers

• The7stars: UK independent full-service media agency offering planning and buying across OOH, digital, TV, audio and integrated channels to a similarly diverse client base. Directly comparable as a similarly sized UK challenger agency competing for regional and mid-market briefs.
• Medialab: Independent UK media agency focused on data-driven planning and buying across digital, broadcast and OOH channels. Comparable as a similarly positioned independent competing for the same advertiser spend and pitching against global holding companies.
• Goodstuff Media Group: UK independent media agency with comparable full-service planning and buying capabilities across OOH, broadcast, digital and audio. Operates against the same advertiser briefs and offers a similar independent-agency value proposition.

Others

• IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising): UK professional body for advertising, media and marketing agencies. Not a direct competitor but a relevant industry-association peer whose membership profile overlaps with The Ark's positioning as an accredited UK media agency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thearkmarketingandmedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-ark-media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 ARK MARKETING & MEDIA LTD