aptcreative

What aptcreative does

apt.creative is a female-led creative graphic design agency headquartered at 22A Jordan Street, Liverpool, founded in 2019 by Rachael and Sarah. The firm positions itself as a specialist in NHS design (claiming 25+ years of institutional NHS experience via its founders) and educational design, with secondary emphasis on charities, non-profits, and small businesses. Service offerings span branding and identity development, print and digital design, social media templates, transition booklets for healthcare settings, behaviour-change campaigns, community outreach programmes, and facilitated engagement workshops with end-users. The agency operates a project-based, one-time fee revenue model with no disclosed pricing; clients receive bespoke quotes and engagements are delivered through direct client relationships and referrals.

The business is structured around two co-owners supported by a curated network of freelance and partner studios (including Focal Studios for projection mapping, Defproc for interactive engineering, Splinter Studio for animation, plus illustrators, photographers, and print partners) that are assembled per project. Distribution is entirely direct, with no resellers, digital self-serve product, or subscription offering. Marketing is conducted via a Squarespace-hosted portfolio website, email outreach, and public-sector referral networks, and the agency reports serving clients across the UK despite its single Liverpool office. The firm carries no external investment, no disclosed subsidiaries, and no regulatory or patent footprint, and operates as a founder-owned micro-agency of 1-10 employees.

Name

aptcreative

Legal name

aptcreative

Website

https://aptcreative.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

apt.creative is a female-led Liverpool creative agency specialising in NHS and educational graphic design, branding, print and digital design, behaviour-change campaigns, and engagement workshops for UK public-sector, charity, and small-business clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Graphic Design Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

Keywords

• Graphic design services
• Branding and identity
• Creative agency
• NHS design services
• Behaviour change campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

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 Design Services: Project-based creative design services for branding, campaigns, print materials, digital assets, and behaviour change programmes. Revenue generated through one-time project fees for design work rather than recurring subscription models.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

aptcreative is a Liverpool-based creative graphic design agency delivering branding, print and digital design, behaviour change campaigns, engagement workshops, and sector-specific design services for NHS, education, public-sector, charity, and small-business clients. The agency combines a two-person core team with a flexible freelancer collective to scope, design, and deliver visual communications projects. Its work spans brand identity, campaign creative, printed collateral, digital assets, and participatory workshop facilitation.

Product overview

apt. is a female-led creative design agency based in Liverpool offering a comprehensive suite of design services. Their core offerings include NHS design services (specializing in NHS design for over 25 years), educational design (curriculum-based assets for Key Stage 1 and 2, SEN students), branding and identity development, print design (posters, flyers, booklets, banners), digital design (web banners, social media tiles), behaviour change campaigns, engagement workshops, and community outreach programs. The agency works across public sector, charities, and private businesses, collaborating with a network of freelance creatives to assemble project-specific teams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• St Helens YMCA Listening Service reached semi-finalist status in YMCA England and Wales Youth Matters Awards 2023
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Focal StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProjection mapping, immersive media, design and video production partner. Worked with apt. on the WeAre COVID campaign, projecting designs onto landmark buildings including Goodison Park and Albert Dock.
• DefprocminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnically innovative engineering company. Collaborated on the WeAre COVID project to create an interactive playable game about COVID experiences, projected onto the Museum of Liverpool.
• The Guide LiverpoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm production partner. Worked on the WeAre COVID project filming interviews with interns and employers, and created videos for the Intern 2 Work programme showcasing interns and businesses.
• Splinter StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimation and website development studio. Partnered with Denbighshire Countryside Services on the Little Tern educational materials project. Sarah previously worked at Splinter Studio.
• Rachael Does DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partner. Worked alongside apt. providing assets for the Janet Dugdale Consulting brand project and website.
• Ste IllustratesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllustrator who created artwork for the Little Tern educational materials project alongside apt.'s design work.
• The Printroom UKminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrinting services partner for production of printed materials.
• Dhari the DesignerminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign professional within the creative collective network.
• Wild Kind PhotographyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPhotography partner within the creative collective network.
• EXP PrintminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrint solutions partner within the creative collective network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mando: Liverpool-based creative and brand agency serving UK public sector, charity, and commercial clients. Highly comparable geography (same city), size tier, and service mix including branding, campaigns, and digital design, making it apt.creative's closest local direct competitor.
• Clearleft: Brighton-headquartered design and user experience consultancy serving UK and international clients across public and private sectors. Comparable in design-led methodology and engagement-led process, though generally larger and more digitally focused.
• Thinkpublic: UK design agency specialising in public sector, NHS, and behaviour change campaigns with co-design methodology. Closely comparable in mission, end-client base (NHS, government, charities), and emphasis on user engagement workshops.
• Social (formerly Sumo): Liverpool-rooted creative agency providing branding, campaigns, and digital design to UK public sector and consumer clients. Comparable city, size tier, and integrated creative services offering.

Broad incumbents

• Superunion: Global brand and design consultancy with strong UK public sector presence (formerly The Partners). Comparable in brand design and campaign work for government, healthcare, and education clients, but operating at significantly larger scale.
• Pentagram: World's largest independent design firm, with a London partner serving UK public sector, charity, and cultural clients on branding and campaigns. Adjacent competitor for high-end brand and campaign briefs; broader portfolio and significantly larger resourcing.
• Carter Wong Design: UK-based design agency offering brand identity, print, and digital design to public sector, cultural, and commercial clients. Comparable in craft-led brand and graphic design services but with a longer-standing, broader client base.
• Coley Porter Bell: Long-established UK brand design agency with deep experience in branding, packaging, and design strategy for retail and public-facing brands. Overlaps with apt.creative's branding and identity work but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope.

Others

• NHS England Communications (in-house teams): In-house NHS communications and design teams across trusts and integrated care boards. Not a commercial competitor but the most significant alternative supplier to apt.creative for NHS design work, and a key structural risk to external agency budgets in the segment.

Regional players

• Reason Digital: Manchester-based social impact digital agency working with charities, NHS, and public health bodies across the UK. Comparable in third-sector and health-sector client focus, with overlapping digital design and behaviour change capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aptcreative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 aptcreative