At the recent ‘Growth to Gold’ event in Leeds, agency leaders gathered to discuss strategies for success.
- The focus was on growth through scaling, talent retention, acquisitions, and strategic investments.
- Prominent speakers shared their experiences and insights into managing and expanding businesses in a competitive landscape.
- Key topics included the impact of AI, effective delegation, and the importance of a motivated workforce.
- Discussions also touched on mergers and acquisitions, market trends, and retaining top talent.
Agency leaders came together at the ‘Growth to Gold’ event to explore strategies for scaling and selling in a challenging market. The conference, hosted at KPMG’s office in Leeds, provided insights from esteemed agency experts on navigating the complexities of talent acquisition, investments, and business expansion.
Nenad Simonovic from KPMG highlighted the increasing activity in mergers and acquisitions, driven by private equity interests. He emphasized opportunities arising as markets recover from downturns. Nick Tomlinson of Paprika Software supported this view, noting the importance of adapting to market changes.
Mark Mallinder, CEO of Ride Shotgun, shared his journey in transforming a business model amidst technological disruptions, particularly the rise of AI. Mallinder stressed the significance of focus, discipline, and leadership in achieving growth, advising leaders to concentrate on strategic planning rather than daily operations.
The discussion on talent retention featured Richard Gregory from AgencyNXD, Ben Turner of IDHL, and Martin Corcoran from Summit Group. Turner, with extensive HR experience, emphasized the role of career progression and competitive salaries in attracting and retaining talent. Corcoran noted the draw of a large, experienced team as an incentive for potential employees from smaller agencies.
On the mergers and acquisitions front, Ben Taylor of KPMG detailed current market trends, pointing to a 4% rise in deal volumes over the previous year. However, there was a 20% drop in spending value, reflecting a more discerning approach by firms seeking specialised agencies over generalists.
Fergus Baillie and Dean Lovett discussed the intricacies of mergers, focusing on aligning team and business goals during acquisitions. They highlighted the challenges in maintaining team morale and ensuring strategic fit post-acquisition. Their experiences underscored the importance of planning and foresight.
Carrie Rose of Rise at Seven detailed her entrepreneurial journey, noting the essential role of risk management and strategic expansion in business success. The panel agreed on the need to manage risk carefully, particularly in a dynamic market.
The event concluded with a panel discussion led by Emma Banks, Nick Tomlinson, Stu Lunn, and Alex Craven. They addressed the volatility of marketing budgets and the pressures faced by independent agencies. The potential and challenges associated with AI were also examined, highlighting both opportunities for automation and concerns over creativity and originality.
The ‘Growth to Gold’ event in Leeds provided valuable insights into the evolving agency landscape, emphasizing strategic growth and resilience.
