Compare 12 communication agencies in Manchester

For buyers planning creative and performance activity with one communications partner.

Refinery Marketing Communications Limited describes itself as an independent integrated marketing agency. Its approach brings creative and performance strategies into the same programme.

Why consider them

• Independent integrated marketing offer.
• Creative and performance planning.
• How are strategy, creative and performance responsibilities divided, and which senior roles remain involved after the pitch?

For integrated creative briefs with explicit contracting and escalation arrangements.

Northstar Integrated Advertising & Marketing Ltd lists communication, branding, copywriting and creative services. This gives buyers several related disciplines to discuss when defining a communications brief.

Why consider them

• Branding and communication services.
• Copywriting and creative services.
• Who leads the account today, and what contracting, issue-resolution and escalation arrangements will be documented?

Google review★ 1.0

“Difficult to deal with, I would not use them for an important project in the future again. Great creative team, but bad business practices from the leadership team. I would Look elsewhere.”

Heidi Franks · Mar 2019

For purpose-led, charity and public-interest briefs combining PR and reputation work.

High-Rise Communications lists digital PR and charity communications. Reputation management is also part of the offer, giving organisations a basis for discussing both their public message and reputational priorities.

Why consider them

• Digital PR and charity communications.
• Reputation management.
• How will you turn our organisation’s values into message, media and reputation decisions?

Google review★ 5.0

“We approached High-Rise Communications for some support with promoting the third edition of the Manchester Mindfulness Festival, and the whole experience has been wonderful - and effective!”

Christoph Spiessens · Oct 2023

4

Rank 4: I-COM

Manchester

Google ★ 4.8 (37 reviews)

For communications programmes connected to content, websites and structured reporting discussions.

I-COM offers communication and content marketing alongside digital marketing. SEO and web design extend the service mix, making it relevant to discuss how messages carry through into digital delivery.

Why consider them

• Communication and content marketing services.
• SEO and web design services.
• Can you show a reporting pack, agree a meeting rhythm and explain how recommendations become documented decisions?

Google review★ 5.0

“It’s not often you find an agency who feels like a true partner, but that’s exactly what I’ve found in the team at I-COM (an outstanding digital marketing and CRM agency) who I’ve worked with for several years.”

Janine Howson · Feb 2025

5

Rank 5: Lightbulb Media

Manchester

Google ★ 5.0 (89 reviews)

For teams that need strategic priorities before committing to ongoing content delivery.

Lightbulb Media lists communication, content marketing and digital marketing. Buyers can use that combination to discuss how strategic priorities should translate into a content plan.

Why consider them

• Communication services.
• Content and digital marketing services.
• Would an initial diagnostic workshop and prioritised action plan be more appropriate than a retainer for our current needs?

Google review★ 5.0

“We recently commissioned Lightbulb Media for a two-hour marketing strategy session. We’re at a critical point in our business where we have ambitious goals, a newly expanded team and we want to get the best people involved to support us through the growing pains.”

Dark Coffee Team · Aug 2020

6

Rank 6: Refresh PR

Manchester

Google ★ 5.0 (16 reviews)

For B2B organisations translating technically complex propositions into PR narratives.

Refresh PR works in PR and communications across construction, technology, and food and drink. A specialist proposition provides a useful starting point for discussing discovery, messaging and press activity.

Why consider them

• PR and communications services.
• Construction, technology, and food-and-drink focus.
• How will you learn the technical detail and turn it into plain-English narratives with support for each claim?

Google review★ 5.0

“The team at Refresh quickly became an extension of Distology’s marketing team, immersing themselves in our world to understand our offering, strengths and how that creates value for our customers.”

Claire Stott · Jul 2023

7

Rank 7: Ultimate Agency

Manchester

Google ★ 5.0 (25 reviews)

For campaigns that need brand, creative, website and content decisions coordinated.

Ultimate Agency’s offer covers brand and creative work. Website and content capabilities add digital delivery to the brief, making consistency across formats a practical topic for comparison.

Why consider them

• Brand and creative capabilities.
• Website and content capabilities.
• Who owns consistency across formats, approval decisions and changes prompted by regulation?

Google review★ 5.0

“We have worked alongside Ultimate for several years now across a wide selection of projects. They have consistently delivered exceptional results in all areas from campaign creatives and ideas, to product launches, print ready packaging design, legislation changes, and brand…”

Michelle Parr · Mar 2026

8

Rank 8: Embryo

Manchester

Google ★ 4.9 (60 reviews)

For multi-channel digital communications briefs that may change direction during delivery.

Embryo describes a full-service digital marketing offer. Multi-channel campaign work forms part of its positioning, so buyers can explore how responsibilities would connect across a changing brief.

Why consider them

• Digital marketing offer.
• Multi-channel campaign work.
• How will scope, priorities and team allocation be reset if our strategy changes during the engagement?

Google review★ 5.0

“When working with agencies it can be harder to create the chemistry required for a long-term partnership. We've created a great relationship with Embryo, this is due to Embryo being well-organised, understanding our requirements from the get-go, and importantly adapting to our…”

Josh Isles · Nov 2023

9

Rank 9: Brazen PR

Manchester

Google ★ 4.6 (10 reviews)

For consumer-facing Manchester projects combining PR and social activity.

Brazen PR focuses on creative PR, social media and communications. Buyers planning a consumer campaign can discuss how those disciplines will share messages, approvals and delivery responsibilities.

Why consider them

• Creative PR services.
• Social media and communications services.
• Who is on the current delivery team, and how are responsibilities divided between PR and social media?

Google review★ 5.0

“I’d really recommend working with this PR agency. I’ve worked with them on my Manchester projects in PR and social media campaigns for a number of years. Great can do attitude. Results driven”

emma james · Apr 2019

10

Rank 10: Scoop. Brand Communications.

Manchester

Google ★ 5.0 (4 reviews)

For event and launch briefs joining press preparation with live delivery.

Scoop. Brand Communications. offers PR, influencer partnerships and creative brand strategy. Event and launch work feature in its positioning, giving buyers a basis for discussing the connection between press planning and the live occasion.

Why consider them

• PR and influencer partnerships.
• Brand strategy, event and launch work.
• Who owns the event timetable, approval chain, spokesperson preparation and post-event coverage reporting?

Google review★ 5.0

“Scoop were instrumental in the success of the inaugural Gaydio Pride Awards. From a detailed pre-event press strategy to managing media invites and leading the red carpet activity, Pippa and the team felt like an extension of the Gaydio team, informing key decisions in the lead…”

Brett Harris · Jul 2023

11

Rank 11: Smoking Gun

Manchester

Google ★ 5.0 (44 reviews)

For PR programmes linking an editorial plan with media outreach.

Smoking Gun lists PR and media relations in its offer. Social media and influencer marketing provide further channels to discuss when building a communications programme.

Why consider them

• PR and media relations.
• Social media and influencer marketing.
• How will ideas become an editorial schedule, media outreach and reporting tied to our objectives?

Google review★ 5.0

“Since we started working with Smoking Gun PR we achieved a step change in our PR effectiveness, with more national press coverage in a year than we'd achieved in the previous 10.”

martin shaw · Sept 2021

For cross-channel briefs bringing creative, media and digital teams together.

One Day Agency offers integrated advertising and marketing. Its positioning spans creative, media and digital, making decision-making across disciplines a useful focus for an initial meeting.

Why consider them

• Integrated advertising and marketing.
• Creative, media and digital scope.
• Who will join working sessions, and how will creative, media and digital decisions be resolved across teams?

Google review★ 5.0

“Human, collaborative and more than efficient. That’s what I found at One Day, and it was honestly more than what I expected, the whole team is present and all show that they know what they’re talking about.”

Wiam Elyoubi · Nov 2025