AUGUST 2019 BusIness 21
BROTHERS Gareth and Russell Oakley
have teamed up to launch GO!
The new intermediary consultancy
works on behalf of both brands and
agencies across all industries,
communication and specialisms.
Gareth said: “The way brands work
with agencies has significantly shifted
in recent times. Brand leaders are
under more scrutiny and faced with
more choice than ever before. Plus,
quality agencies are getting left behind
or struggling in this increasingly
saturated market.
He added: “Ultimately, I was finding
that brands focussing on high growth
and disturbing their market were
becoming increasingly frustrated by
the traditional agency model andfundamental breakdowns in
relationships were forming.
“Yet, when I asked key stakeholders
why they weren’t making a change,
their response was either that they
couldn’t cut through the noise so didn’t
know where to start.”
Gareth’s background as a senior
figure in the northern marketing &
digital arena brings significant
understanding of the effective
intermediary, whilst Russell’s
experience spans over 10 years working
for leading agencies.
Said Russell: “The model works
because we really put the time and care
into truly understanding the challenges
each organisation faces and what they
look for in agency partners.”Brothers Go! for it
new Brand reveal for
GrowinG diGital aGency
Manchester-based digital
transformation agency Discerning
Digital has revealed a new brand
following a string of new client wins
and a focus on its B2B
content marketing arm.
Founded in 2012 by ex-
Guardian Media Group exec
Richard Lucas, Discerning Digital has
been helping firms with their digital
transformation – equipping them with
digital tools, products and services.
The company worked on
technical infrastructure and digital
product build projects for national
clients including the Royal College of
Physicians of Ireland and Golden
Charter.
Now relaunching as Eleven Content,
the agency is sharpening its focus to
B2B content marketing specialising in
high-growth, tech-based businesses,
led by existing senior team of managing
director Richard and head of content
Ciara McVeigh.
Richard explained: “We worked with
some fantastic clients as Discerning
Digital, helping them get fit for the
digital future, but increasingly we were
asked to follow through beyond the
tech, creating marketing strategies and
quality content to support the goals of
our transformative work.
“Digital transformation has evolved
since our inception to become a broad
and all-compassing discipline, while at
the same time, we’ve seen the market
for B2B content really maturing. This
makes sharpening our focus on B2B
marketing a natural evolution. Drawing
on our technical expertise, we really
understand the high-growth journey oftransformative businesses. We’re
already working with some exciting
B2B businesses at crucial parts of their
start-up to scaleup journey, creating
the content they need to engage
investors and their partners.”
Ciara added: “We’ve always worked
with great people but I’m especially
excited about the team we’re
assembling now. From strategists,
writers and designers to social media
marketers and digital and tech experts,
we’re bringing together amazingly
talented people with creativity at their
core.
“Happily, this matches the creativity
and ambition of our clients - it feels
great to support clients from a place of
first-hand understanding and a mutual
desire for fast-paced growth.”Ciara McVeigh and
Richard LucasA NEW scheme from the BBC is
enabling women looking to move
into a career in software engineering
to gain the skills they need to do so.
Following a hugely successful pilot
last year, the Step Into Tech scheme
aims to help increase the number of
women working in the technology
sector - which has been to date
dominated by men.
It has been designed for women
who may be returning to work after a
break, college leavers and career
changers.
The scheme covers subjects such
as working with websites,
applications, cloud-based services
and databases as well as introducing
candidates to coding and responsive
design.Matthew Postgate, Chief
Technology and Product Officer for
the BBC, says: “We want to ensure
that everyone can shape the future of
technology so that everyone can
benefit.
“Women are underrepresented in
the sector overall and the BBC, like
many other employers in the
industry, want to change this.
“This scheme gives the perfect
grounding to women from all walks
of life for a new career in
technology.”
Emma Stockton, 27, completed the
scheme early this year.
She said: “This programme is
giving me the opportunity to learn
the skills required to get started in a
technology career.”upskillinG women in tech