The company became employee-owned three years ago
Drummond Central won awards for its bet365 work.(Image: Drummond Central)
Profits have risen at well-known Newcastle creative agency Drummond Central which has boosted its client roster and invested in staff.
The 64-strong business works with a number of high profile brands including Greggs, KitKat and bet365, developing and launching creative campaigns designed to grab audiences. In recent years it has been employee-owned with founders Julie and Stephen Drummond selling their shares to a trust.
Newly published accounts for the Jesmond-based firm cover the year to June 30, 2025 and show that while turnover dipped from £22.4m to £18.2m, operating profit grew slightly from £4.47m to £4.82m. Gross profit was up 7.7% to £8.89m, which bosses said was in line with expectations and due to a phased delivery of some high value projects.
Drummond became a viral hit and made national headlines in 2016 when it livestreamed a puddle that could be seen from its offices. Thousands of people watched the footage of people trying to navigate the obstacle on a pavement.
Last year the firm secured global drinks giant Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey as a client – going on support its on-trade advertising activity. Creatives in Newcastle were tasked with reigniting the brand’s presence in bars, pubs and venues in the UK.
Managing director Dan Appleby said: “Over 20-odd years we’ve been steadily building up to be the best strategic creative agency we can be that happens to be in the North East. What really contributed to that is that over the last six or seven years, we’ve been adding the right kind of client for a business like ours.
“We’ve been working with bet365 for around 20 years but in the last seven years we’ve started working with Greggs, Triumph Motorcycles, Dreams Beds, Hello Fresh, Jack Daniels – big household names.
“The type of work we’re doing now is national, if not international. That’s really what’s driven the way that we’re performing as a business. The work we’ve done in the past is proving that we’re credible enough to win this kind of work from big clients.”
Mr Appleby said the company’s location in the North East was no longer a barrier to success in the creative sector. And he said the company – which became employee-owned three years ago – would remain true to its roots, even as it embraced new technology.
He said: “We’re really nicely placed as 60-person agency. We’re not too big and we’re not too small. We’re big enough to be able to demonstrate capability and put really talented people around projects but we’re small and nimble enough to try things out.
“It’s about attracting clients that believe in the same sort of things that we do, that believe in creativity and collaboration. If we can keep doing that, that’s what will keep everyone happy at DC. As an employee-owned organisation, that’s what we’re all about – it’s about running a profitable business but also a business that’s good for the people that are part of it.”