Many happy returns, Agent! A birthday card from Jeanette.

2006 feels like a long time ago but 20 years on since inception, Agent is still growing, flourishing and making a difference – one of the reasons Paul set up the business two decades ago. Paul wanted this agency to make work that matters and play our part in making a societal difference. Today, we proudly call it Powerfully Good Work.

Five Liverpool and two Manchester studios, plenty of ambitious clients and so many super-talented team members later, Agent has now officially turned 20.  And what a journey it’s been...so far!

From day one, everything has been led by our values. The studios may have changed but our belief in using business for good has not.

From launching Agent Academy in 2014, helping untapped talent break into successful digital, creative and marketing careers, to All You Read is Love, so far gifting £75,000 worth of brand-new books to young people at Christmas or organising the ‘With Love from Liverpool’ concert to support Red Cross with the Syrian refugee crisis. We are, and will always be, committed to championing our people, places, and the communities we are proud to be part of.

I might be a little biased, but we certainly know how to host a good event at Agent! Whether it be our birthday bashes, International Women’s Day lunches, the Good Growth Summit or our Labour Party Fringe events, we’ve always loved bringing people together and inspiring good connections and conversations.

It would also be impossible to celebrate two decades of Agent without remembering the numerous team away days, picnics, socials and parties – although some of those memories are a little hazy!

Like any good story, the journey has certainly been one full of twists and turns, successes, lessons, hard work and fun. What’s remained steadfast during the last two decades is our continued commitment and love of the work we do and who we do it for. From nationally significant businesses such as National Cyber Security Centre, Microlise, Ardent, Net Zero North West, Road Haulage Association, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and North West Business Leadership team, just to name a few, we’re so proud to work with organisations that want to drive good growth in all that they do. But it’s not just about our clients and award-winning projects – it’s absolutely about our incredible people too. The culture that we have created together allows our whole team to bring our best selves to work and, so often, become close friends with those who were initially fellow team members. Our culture is a huge part of our identity and I’m so proud that we have recently been named in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for a second year running, alongside our B Corp accreditation which we received last year.

I’m so proud of the diverse and unique teams we have built, and so many talented people have been part of this journey, both past and present. However, I must give special mention to the legendary Leo the Poodle, Paul’s partner in crime, the original office dog, and our forever Head of Security. There are too many stories to share about this super-human pooch. He certainly inspired the warmest welcomes we’ve become well known in for.

And of course, Paul, our one-of-a-kind CEO who 20 years ago came up with the bright idea of Agent – an agency designed to do things differently. An agency that not only works closely with clients to co-create the work but also makes it fun whilst we’re doing it. When Paul shared his vision for Agent all those years ago, I knew it would be a success. Paul has the perfect blend of strategic thinking, creativity, vision and drive, mixed with being caring, fun and of course, a little bit mischievous! And here we are 20 years later with that vision a very real reality and we’re still going from strength to strength.

Agent never stands still and never will. We’re certain of that!

As we drive forward with confidence, continuing to lead by example through the work that we create and our fervent commitment to responsible business with our partners, people, communities and the planet, I’m so excited to see what’s next for us all.

So happy birthday, Agent! Here’s to the next two decades of delivering and driving powerfully good work – and of course, having more fun along the way! I for one can’t wait to see what we do next!

Jeanette x