Barnsley digital marketeers eye growth

A Barnsley-based digital marketing firm is determined to double in size as it wins new business.

HMA Digital Marketing has already gone from 12 employees to 17 in one year, with a view to increasing to 25 by 2015.

The firm was established in 1995 to supply services in what was then “new media.” Their clients now include multinational technology business 3M; commercial property management company MEPC; and the University of Sheffield.

Director Rob Hill said a combination of increased business from current clients and client gains had led to the rapid growth. The expansion has been supported by the Enterprising Barnsley programme, which targets high growth businesses in the borough, and has been advising on changes to the management structure.

Rob said: “We carried along quite happily with 12 staff until a year or two ago, when we took the conscious decision to grow.

“We set ourselves the target of doubling in size from 2012 to 2015, a sort of three-year plan, and so far we are on course to do that.

“In a way we had to do it, because you can’t stand still in this business. Digital marketing has become more complex and we need a greater breadth of skills to deliver the same high quality to the client.”

HMA Digital Marketing’s core business is website and app design; with other services on offer, such as pay per click, search engine optimisation, email marketing and video animation.

“When we first started we were one of only around a dozen or so companies doing web design and services like computer-generated imagery; now there is so much competition. But our history means we can combine experience with cutting edge ideas,” said Rob.

The company wants to recruit to marketing and business development posts as soon as possible.

Adrian Waite, from Enterprising Barnsley, said: “It’s a credit to Rob and his team that a company from Barnsley that was there at the beginning of the digital media revolution still there at the forefront today.

“By expanding in a planned fashion and taking the advice on offer, I expect to see them leading the way for years to come.”

The Enterprising Barnsley programme is a partnership between Barnsley Development Agency (BDA) and Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre.

It is supported financially by the European Union and has attracted £2,259,511 investment from the European Regional Development Fund as part of Europe’s support for the region’s economic development, through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme.