Digital agency Soap Media secures new Preston site with £375k support

Digital agency Soap Media Ltd has acquired a new Lancashire base with six-figure support from Barclays.

The company used the £375k working capital facility to purchase new premises at Glover’s Court in Preston.

Soap Media said the site, once home to the Lambert Brothers’ printing press business, was in need of a huge amount of renovation.

A Heritage Lottery Fund grant was secured to revamp the space.

Markerle Davis, managing director and co-founder of Soap Media, commented: “Soap Media has grown significantly over the last few years and from this we have developed a strong relationship with Barclays as we need a banking partner for the long-term, supportive of our aims and ambitions.

“The team at Barclays shares our enthusiasm, understands our business and through the purchase of the new site has enabled us to scale up and attract high quality members of staff.”

Founded in 2005, Soap Media’s client portfolio today includes supermarket chain Booths, leisure operator Merlin Entertainment, fintech giant MoneySupermarket.com and retailer American Golf.

Stephen Tams, Barclays business manager, led the team that arranged the facility.

He said: “Soap Media is a fascinating company to work with and I have thoroughly enjoyed building a strong partnership with the management team over the last 12 months.

“The energy and passion of all the staff has enabled them to achieve phenomenal growth in a short space of time, securing some high profile clients.”

He continued: “This is a well-run, growing North West business and is now ideally positioned to continue on its growth track over the coming years.

“The close relationship helps us to understand the key drivers for the business which, in turn, has enabled us to deliver a funding solution that fully satisfies Soap Media’s ongoing requirements.”