Creative comms agency, Splendid, has opened a second UK office in renowned creative hub, Bristol, England.
The South-West outpost aims to help the agency continue to attract the best and most diverse talent available – something it believes to be increasingly important as most agencies, including Splendid, mandate a permanent return to the office.
The base will also help The Splendid Collective service its West-Country-based clients, including Ginsters of Cornwall and Aardman.
The office will be led by Splendid multi-award-winning Creative Director, Fran Langdon, whose seven-year tenure at Splendid has seen the agency grow and work with some of the biggest brands in the world at both a global and local level. A multi-sector specialist, Langdon’s Bristol office will eventually look to spearhead agency’s creative department, with a team of experts offering consumer, corporate and trade PR expertise. Social media, influencer and design expertise will initially be delivered via Splendid London, with plans to also recruit locally in time. The Bristol team will work as an extension of Splendid London (and vice versa), with Langdon maintaining her role as Creative Director servicing Splendid London’s clients.
The agency will begin to offer existing staff the chance to relocate and work from Splendid Bristol as their main office base, as well as giving new recruits the chance to pick a base, widening the recruitment pool.
Fran Langdon, Creative Director, Splendid Communications, comments: “This region has a disruptive, creative energy to it; its people and brands keep it real and do things differently. This is very much in line with the Splendid values and our brand of best-in-class creativity and delivery, so we can’t wait to get going. What’s more, Bristol is well-known UK-wide as a hub for creative talent, and I couldn’t be more eager to now be able to tap into it fully. We strongly believe in recruiting the most diverse talent available, and this is just one of many ways we believe we can look to do that, supporting talented individuals who either can’t afford to or don’t want to live in London. We have seen a huge adjustment in our work force’s personal priorities over the last few years, and we want to continue to support that.
“We are also excited to offer regional perspectives and voices to our existing clients, and offer clients based in the South West the option to be supported by a team of local experts. We already have an incredible client base in the South West, and are looking to expand it as part of this move. After nearly 20-years in London, I’ve also personally been enjoying a long-awaited return to my home city of Bristol.”
Alec Samways, CEO and Founder, Splendid Communications, comments: “For me regional expansion is the future of our industry, and critical to its continued evolution and adaption as the world around us changes at pace. So much of our industry thinks and operates in a London bubble. I am confident that, with Fran at the helm and access to a fresh talent pool, Splendid Bristol can continue to help us pioneer our real-world, ‘beyond the bubble’ approach. We know it will be a huge success, and already have our sights set on a Northern base too.”
The move follows a recent agency rebrand as Splendid enters its 21st year in business.
Splendid is the lead agency in The Splendid Collective, which was formed in 2021 after the acquisition of specialist culture, creator and festival agency Kingdom Collective. This was followed shortly by arts and entertainment agency, Riot, and subsequently streetwear and action sports agency, DIY.
For all new business enquiries for Splendid Bristol, email: newbrizness@splendidcomms.com
