This June is a landmark moment for Altrincham-based, employee-owned agency, C21.
Originally founded in 1998, trading out of a small office on Atlantic Street, with just five employees – three of whom are still with the company – and big ambitions. It wasn’t long before the business moved to Back Grafton Street in the centre of Altrincham, and from there to their current offices at The Court House on Grafton Street, as demand increased, and growth followed.
The company employs an expert team of project managers, creatives, designers, developers and strategists, who pride themselves not only on their commitment to efficient and effective project delivery but the long-standing relationships they have fostered with clients and suppliers alike.
Managing Director, Christina Clarke said “I am immensely proud to have reached this landmark year and appreciative of all the support and hard work of the team. Our long-standing client relationships have been key to our success and longevity. Taking the time to know and understand your clients, their business and insights into their sector is the foundation for developing mutual respect, exceptional trust, and lays a pathway to campaigns that can really create change. I know the team at C21 have so much more to achieve and I’m excited for what the future holds.”
Over the last 25 years, C21 has delivered multiple strategic, creative and digitally driven behavioural change campaigns, both nationally and internationally, within the healthcare, housing, leisure, business-to-business, public and charity sectors, establishing great rapport and strong relationships with clients.
This includes clients such as hygiene and health company, Essity who C21 has worked with since 1998 – delivering campaigns for their Away From Home brand Tork, and Care Home sector brand TENA, across Europe and the USA, and Manchester Foundation Trust who they’ve supported since the launch of the New Children’s Hospital Appeal back in 2006. In the social housing sector, C21 has worked closely with ForHousing since 2009, and more recently delivered award winning, behavioural change campaigns, such as DRYMESTER, helping parents-to-be go alcohol free during pregnancy, on behalf of Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership.
Big change came in June 2021 when C21 became employee-owned, with Christina transferring 100% of the company’s shares to its employees. The bold move seemed a natural step for Christina who recognised it as a great cultural fit – C21’s employees are intrinsic to maintaining exceptional project implementation, delivering courageous creativity and driving purposeful change.
Christina added; “C21 has been blessed with employees who really care and go the extra mile – some have been with the company since its inception, a large proportion have been employed for over 10 years and others have left only to return with more experience and insight. This is why our clients remain loyal, secure in the knowledge that staff will not only pull out all the stops to produce great strategic creative but that they always go the extra mile, no matter the ask.”
June also marks an exciting month for C21 having been shortlisted for a Prolific North Award for Rebrand/launch and activation for Manchester-based medical research company, North West E-Health. The awards will take place on 29thJune at the Museum of Science and Industry.
C21 is a full-service Altrincham-based Marketing Agency, and winners of Prolific North’s Best Small Agency 2021. Established in 1998 by Christina Clarke, the company employees 15 people across multiple disciplines: project management, creative, design, digital, motion graphics and strategy. Building on company’s ethos and success of the last 18 months, the company became employee-owned in June 2021.
On 8th June 2023, C21 will be hosting its 25th Birthday party on the brand-new roof terrace of their offices at The Court House, Grafton Street. Co-owners, ex-employees, suppliers, clients – old and new – have been invited to attend between 4-8pm. Wanting to keep the party a local affair, food will be provided by Tender Cow based on Altrincham Market and the drinks provided by Majestic Wines in Hale.
The party will also be attended by If Agency who will be moving into the first floor of The Court House in the coming months.
For further details, please email Kelly.dronsfield@c-21.co.uk
