Specialist marketing and PR agency Lesniak Swann has moved to new, larger offices at the historic former Spode site in Stoke-on-Trent – now a growing hub for creative businesses.
With headcount growing rapidly following a series of major international client wins, the agency needed to find larger premises. The refurbished heritage building at Spode has proved a perfect fit, locating them within a burgeoning group of established and startup creative businesses which has been dubbed the “createch” community.
Createch businesses specialise in selling creative services, underpinned by a focus on how new and emerging technology can be used to do their work most effectively. Together they provide over 150 well-paid jobs and bring more than £10 million to the city in terms of direct revenue and business for their local suppliers.
The new office is a former workshop for the famous Spode brand that would have housed pottery industry creatives such as throwers, designers and painters. It was recently renovated as part of a project led by Stoke-on-Trent City Council that is creating modern, digitally enhanced enterprise spaces for growing local businesses and start-ups with further space on the Spode site as well as Swann House in Stoke and Longton Town Hall.
Alex Swann, managing director of Lesniak Swann, commented:
“We’ve been located in Stoke for over twenty years; our first offices were in an old tyre garage next to a pub just up the road from Spode. We’re excited to be based in a cluster of like-minded but complementary businesses that has a real sense of momentum behind it – I know for a fact there is a waiting list for office space in other parts of the site.
“The move will support our continued growth in a number of ways, not only because we’d be near to a decent hostelry again. Being based close to our peers means easier collaboration to share best practice. It’s also hugely important to attracting and keeping the great talent coming out of both Staffordshire and Keele universities as graduates can see there is a clear route to finding a well-paid creative job locally within a support network of businesses.
“Crucially, all of the createch businesses work with big brands here in the UK and further afield, so talented people don’t have to look outside of the area to build an impressive CV right out of university.”
Councillor Duncan Walker, Cabinet Member for Planning, Climate Change and Regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council added:
“We welcome Lesniak Swann to the Spode site and are delighted to be able offer the high calibre facilities that local specialist businesses need to grow.
“The character and creativity of the past, combined with the latest technology is a fantastic offer to showcase the creative and digital talent of today.
“Our enterprise spaces are an exciting addition to the employment mix for the city, and at Spode mark the enormous potential of the site. With the wider site plans in development and a flourishing digital and creative community, we can attract and provide opportunities for the talent coming from our universities and colleges and retain these skills in the city.”
Lesniak Swann boasts an enviable track record of working with high-profile B2B clients including Michelin, Finning UK and Ireland, Polypipe and Etex. The agency specialises in complex sectors such as construction and engineering, meaning that clients receive experienced support from staff who understand their sector and how to get the best marketing results.
