Directors buy design agency after founder retires

MD Alistair Farrant and creative director Jem Hager, who completed the buyout with funding from the Royal Bank of Scotland, have plans to double GDA’s turnover to more than £2m in the next five years. Following four recent new business wins, the agency – which employs 10 people at its Barnsley base – says it is “well placed” to achieve these goals.

Mr Farrant said: “Graham founded a vibrant, creative agency starting with just one employee, Jem, and gained a strong reputation in the north of England, particularly across the property sector. We are building on his legacy – diversifying our areas of expertise to include digital marketing and app development, whilst expanding into new sectors including social housing and manufacturing.”

Law firm hlw Keeble Hawson, which has offices in Doncaster, Sheffield and Leeds, advised GDA on the deal.

Partner Chris Wilson said: “The management buyout symbolises a real success story for this respected agency.

“After several challenging years for many businesses in the South Yorkshire area it is encouraging to see the volume of new contracts that Alistair and Jem are securing.”

Mr Farrant added: “We are grateful to RBS who have had the confidence to fund us and to our professional advisers at hlw Keeble Hawson and accountants GVT in Sheffield who helped to achieve the buyout swiftly and efficiently.”

GDA Creative Marketing’s recent new business commissions include projects for Sheffield architects Coda Studios; Coast and Country Housing in Redcar; Arkote, a Sheffield-based manufacturer of precision knives for the tobacco industry; and Environmental Essentials, an asbestos management company in Staffordshire.