Huge congratulations to Strong client, Astra Group, on making the finals of the 2025 Sign & Wrap Awards.

One of the industry’s most prestigious events, the shortlist sees Astra Group nominated in not just one, but four categories.  These include Roll Out Campaign of the Year for its work with pioneering car retail giant, Arnold Clark, to roll out its £30m EV Charge network; Architectural Sign of the Year for its work with Europe’s largest indoor arena, Co-op Live; and Interior Décor Campaign of the Year, also for its work with Co-op Live.

Shining a light on the breadth of talent and expertise at Astra Group, the business is also nominated in the coveted category Signage Company of the Year (Over 30 Employees).

Speaking on the news, Astra Group CEO, Jim Kerr, said:  “2024 was a phenomenal year for Astra Group, with the business responsible for some of the year’s most significant and pioneering bespoke signage developments.  That wouldn’t be possible without our incredible team, our clients, and our partners.

“To have that work recognised by the Sign & Wrap Awards and see Astra Group acknowledged as finalists in four categories is fantastic.  We’re looking forward to coming together with our industry peers on March 25^th and raising a glass to all.”

The 2025 Sign & Wrap Awards are the biggest night in the signage and wrapping industry calendar.  They bring together sign makers and vinyl wrapping professionals from across the UK and Ireland to recognise and celebrate the very best of the industry.

We wish the team all the very best for the exclusive awards ceremony this March.

The Strong Agency is a Manchester PR agency skilled in building brands, driving footfall, and helping to grow businesses.  We provide a broad range of PR & marketing communications services for B2B and B2C clients including strategy development, reputation management, digital PR, copywriting, content creation, media relations, influencer campaigns, social media marketing, awards, events and crisis PR.  To learn more about Strong’s work in a broad range of sectors visit the case study section of our website.

With the arrival of a new year comes the opportunity to pause and reflect on the past.  And what a year 2023 has been for The Strong Agency.

We were delighted see our work recognised in not one but three industry-leading awards, with The Strong Agency crowned:

• PR Agency of the Year at the 2023 Prolific North Champions Awards
• Small Consultancy of the Year at the 2023 PRCA Dare Awards (North)
• Judges Choice Award at the 2023 MEN Business Awards

We were equally thrilled to see Strong founder Julie Wilson acknowledged and awarded Professional of the Year in the 2023 PRCA Dare Awards.  It is the third consecutive year that Jules has received the prestigious accolade and is an achievement of which we are incredibly proud.

In addition to the agency’s award-winning success, October saw a move into new premises for The Strong Agency with us delighted to join the Bruntwood Works community at Bloc.  It’s an incredible office space located in the heart of Manchester and provides Strong’s clients with access to a suite of state-of-the-art facilities.

The move coincided with us welcoming fantastic new talent to the agency, expanding our ever strong PR and marketing communications team.

And it’s not just the team that has grown over the last 12 months.  We’ve been delighted to expand our portfolio of clients in a wide range of sectors.

We’ve launched and promoted some of the UK’s most exciting new hospitality venues including Liverpool’s highest alfresco bar, 360 Sky Bar; Gino D’Acampo’s latest outpost, Gino D’Acampo Boar Lane, in Leeds; and announced Upmarket Leisure’s acquisition of Radio Rooftop, one of London’s most iconic rooftop bars located at ME London hotel.

We were also thrilled to continue our work with the north’s most prestigious art fair, Manchester Art Fair, as it celebrated its 15th edition in the city.  It’s a story we were delighted to document on BBC Northwest Tonight.

We’ve been proud to contribute to the continued growth and success of all Strong’s clients with  Groobarbs Field Kitchen celebrating a hat-trick of food and drink accolades in the 2023 Taste Cheshire awards, Astra Group awarded Wayfinding Project of the Year at the 2023 UK Sign Awards, and Mint Property Finance crowned Best Short-Term Lender in the 2023 What Mortgage Awards.

We’ve navigated the continually evolving business and media landscape and delivered a 100% increase in linked YOY coverage for one client alone.

We move into 2024 with exciting plans in place and look forward to sharing more over the coming weeks and months.

Should you be looking to build your brand, launch a new product, drive increased sales, reach new audiences, or elevate your market position we’d love to discuss how together we can make your business stronger.

Here’s to a wonderful 2024 and an award-winning year for all of Strong’s clients.

We were lost for words last night as The Strong Agency was awarded PR Agency of the Year (Small) at the 2023 Prolific North Champions Awards.

The prestigious awards celebrate the top teams, innovative companies, remarkable campaigns and influential people all making their mark on the region.

The win follows an independent and rigorous judging process with each entry individually scored against a set of criteria, followed by a discussion amongst all the judges.  The Strong Agency was recognised for its outstanding work and incredible achievements in what remains one of the most challenging times for UK businesses, with Strong founder, Julie Wilson, proud to receive the accolade.

Also celebrating on the night was BBC Breakfast, awarded Broadcasting Programme of the Year for ‘Rob Burrow: Living With MND’, and 7digital Creative (BBC Radio 2), awarded Audio Production of the Year for ’21st Century Folk.’

The event was hosted by one of the UK’s most decorated Paralympians Danny Crates at Emirates Old Trafford, The Point, and saw 30 trophies presented to the region’s most deserving winners.  Celebrations continued late into the evening.

The accolade is the latest in a series of industry achievements for The Strong Agency with the agency proud to have been recognised in every year of business.  We’re delighted to celebrate this latest win and to be awarded PR Agency of the Year.

It was a proud moment for The Strong Agency last night as the agency was recognised in the 2023 MEN Business Awards.

The prestigious awards, decided by a team of the UK’s leading industry experts, honour the region’s best businesses and the people behind them.

And there was real cause for celebration for Strong, with the agency thrilled to receive the Judges’ Choice Award, in recognition of its outstanding work and business achievements.

Returning for the 31st year the MEN Business Awards celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, and creativity, shining a light on the fantastic activities businesses are undertaking to make a difference across Greater Manchester.

Also celebrating on the evening was MattressTek who picked up the Global Britain Award, N Brown who received the Innovation Award, Twisted Loom who picked up the Made in Britain Award and Manchester Central who received the Outstanding Contribution to Business Award.  Business of the Year was awarded to Sambro International Ltd, sponsored by Gately Legal.

Speaking on the win, Founder of The Strong Agency, Julie Wilson, said: “Strong was founded with one objective, to deliver great work with great people.  To have that work recognised by the MEN Business Awards and in the company of so many outstanding businesses is incredibly humbling. We’re absolutely thrilled.”

The ceremony was hosted by Olympic sprinter Iwan Thomas MBE and supported by the Manchester Evening News and Reach’s business news site BusinessLive.  The win is the lastest in a series of accolades received by The Strong Agency with the agency proud to have been recognised in every year of business.