Wed, 19 Mar 2025 | BUSINESS SALE
Edinburgh-based marketing firm LOOP Agencies will become Scotland’s earliest-ever employee-owned business later this month.
The company is making the move in only its second year of trading. It means that at the end of March the company will be owned by its 15 staff in an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Co-founded by Vicky Hope and Ed Vickers, LOOP specialises in building in-house creative agencies to deliver high-volume campaigns, utilising generative AI and the latest marketing technologies.
LOOP’s clients include Aberdeen, First Sentier Group, Franklin Templeton, Phoenix Group, Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited, Scottish Equity Partners, and Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. New client wins during the first quarter of 2025 include UK private bank Hampden & Co.
Hope and Vickers said: “From the start at LOOP, we have wanted to prioritise our people and put them first, encouraging a commercial approach to creativity, with a niche focus on regulated industries, to deliver exceptional results.”
Hope added: “While we actively considered other options, including private equity and external acquisition interest, employee ownership was by far the best choice to live our people-first values. Research shows that employee-owned businesses have happier and more productive staff bringing enormous benefits to companies, employees and the wider economy. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Vickers said: “To attract the new breed of multi-disciplined digital creators, they need to know that you have a truly vested and shared interest in them being integral to the future of the business. Our culture and values are front and centre, and we now have a stronger foundation for ongoing growth and expansion.”
LOOP plans to open an office in London in the second quarter this year to support its growing client base there and will be adding key hires in both Edinburgh and London.
LOOP is also starting to work with other industries outside of financial services and has a number of opportunities in the pipeline. Hope said: “Regulated financial services brands will continue to be our main sector, but we’re also having some interesting conversations in other sectors, showing how transferable our approach to creative services is, including internationally.”
Legal firm Lindsays and EOT specialist Ownership Associates advised LOOP Agencies on the deal, which will be completed at the end of March.
Find out more about employee ownership trusts
This general practice firm presents a significant opportunity for growth, especially by expanding services in inheritance tax planning.
This client is entering the market for the first time, seeking a friendly and approachable firm to manage both staff and client relationships going forward.
Client comes to the market for the first time with a view to finding a friendly and professional firm that understands the value in retaining quality team members and will put them at the forefront of the deal.
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