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The Marketing Channel We All Keep Ignoring: Email Marketing

By Megan Johnstone-Mackie, PR and Marketing Manager, allpoints

Every time I sit down and connect with event founders to chat about growth, social media completely hogs the agenda but rarely does email marketing get mentioned. We always end up lightly debating algorithm shifts, video trends, and how on earth to stretch a three-day brand activation into a fortnight of LinkedIn posts. I entirely get it, social is visual and immediate but, whilst everyone is busy fighting for organic reach, one of the most effective channels we have is sitting quietly in the corner: Email.

A glossy reel feels great to post, I won’t deny that, but the social platform controls who sees it. When you build an email list, you actually own the audience. No algorithm update can suddenly pull the rug out from under you and block access to the very people who explicitly asked to hear from your agency.

allpoints-agency-email-marketing

Why the Inbox Wins

Brands rarely hire event agencies on a whim. A brand manager might not need an exhibition stand today, but when a massive project lands on their desk in six months, the agency sitting quietly in their inbox is naturally the one they ring first. If you think email is a bit outdated, I’d urge you to look at the numbers. Litmus data reckons email delivers an average return of around $36 for every dollar spent. The secret is that the best returns always come from relationship-building newsletters, rather than relentless sales pitches.

The DMA’s 2025 report backs this up entirely. They found a 98% delivery rate and unique click rates creeping up to 2.3%. MailerLite also saw average open rates of over 43% this year, alongside a tiny 0.22% unsubscribe rate. Yes, modern privacy settings mean we need to take open rates with a pinch of salt these days. Even so, the core truth is undeniable: an email lands right in front of a decision-maker whilst they’re sitting at their desk working.

What on Earth Do We Write About?

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The biggest roadblock I see is that most agencies think they have absolutely nothing to say unless they’ve just wrapped a massive, shiny project. You don’t need a fresh set of hero photos to send a brilliant email.

Honestly, explaining the gritty details of a job is usually far more valuable to a prospective client than showing off the final polish. Try mixing up your content like this:

Sync with their calendar: Drop them practical advice right when they start planning. A checklist for Q4 activations sent in late summer is incredibly helpful and shows you understand their timeline.

Share the raw lessons: Ditch the self-congratulatory case study. Instead, talk about the three critical planning decisions that kept 10,000 attendees moving smoothly. Talk about what actually went wrong and how you fixed it.

Discuss industry shifts: Weigh in on real trends. Have an opinion on sustainable staging materials or the classic mistakes clients keep making when writing event briefs.

Put your team in the spotlight: Let your lead producer share their golden rules for production, or have your creative director explain spatial flow. Exposing the brains behind the operation builds massive trust.

allpoints-agency-email-marketing

Gathering the Right Crowd

For any of this to work, you need the right people reading. In fact, I would take a list of 200 highly engaged brand directors over 5,000 random contacts any day of the week.

The smartest way to gather these contacts is by offering something genuinely useful on your website. Let’s face it, nobody wakes up wanting to “download your agency brochure”, but offering a definitive 20-point checklist to complete before briefing an experiential agency? That gives a busy marketing manager a proper reason to hand over their email address.

A quick word of warning on the legal side. You absolutely must play by the rules with UK data laws. The ICO doesn’t mess around with marketing consent under PECR and general data protection rules. So, get rid of any pre-ticked boxes, be completely transparent about what they are signing up for, keep a solid record of their opt-in, and always stick an unsubscribe link at the bottom of every message. Keep it clean, simple, and compliant.

Don’t Just Vanish

When someone does opt in, don’t just send them the download and vanish into thin air. Set up a straightforward welcome sequence. Just three automated emails introducing your agency’s ethos and sharing your best insights will do the job perfectly. After that, find a rhythm you can actually stick to. A thoughtful, high-value email sent once a month will always beat a rushed weekly blast you threw together in a panic on a Friday afternoon. 

Social media might catch someone’s eye for a few fleeting seconds, but the inbox gives you a private space to build genuine familiarity, month in, month out. When the next big pitch comes around, you won’t be pitching cold. You will already be the experts they know and trust.

The future of marketing may not belong solely to the brands that are seen the most, but to the brands people actually remember. Your next read, we recommend: Is Cannes Lions Worth It for Agencies and What Leaders Should Consider Before Booking 2026

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Allpoints Insights

Powerful M&A’s of the Month: June 2026

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

June’s M&A activity continued to demonstrate strong confidence across the events, experiential and marketing sectors, with businesses focusing on scale, capability expansion and deeper audience engagement. While consolidation remains a key theme, this month’s activity also highlighted growing investment in specialist expertise, creator economies, gaming and esports audiences, AI-driven services and the continued value of industry communities.

From private equity investment in major event organisers to agencies expanding through acquisition and global marketing groups strengthening their influence in emerging sectors, the market continues to evolve around integrated experiences, specialist capabilities and long-term audience value.

Below are several notable moves from June that highlight where the industry continues to evolve.

Hellman & Friedman to Acquire Hyve Group – Global

Deal: Private equity firm Hellman & Friedman has agreed to acquire Hyve Group, one of the world’s leading event organisers. The acquisition marks a significant milestone for Hyve as it enters a new phase of growth focused on expanding its industry communities and strengthening its position across global markets. Hyve has built a portfolio of large-scale events serving sectors ranging from technology and retail to manufacturing and energy.

Why does it matter? This acquisition reinforces continued investor confidence in the events sector and the long-term value of industry communities. As organisers increasingly focus on creating year-round engagement rather than standalone events, businesses with strong audience ecosystems and recurring communities continue to attract significant investment.

allpoints M&A news

Strata Acquires We Are Collider – UK

Deal: The Strata Group has acquired brand experience agency We Are Collider, adding specialist expertise across esports, gaming, consumer engagement, AI and behavioural science. The move follows The Strata Group’s acquisition of Wonderland Agency earlier this year and strengthens its ambition to build an integrated network spanning experiential marketing, live communications and audience engagement.

Why does it matter? This acquisition reflects growing demand for integrated agency models capable of delivering broader strategic and creative services under one roof. It also demonstrates increasing investment in specialist sectors such as gaming, esports and AI, where brands continue to seek new ways of connecting with audiences. The move highlights how agencies are expanding capabilities to meet increasingly complex client requirements across multiple channels and experiences.

allpoints M&A news

MPC and The Mill Unite Under One Brand – Global

Deal: Creative production businesses MPC and The Mill have announced plans to unite under a single brand, bringing together two globally recognised names in visual effects, creative production and content creation. The move is designed to simplify operations, strengthen market positioning and create a more integrated offering across advertising, entertainment and brand experience projects.

Why does it matter? The unification reflects a broader trend towards operational integration and streamlined service delivery within creative and production sectors. As clients increasingly seek connected solutions across content, technology and experiences, larger integrated organisations are becoming better positioned to deliver work at scale while maintaining specialist expertise.

allpoints M&A news

Dinosaur Becomes Creative Partner to Mythos Manchester – UK

Deal: Independent creative agency Dinosaur has joined Mythos Manchester as its creative partner, bringing additional strategic and creative capability to the live events and experiential business. The partnership is designed to strengthen creative delivery across Mythos projects while expanding opportunities for collaboration across both organisations.

Why does it matter? Strategic partnerships continue to play an important role in helping agencies expand capability without pursuing traditional acquisition routes. This move highlights how creative expertise remains a critical differentiator within the events sector, with organisers and agencies increasingly seeking specialist partners that can enhance audience experiences, strengthen storytelling and support more ambitious project delivery.

allpoints M&A news

Accenture Song Acquires Whalar – Global

Deal: Accenture Song has announced the acquisition of influencer marketing company Whalar, significantly expanding its capabilities within the creator economy. Whalar has built a global reputation for connecting brands with creators through influencer marketing, content partnerships and creator-led campaigns. The acquisition strengthens Accenture Song’s position across marketing, commerce and digital engagement while providing greater access to creator-driven audiences worldwide.

Why does it matter? The acquisition reflects the continued growth and maturation of the creator economy as a major channel for brand engagement. As audiences increasingly consume content through creators and community-led platforms, businesses are investing heavily in capabilities that support influencer marketing, audience building and digital engagement.

allpoints M&A news

Final M&A Thoughts

June’s activity shows the industry is investing in growth, capability, and audience value.

Key themes emerging this month include:

  • Continued consolidation across events, experiential and marketing sectors
  • Increased investment in specialist capabilities, including AI, gaming, esports and creator marketing
  • Growing focus on integrated service offerings and connected client experiences
  • Strong investor confidence in businesses built around engaged communities and industry ecosystems

Whether through acquisition, partnership or operational integration, organisations continue to position themselves around scale, specialisation and deeper audience engagement as the market evolves.

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Uh Oh… Traditional Search Is Dropping. Here’s What to Do Next.

By Megan Johnstone-Mackie, PR and Marketing Manager, allpoints

Here we are again… yet another layer of marketing we need to wrap our heads around, because fundamentally, the way people find information is changing, and it’s happening fast.


For a very long time, and certainly as long as I have worked in marketing (15 years now!), online visibility followed a relatively predictable formula: write content, optimise your website, and pray to the Google gods for a higher ranking. All in the hope of driving traffic and landing leads and, whilst traditional search isn’t going to vanish overnight, businesses seriously need to wake up to how quickly the game is changing.


Instead of scrolling through pages of search results, more of us are turning to AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude to get direct answers to our questions. Research from Gartner found that traditional search engine volume is expected to decline by 25% by 2026 as users increasingly shift towards AI assistants and other virtual agents for information discovery. Meanwhile, news publishers expect search traffic to drop 43% over the next three years. 

To see how fast this is happening, look at recent data from Adobe. They found that traffic arriving on websites from generative AI sources skyrocketed by 1,200% between July 2024 and February 2025 alone. While AI-driven traffic might still represent a relatively small slice of overall web visits right now, that kind of exponential growth proves just how quickly these platforms are hijacking the customer journey.

Not only this, but users are being pushed to use AI left, right and centre. Google, for instance, often pushes AI Overviews immediately ahead of traditional search results. Users get their answer right at the top, without ever having to click through to a website.

For businesses, this creates a pretty major challenge. If fewer people are actually clicking through traditional search results, how do you make sure your brand still gets found in the never-ending depths of the internet? In reality, the answer boils down to three core things: authority, credibility, and trust.

AI Doesn’t Care About Your Paid Ads

Research highlights just how large this shift really is: a vendor study cited by Gartner found that an enormous 95% of links referenced by AI search engines come from non-paid sources, while 27% originate directly from earned media coverage. This means that AI-generated responses aren’t pulling from your paid ads, they’re drawing heavily from earned and third-party sources.

Why PR is Your New Visibility Hack

AI engines also can’t easily crawl walled-off apps like Instagram or Facebook. Instead, they are aggressively pulling answers from open, indexed platforms where real experts are having public conversations, specifically LinkedIn, Reddit, YouTube transcripts, and digital PR placements.

This is where PR suddenly becomes incredibly valuable for brands and businesses. A solid PR strategy creates exactly the kind of digital footprint these AI platforms are looking for.

We’re talking about:

  • Publishing original research and fresh insights (because AI models love new data)
  • Providing expert commentary and securing media interviews in trusted publications
  • Landing industry features and guest articles that build your off-site credibility
  • Getting on podcasts and speaking at industry events to build human-led authority
  • Building real, ongoing relationships with trusted media outlets
  • Creating high-value, searchable content on open platforms, such as long-form blog posts, LinkedIn articles, Reddit AMAs, or YouTube videos, that other people actually want to reference and link to.

While you can publish unlimited content on your own blog, independent coverage carries much more weight because it proves to the AI that other people consider you worth listening to. For example, when someone asks an AI tool for recommendations, industry trends, or expert opinions, the sources that pop up are usually the organisations and individuals who have built authority through media coverage, research, and thought leadership.

Building Authority for the Future

The businesses that are going to successfully navigate these changes are those that are building genuine authority in their sector. As AI search continues to evolve, visibility is going to depend entirely on trust and authority. For a lot of businesses, that means PR is very quickly becoming one of the most important visibility strategies out there. Time to get to work!

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Allpoints Insights

Five Shocking Reasons We Know the Experience Economy Is Here to Stay

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

Brands have focused heavily on performance marketing for years, including online engagement, paid social, and digital visibility, all with the goal of reaching audiences faster, more efficiently, and at greater scale.

Experience Economy with allpoints

However, another shift has been happening alongside it. Research from Eventbrite found that 78% of Gen Z and Millennial consumers would rather spend money on experiences than physical products. That shift is changing the role experiential marketing and face-to-face events play within emerging business strategy. So what does that mean for the experience economy?

Events were once considered a “nice addition” to a campaign, but are now becoming a central part of how brands build visibility, loyalty, cultural relevance, and long-term engagement. For agencies, that creates both a major opportunity and a significant challenge as experience-led strategy becomes increasingly important for brand growth.


1. The Demand for Experience-Led Strategy Is Growing

Across industries, brands are investing more heavily into experiential campaigns, immersive activations, live events, community-driven experiences, and consumer-focused moments.

Particularly for businesses with B2C or consumer-facing elements, there is increasing pressure to create experiences that bring people together physically, not just digitally.

Festivals, immersive pop-ups, branded activations, community events, and interactive experiences are becoming more valuable because they create something digital marketing alone often struggles to achieve, emotional connection. Even digital-first businesses are beginning to pivot towards physical experiences and in-person connection models. Dating platform Thursday is one example of this. Originally built around online interaction, the brand has increasingly positioned itself around real-world events and physical meetups, recognising that audiences are actively craving in-person connection again, while still engaging with digital platforms more selectively. 

2. Why Younger Audiences Are Driving This Change

Your business visuals and fonts absolutely matter. Sans-serif fonts often feel modern, clean, and forward-thinking, while serif fonts can feel more classic, established, and rooted in heritage. Colours also carry meaning, blue often feels calm and trustworthy, while red and yellow can signal urgency or attention. These interpretations aren’t always universal, but can be heavily understood. Something to consOne of the most interesting shifts agencies are beginning to notice is the changing behaviour of younger audiences. 72% of 21-35 year olds feel positively towards events that offer meaningful, transformative experiences, highlighting the growing demand for immersive, experience-led engagement over traditional consumerism.

Audiences are becoming increasingly aware of oversaturation, algorithm-driven content, and performative online engagement. As a result, real-life experiences are beginning to carry more cultural value. People want moments they can genuinely participate in rather than simply consume through a screen. In fact, digital often amplifies the impact of experiential campaigns and the content captured through live experiences frequently becomes the fuel for wider social campaigns, PR, community engagement, and long-term brand storytelling. The difference now is that the experience itself is becoming the core asset with the online content becoming an extension of the moment rather than the entire strategy.

3. Why Agencies Need to Adapt Now

The experiential economy is still growing rapidly, and many agencies believe the next three to four years could see a major acceleration in demand for experience-led strategy. In 2025 alone, 74% of Fortune 1000 marketers increased their experiential marketing spend, signalling a clear shift toward experience-led growth and audience engagement strategies. 

However, adapting does not simply mean adding “events” onto a services page. It requires agencies to rethink how they understand audiences, measure engagement, build campaigns, and position value. The agencies likely to lead this next phase of growth are the ones investing in areas such as:

  • Behavioural insight and audience psychology
  • Experiential strategy
  • Consumer engagement
  • Data and analytics
  • Community-building
  • Immersive storytelling
  • Hybrid digital and physical campaigns

Experiential marketing without audience understanding is ineffective. Brands now need deeper insight into behaviour, emotional engagement, and what creates lasting loyalty. 

4. The Biggest Challenge For Agencies

Despite growing demand, many brands are still cautious about experiential investment.

The biggest reason behind this is that proving impact is harder. Digital campaigns often provide immediate metrics including clicks, impressions, conversions, and attribution. Experiential campaigns operate differently, with value often being emotional, long-term, community-driven, and spread across multiple touchpoints, making measurement more complex and for agencies, this creates pressure to develop stronger ways of tracking success through:

  • Data capture
  • Audience engagement metrics
  • Content performance
  • Lead generation
  • Brand sentiment
  • Community growth
  • Social amplification
  • Long-term customer retention

The agencies that can clearly demonstrate commercial impact alongside emotional engagement will likely become increasingly valuable to brands over the coming years.

5. Challenges Agencies Need to Consider

There is also another reality agencies must navigate. In order to market experiential work effectively, agencies often need previous experiential work to showcase. Live events generate the content, engagement insights, and case studies brands want to see before investing, this means agencies may need to strategically invest in building experiential portfolios now, even before demand fully peaks. Once an experience happens, the value extends far beyond the event itself, creating content ecosystems, social assets, measurable engagement, and long-term marketing material that continues driving visibility long after the event ends.

This Is Not a Passing Trend

Brands are increasingly looking for ways to create deeper audience connection, stronger emotional engagement, and real-world visibility that cuts through digital saturation. While the industry is still evolving, the direction of travel is clear. The agencies that strengthen their audience understanding and build experience-led capabilities now will likely be far better positioned for where the industry is heading next. The future of marketing may not belong solely to the brands that are seen the most, but to the brands people actually remember. Your next read, we recommend: Is Cannes Lions Worth It for Agencies and What Leaders Should Consider Before Booking 2026

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Allpoints Insights

Powerful M&A’s of the Month: May 2026

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

May’s M&A deal activity continued to reflect a market evolving through consolidation, operational scale and sector specialisation. Across the events, exhibitions and business travel landscape, organisations are strengthening their market positions through acquisition, while investors continue to show confidence in businesses supporting large-scale experiences, global delivery and specialist audiences.

Below are several notable moves from May that highlight where the industry continues to evolve.

Long Lake to Acquire Amex GBT Meetings & Events in $6.3bn Deal – Global

Deal: Investment and technology firm Long Lake has agreed to acquire American Express Global Business Travel, known as Amex GBT, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $6.3 billion. The acquisition reflects a significant investment in the future of business travel, with Long Lake positioning AI and operational transformation at the centre of its strategy. Amex GBT, which operates across travel, expense, meetings and events management, will continue supporting global corporate travel programmes under the new ownership structure.

Why does it matter? This deal reinforces continued investor confidence in the business travel and meetings sector, particularly businesses with strong infrastructure, global reach and integrated technology ecosystems. It also highlights the increasing role AI is expected to play across travel management, operational efficiency and customer experience within the wider events and corporate travel landscape.

Brands at Work Acquires Chorus – UK

Deal: Employee engagement and events agency Brands at Work has acquired Chorus, strengthening its communications and engagement offering. The move expands Brands at Work’s capabilities across internal communications, employee engagement and audience connection, allowing the combined organisation to deliver broader strategic support for clients navigating workforce engagement and culture transformation.

Why does it matter? As organisations continue to rethink workplace culture, employee engagement and internal communications are becoming increasingly connected to experience-led strategy. This acquisition reflects growing demand for agencies capable of combining communications, engagement and live experiences within one integrated proposition.

Event Marketer and The Exhibitor Advocate Announce Strategic Alliance – USA

Deal: Event Marketer and The Exhibitor Advocate have announced a strategic alliance designed to strengthen collaboration, advocacy and insight-sharing across the exhibitions and experiential industry. The partnership brings together Event Marketer’s position within the brand experience and experiential marketing sector with The Exhibitor Advocate’s focus on exhibitor education, industry standards and event transparency.

Why does it matter? This alliance reflects a growing emphasis on industry collaboration and ecosystem support within the events and exhibitions market. As exhibitors and brands continue to demand greater transparency, stronger ROI and improved event experiences, partnerships like this highlight the increasing importance of education, advocacy and shared industry intelligence. It also signals a broader shift toward organisations working more collaboratively to strengthen long-term value across the live events sector.

Apollo Global Management, Inc. Funds to Acquire Emerald and Questex – USA / Global

Deal: Apollo-managed funds have announced plans to acquire both Emerald and Questex, bringing two major exhibitions and media businesses under the same investment portfolio. The acquisition strengthens Apollo’s position within the exhibitions, media and live events market, adding significant scale across trade shows, conferences, digital media and industry content platforms.

Why does it matter? Private equity activity within the exhibitions sector continues to accelerate as investors identify long-term value in businesses with strong communities, recurring audiences and diversified revenue models. Bringing major organisers into larger investment portfolios also reflects growing confidence in live events as commercially resilient, high-value platforms for industry connection and engagement.

Marketplace Events Acquires Travel & Adventure Show – North America

Deal: Marketplace Events has acquired Travel Show Adventures, further expanding its consumer events portfolio and strengthening its position within the travel and lifestyle sector. Travel Show Adventures is known for producing consumer travel events that connect destinations, travel brands and tourism audiences through live experiences and industry showcases. The acquisition broadens Marketplace Events’ reach within the consumer exhibitions market while adding a complementary audience segment to its growing portfolio.

Why does it matter? This acquisition highlights continued consolidation within the consumer events space, where organisers are expanding into adjacent verticals to diversify audiences and strengthen portfolio value. As live events continue to play an important role in consumer discovery and brand engagement, organisers with broader category reach and established event ecosystems are becoming increasingly well-positioned for long-term growth.

Final M&A Thoughts

This month’s activity highlights three key themes continuing to shape the industry. First, consolidation and expansion remain strong across the events and exhibitions landscape. From business travel and consumer events to exhibitions and experiential marketing, organisations are continuing to grow through acquisition in order to strengthen market position, diversify audiences and expand delivery capability. Second, collaboration and integration are becoming increasingly important. Whether through strategic alliances, integrated service models or operational partnerships, businesses are focusing more heavily on how different capabilities work together to create stronger client and exhibitor experiences. Finally, specialisation and sector-focused growth continue to gain momentum. From healthcare communications and travel experiences to exhibitor advocacy and engagement strategy, organisations are increasingly investing in niche expertise and audience-led platforms that support long-term growth and stronger industry positioning.

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Allpoints Insights

Powerful M&A’s of the Month: April 2026

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

April’s M&A deals continued to demonstrate how the industry is evolving within traditional agency structures, with a clear focus on integration, operational infrastructure and global capability. While deal activity remains consistent, the intent behind it is becoming more strategic. Organisations are not just scaling, but strengthening how they operate, deliver and support increasingly complex client demands. 

Below are several notable moves from April that highlight where the industry continues to evolve:

Identity Evolves Travel Offering with Launch of Identity Travel – Global

Deal: Beyond Business Travel has been rebranded as Identity Travel, bringing the travel offering fully into the Identity ecosystem. The move aligns travel more closely with Identity’s broader experience-led proposition, positioning it as a core part of how organisations plan, manage and deliver global programmes. The rebrand reflects a shift from traditional travel management toward a more integrated approach that supports wider business performance.

Why does it matter? Travel is no longer viewed as a standalone function, but as a critical component of how global programmes operate. By embedding travel into its broader offerings, Identity is strengthening its ability to support clients throughout the lifecycle of events and experiences. It reflects a broader trend where agencies are integrating operational services more tightly into their core proposition to improve efficiency, responsiveness and overall programme performance.

Why does it matter? For experiential agencies serving global brands, geographic reach is becoming increasingly important. By entering the APAC market through acquisition rather than organic growth, Identity accelerates its international footprint while maintaining local expertise and delivery capability. The move reflects a broader trend where experience-led agencies are building truly global delivery networks to support multinational client programmes.

M&A deals with allpoints agency

Synergist and Agency Works | B Corp™ Combine Under Banyan Software – UK

Deal: Agency software platform Synergist and implementation specialist Agency Works have formally combined into a single business, backed by Banyan Software. The move brings together product and implementation expertise under one structure, strengthening the platform’s ability to support agencies with both software and operational integration. With Banyan’s backing, the combined business is positioned to accelerate development and expand its offering to the agency market.

Why does it matter? This is a clear example of how operational infrastructure is becoming a key focus for agencies. As businesses look to scale more efficiently, the tools that underpin project management, resource planning and financial visibility are becoming increasingly important. Bringing software and implementation together creates a more complete solution, helping agencies move beyond tools and toward fully embedded operational systems.

M&A deals with allpoints agency

INVNT® Joins Nth Degree to Create Global Live Events Platform – Global

Deal: Global brand storytelling agency INVNT has joined Nth Degree, forming a combined platform designed to support large-scale, experience-led brand engagement. The move brings together INVNT’s creative strategy and storytelling capabilities with Nth Degree’s expertise in event design, operations and delivery. Backed by private equity partner Shamrock Capital, the combined organisation strengthens its position across global experiential markets.

Why does it matter? This deal reflects the continued shift toward integrated experiential platforms. Brands are increasingly looking for partners who can deliver both creative vision and operational execution within a single structure. By combining storytelling with delivery infrastructure, organisations like this are better positioned to support complex, multi-market programmes while maintaining consistency and scale.

M&A deals wtih allpoints agency

Opus Agency Acquires Wave Marketing Communications to Strengthen Technical Production – Global / EMEA

Deal: Opus Agency has acquired UK-based Wave Marketing Communications, integrating it as a dedicated technical production division. Wave brings specialist production expertise and in-house technical capability, enhancing Opus’ ability to deliver complex global event programmes. The acquisition follows The Opus Group’s recent investment from private equity firm EagleTree Capital, further supporting its growth strategy.

Why does it matter? Technical production is becoming an increasingly critical component of experiential delivery. As events grow in scale and complexity, agencies are investing in in-house capabilities to maintain control over quality, efficiency and innovation. This move reflects a wider trend of agencies bringing specialist production expertise into their core offering to support more advanced, global programmes.

M&A deals with allpoints agency

allpoints’ final M&A thoughts

This month’s activity highlights some key themes shaping the industry. Starting with, integration becoming a priority. Whether through combining creative and operational capabilities or embedding services like travel and production, organisations are building more connected and efficient delivery models. Not only this, but operational infrastructure is gaining importance. From agency software platforms to technical production, the systems that support delivery are becoming just as critical as the creative output itself.

Finally, global capability continues to expand, but with a sharper focus on how that scale is delivered. Businesses are not just growing their footprint, but refining how they operate across markets to meet increasingly complex client expectations. As we move further into 2026, expect continued focus on infrastructure, specialisation and platforms that bring strategy, creativity and delivery closer together.

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Your Logo and Visuals on Social Media Do Not Actually Create a Brand Presence or Recognition

By Bethany Sharp, Social Media and Comms Specialist, allpoints

Most businesses think their branding is just their logo and a few visuals, and I can not say this enough, it’s so much more than that, especially in social media branding. I’m going to go straight into this and talk about my passport theory.

The Passport Theory

Social Media Branding - allpoints

Your logo is your passport, it tells people who you are and confirms your identity which gets you through the door. It does a lot, it’s helpful and you can not go anywhere without it but, your branding is more like how you carry the passport. Imagine walking into an airport holding a passport wrapped in a bright pink, sparkly case, covered in stickers, before you even speak, people have already formed an opinion about you. This is because it’s a reflection of personality and energy.

Let’s imagine the same passport but it’s plain and completely untouched. It’s very functional, crisp and smart but that passport officer is not going to remember it. This is how branding works on social media as well, the aim is to be remembered when people are scrolling through thousands of posts a day.

Branding is often considered as colours, typography, and a logo style, but this is just the foundations. Your brand is:

  • The way you speak
  • The words you choose
  • The way you show up on social media
  • The type of content you create
  • The feeling people get when they come across you

It’s how you present yourself as a business and how consistently you do it. The thing that lots of agencies and businesses miss is that it’s not just what people see, it’s what they feel, assume, and remember.


Branding on Social Media Goes Beyond the Visuals

This is where most businesses get it wrong and they treat branding as something they “set up” once, and that’s it. A logo, a colour palette, a few templates, and then they move on, however, on social media, your branding is always active.

Think of your brand as a continuous campaign:

  • Every post reinforces who you are
  • Every caption reinforces what you stand for
  • Every visual reinforces how you want people to feel
  • Every comment reinforces how you show up

If that’s inconsistent, your message becomes unclear. If it’s intentional, everything starts working together, and if you don’t shape that perception, your audience will do it for you.

Beyond Colours and Fonts

Social Media Branding - allpoints

Your business visuals and fonts absolutely matter. Sans-serif fonts often feel modern, clean, and forward-thinking, while serif fonts can feel more classic, established, and rooted in heritage. Colours also carry meaning, blue often feels calm and trustworthy, while red and yellow can signal urgency or attention. These interpretations aren’t always universal, but can be heavily understood. Something to consider is that different cultures, industries, and audiences read visual cues differently, so if your branding only relies on visuals, you’re leaving too much open to interpretation, which means people will just make up their own minds about you and your business, and this is risky.

Strong branding isn’t just about looking aesthetically pleasing, it’s primarily about guiding how people think and feel about your business. Without being too bold and honest, strong branding controls what people think, it makes sure people take in your business in the way you actually intended and it can seem a bit manipulative, but that means it’s working, and you are not leaving space for misinterpretation. We’ve all read an email quickly, late at night or just before a meeting, and completely misunderstood the tone. You’ve skimmed it, taken it the wrong way, and gone with it, and sometimes this can even cause arguments and disagreements that didn’t even need to happen. That’s what a logo on its own is like. It’s there, but it leaves too much uncertainty. Let’s compare this to speaking with someone face-to-face, you can see their expression, you can also hear their tone, and you can read how they’re saying something, not just what they’re saying. That’s the beauty of face-to-face interactions, there’s far less room to get it wrong.

The goal with your branding on social media is to create:

  • Context
  • Tone
  • Feeling
  • Intention

So people don’t start guessing what your business is all about, they just know and understand it instantly.

Your Brand Is the Environment You Create

Social Media Branding - allpoints

The strongest businesses create feelings through their branding. Especially in industries like experiential and events, this matters even more. If you’re creating high-energy, immersive experiences, your brand should reflect that. Your social presence, your visuals, and your messaging should feel like a glimpse into that world. If you’re an events agency designing and planning for festivals, your social media shouldn’t just show the event, it should feel like they are in it. The second someone lands on your page, watches a video, or scrolls through your content, they should feel like they’re already there, like they’re part of it.

That can come through in simple ways:

  • A collage-style LinkedIn banner using real event moments
  • Content that feels like lived experiences, not staged outputs
  • Visuals that show movement, energy, and interaction

It can be messy, but in the right way that showcases energy and movement. Something that makes people instantly recognise the atmosphere you create because you’re not just showing what you’ve done, you’re showing people what it feels like to be in it. Plus, it helps clients understand what you’ll create for their audience, and they can already see the experience, the energy, and the reaction your team can create. On the other side, if you’re creating something like business retreats or wellness-focused events, the same logic applies, just in a completely different way. Your tone of voice should feel calm, and your language should slow people down. Even small details, like the music on your Instagram profile, can shape that first impression. If someone lands on your page and instantly hears something soft and meditative, you’ve already started building that environment before they’ve even read a word.

Content Is Social Media Branding

Social Media Branding - allpoints

Content isn’t something that sits alongside your branding, it is your branding but in action. The format you choose, the way you show up, how often you post, the way you write, all of it is constantly shaping how people see you. On social media, especially, this is happening fast.

If you lean into video, your agency will come across as current and reactive, and if your content is more structured and analytical, you position your business as considered and strategic. Even the way you explain things builds a perception of how you think and how you work. If you show up sporadically or your messaging shifts all the time, people feel that, even if they can’t explain why. When everything feels aligned, your tone, your visuals, your opinions, your content style, it builds trust without you having to say it outright. People aren’t just reading your content, they’re reading if your business is right for them and if you operate in a way that feels right to them. We all know the main benefit of this: you draw in the right client and audience when this is done correctly.

The Real Goal of Branding

Branding on social media isn’t just about looking good or being recognisable. It’s about stopping the scroll and removing any form of confusion. You want the right people to come across your business and instantly understand how to feel about it, without overthinking it, without having to figure it out for themselves. If people need to figure it out themselves, they’ll either get it wrong or they’ll move on.

The strongest businesses don’t rely on one element AKA the logo and visuals. They focus on how everything is working together, their visuals, their tone of voice, their content, their presence, all aligned so clearly that there are no mixed signals. You don’t want to have to convince clients to work with you or overexplain why you are the experts in your field. People should feel this and know this subconsciously through your social media branding, this also follows through into how your team communicates to clients and the systems you have set up, but maybe that’s for another day, if you want to find five PR priorities for business and agencies for 2026, read here.

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Allpoints Insights

Closing the deal is the beginning, not the end. Why 70+% of M&A deals miss their final earn-out.

By Nic Neal, HR Specialist, allpoints

When a M&A deal is announced, the focus usually floods to the deal itself – the valuation, the press release, the handshake photo. The moment the ink dries is where the real strategic work begins.

M&A is designed to build stronger, more competitive organisations, whether that’s improving the client base (for example, moving from a UK agency to a global one) or combining services to give clients a more complete offering. Yet 70% of deals fail to reach their final earn-out targets, and one of the most common reasons isn’t strategy or finance, it’s integration.

Bringing two organisations together is far more complex than combining balance sheets. It means merging cultures, aligning teams, redefining roles, rebuilding ways of working, and building a clear talent strategy for the newly combined organisation. This is where many businesses underestimate what’s required.

Integration often becomes an afterthought rather than a strategic priority, layered on top of already demanding roles and operational pressures, when in reality it should be treated as its own programme of work. The result? Integration is moving slowly, inconsistently, or not happening properly at all.

When it doesn’t, the cost is real. People become uncertain about their futures, teams pull in different directions, and clients feel the disruption before leadership does.


Why Integration Is Often Overlooked

M&A deals - allpoints agency

The common misconception in M&A deals is that things will settle quickly once the deal is done. Those teams will adjust naturally. The organisation will begin operating as one as soon as they get to know each other. This assumption is precisely why integration takes far longer than anyone anticipates.

Old ways of working are often applied to a landscape that has fundamentally changed. Processes that worked well before the merger are carried forward without fully recognising that the organisation now has different structures, people, and expectations. At the same time, a quiet tug of war can emerge between company cultures and the people within them.

Meanwhile a quieter challenge emerges: culture. Two companies bring two distinct approaches to leadership, communication, and decision-making. There’s an assumption that one culture will eventually dominate the other, when all that is needed is something new built intentionally from the best of both. That rarely happens by accident.

Instead, teams end up working alongside each other rather than becoming fully integrated. They share projects and clients, but deeper alignment – around ways of working, how decisions get made, how people communicate – hasn’t been built yet. 

Layer restructuring into the mix, and it becomes difficult for people to find stable ground. Reporting lines change, teams shift, and roles evolve, sometimes repeatedly. At the same time, operational pressures remain just as demanding as before. Day-to-day delivery continues at full pace, leaving very little space for people to step back and focus on the integration itself.

The Operational Reality of Integration

Integration isn’t just a people challenge, it’s an operational one. When two organisations merge, duplication is inevitable. Both have their own HR teams, finance, and operational functions. A combined organisation does not need two of everything.

This is where the integration strategy becomes critical. The goal isn’t to remove roles for the sake of cost-cutting, but to thoughtfully create a structure that is efficient, sustainable, and aligned with the future direction of the organisation. That often means consolidating duplicate teams into one core function. Sometimes it means redefining responsibilities so the strongest capabilities from both organisations are retained, not just the loudest voices or the legacy hierarchy.

When this is handled well, the result is clarity, efficiency, and teams that are genuinely stranger than either organisation had before. When it’s handled poorly, the result is confusion, uncertainty, and disruption that ripples far beyond the org chart. 

Treating Integration as Its Own Strategic Workstream

M&A deals - allpoints agency

The organisations that navigate the M&A deal most successfully share one common approach: they treat integration as a standalone programme of work, not an operational side task.

That means establishing dedicated ownership from day one. Ideally, a named integration lead or small task force, with real authority and accountability, is responsible for guiding the process for up to two years post-merger. Not a committee that meets occasionally. A team with a clear mandate.

That team should have representation across every critical dimension across the business:

  • People and culture
  • Ways of working and processes
  • Internal communication
  • Financial alignment
  • Talent strategy and workforce planning

Integration cannot simply be added to someone’s existing workload and without dedicated ownership, it risks being overshadowed by the immediate demands of the business.

A strong integration strategy also requires a clear talent strategy – not just a list of new roles to recruit. The organisation needs to understand which capabilities are needed for the future and how teams will evolve, and what the combined structure will look like. Recruitment has a role to play, but only in the service of that long-term picture. Hiring into an unclear structure just compounds the problem.  of the broader talent strategy. Hiring decisions during integration should support the long-term structure of the business rather than simply reacting to short-term gaps.

Communication, Culture and Role Clarity

M&A deals - allpoints agency

Restructures are difficult, but uncertainty is often far harder for employees to navigate than the change itself. Timely, honest communication, about what’s happening, what’s still being decided and where individuals stand is one of the most powerful tools available during the integration. 

Role clarity sits at the heart of this. When reporting structures shift and teams are redefined, people need to understand how their role fits into the new structure. Even when every answer isn’t immediately available, establishing direction early helps create stability.

Culture deserves the same intentional approach. In most mergers, the smaller organisation naturally begins adopting the processes and ways of working of the larger one. It’s the path of least resistance, but it isn’t always the right one. The stronger culture isn’t automatically the bigger one, and the better process isn’t always the established one.

A thoughtful integration strategy gives leadership the space to evaluate deliberately: which behaviours, ways of working, and cultural strengths should actually shape the new organisation? Because integration isn’t only about systems and structures. It’s about people, mindset, and how teams experience the change from the inside.

The Human Ripple Effect

When integration is not handled strategically, the ripple effects spread like wildfire. If teams feel uncertain about their roles or direction, people become disheartened. When individuals feel disconnected from the company’s vision or unclear about their future, they leave. Attrition during integration doesn’t just create operational gaps, it destabilises the teams clients rely on, erodes confidence and begins to unwind the very value the deal was designed to create. 

This is how earn-out targets get missed. Not through bad strategy at the top, but through avoidable erosion in the middle. Key people leave. Delivery becomes inconsistent. Clients notice.

Integration strategies that focus exclusively on senior leadership structures without accounting for the mid-level teams, who are the heartbeat of the business, tend to create exactly this outcome. The people closest to the work, and closest to the client, are left without clarity, without direction, and eventually without reason to stay.

The deal was meant to build something stronger, but poor integration quietly derails it.

Integration Is the Real Test of an M&A Deal

M&A deals - allpoints agency

Signing a merger or acquisition agreement is only the starting point. 

The true success of the M&A deal depends on what happens next. Integration is not a short adjustment period. It’s a structured process that can take years to fully realise. When organisations treat integration as a strategic priority, supported by a clear integration programme and talent strategy, the chances of reaching the intended financial and cultural outcomes increase dramatically, because ultimately, the goal of the M&A deal isn’t simply to combine two businesses. It’s to build something stronger than either organisation could achieve on its own.

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Allpoints Insights

Powerful M&A’s of the Month: March 2026

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

March delivered another wave of strategic M&A’s across the events, experiential and live production industry. While each transaction serves a different purpose, a clear pattern continues to emerge, agencies and experience-led businesses are scaling internationally, deepening specialist capabilities and integrating creative, technical and sector expertise to stay competitive in a complex market. Below are several M&A’s from March that highlight where the industry continues to evolve.

Identity Expands Global Footprint with Acquisition of EPG I Event Planning Group – Australia / Global M&A

Deal: Brand experience group Identity has acquired Australian agency EPG (Events Production Group), marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy.

EPG is a well-established experiential and event production agency operating across Australia and Asia-Pacific. The acquisition provides Identity with an immediate presence in the region while strengthening its ability to deliver global programmes for international clients.

Why does it matter? For experiential agencies serving global brands, geographic reach is becoming increasingly important. By entering the APAC market through acquisition rather than organic growth, Identity accelerates its international footprint while maintaining local expertise and delivery capability. The move reflects a broader trend where experience-led agencies are building truly global delivery networks to support multinational client programmes.

Identity Acquires Coda Healthcare Communications to Launch IdentityCoda – Global M&A

Deal: Identity has acquired specialist healthcare communications agency Coda Healthcare Communications, launching a new division called IdentityCoda focused on compliant global healthcare events.

The new division combines Identity’s international event infrastructure and creative capabilities with Coda’s expertise in science-led communications and healthcare programmes. The offering will support pharmaceutical clients with congress programmes, advisory boards, exhibitions and hybrid healthcare events across global markets.

Why does it matter? Healthcare events represent one of the most complex sectors in live experiences, requiring strict regulatory compliance alongside effective engagement and scientific storytelling. By combining Coda’s specialist expertise with Identity’s global infrastructure, the new division reflects increasing demand for partners capable of balancing creativity with compliance in regulated industries.

The Event Concept Group Acquires Ivory Worldwide to Expand Global Brand Experience Capability – Global M&A

Deal: The EC Group has acquired experiential agency Ivory Worldwide, bringing together two agencies with complementary strengths across creative strategy, brand experience and live programme delivery.

The acquisition combines Ivory’s expertise in B2B brand experience and marketing with Event Concept’s long-standing reputation for creative production and technical delivery. The expanded group will support global brands including Intuit, Canva, Twilio, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, The Coca-Cola Company, HP Inc. and Airbus Aircraft. With teams across the UK, Europe and the US, the combined organisation is positioned to deliver complex multi-market brand experience programmes for global clients.

Why does it matter? This move reflects a broader shift across the experiential sector where agencies are building integrated capability across strategy, creativity, production and delivery. As brand experience programmes become more global and complex, agencies with the infrastructure to deliver across markets are increasingly well positioned to support multinational clients.

FCM Meetings & Events & Events Acquires The fresh Group to Strengthen Global Experiential Capability – Global M&A

Deal: The fresh Group has been acquired by FCM Meetings & Events, marking a significant step for both organisations as they expand their global meetings, events and experiential offering.

The acquisition brings The fresh Group’s creative brand experience expertise into the wider FCM Meetings & Events network, combining fresh’s creative strategy and production capabilities with FCM’s global meetings and event infrastructure. The integration will allow the combined organisation to deliver end-to-end programmes supported by global delivery, technology platforms and scalable event services.

Why does it matter? This deal highlights a growing trend where independent creative agencies are joining larger global networks to scale their reach while maintaining their creative identity. As clients increasingly look for partners capable of delivering strategy, creativity and execution across multiple markets, integrations like this allow agencies to amplify their capabilities while benefiting from the infrastructure, technology and global footprint of established networks.

TAIT Acquires Silent House Group to Integrate Creative and Technical Live Production – Global M&A

Deal: Global live experience company TAIT has acquired Silent House Group, the Emmy Award-winning creative production studio known for delivering major touring, broadcast and experiential productions.

The acquisition brings together TAIT’s staging, automation and technical infrastructure with Silent House’s creative direction and large-scale production expertise. The combined organisation will support touring productions, broadcast events and experiential activations worldwide.

Why does it matter? The live experience sector is increasingly moving toward vertically integrated production models where creative concept, technical design and execution sit within a single ecosystem. By combining technical infrastructure with creative production leadership, the TAIT and Silent House partnership strengthens its ability to deliver large-scale global productions more efficiently while maintaining artistic vision.

Havas Acquires EYESIGHT Fashion & Luxury to Strengthen Luxury and Event Production Capabilities – Global M&A

Deal: Havas has acquired experiential and production agency Eyesight as part of its strategy to strengthen luxury brand experiences and event production capabilities.

Eyesight brings expertise in premium brand environments, luxury events and high-end production services. The acquisition enhances Havas’ ability to deliver experiential programmes within luxury and lifestyle sectors.

Why does it matter? Luxury brands continue to invest heavily in experiential marketing as a way to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market. For global networks like Havas, adding specialist production expertise allows them to offer more integrated creative and experiential services while strengthening their position within high-value client sectors.

Pinnacle Expands Experiential Marketing Capability with INNOV8 INC Acquisition – USA M&A

Deal: Pinnacle Live has acquired experiential marketing agency Innov8, expanding its offering across brand experiences and live engagement.

Innov8 brings strong creative and experiential marketing expertise, allowing Pinnacle to broaden its ability to deliver immersive brand experiences alongside its established event production and venue services.

Why does it matter? This deal reflects a wider trend where production, venue and technical service companies are expanding into creative experiential marketing. By combining production infrastructure with brand experience strategy, companies like Pinnacle are positioning themselves as end-to-end experience partners rather than purely operational suppliers.

Bending Spoons Acquires Eventbrite – Global M&A

Deal: Technology company Bending Spoons has acquired event platform Eventbrite, taking the business private in a deal valued at approximately $500 million.

Eventbrite operates in more than 180 countries and has long been a major platform for independent event organisers, offering ticketing, event discovery and audience management tools.

Why does it matter? This acquisition highlights continued investor confidence in event technology infrastructure. As the live events sector continues to recover and evolve, digital platforms that support discovery, ticketing and audience engagement remain critical components of the industry ecosystem. The move also signals a growing convergence between technology platforms and the live experience economy.

Final M&A Thoughts

This month’s M&A’s highlight three key themes shaping the future of the industry. First, global expansion continues to accelerate, with agencies using acquisitions to rapidly enter new markets and serve international clients more effectively. Second, specialisation is becoming increasingly valuable, particularly in sectors such as healthcare communications and luxury brand experiences where expertise and regulatory understanding are essential. Third, integration across creative, technical and experiential capabilities is becoming a defining competitive advantage. Whether through vertical integration in live production or expanded experiential marketing services, companies are building broader ecosystems that bring strategy, creativity and delivery together.

Taken together, these transactions reinforce that the industry remains strategically active and confident. As we move further into 2026, expect continued consolidation as organisations look to scale globally, deepen specialist expertise and deliver more integrated experience platforms.

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Allpoints Insights

Is Cannes Lions Worth It for Agencies and What Leaders Should Consider Before Booking 2026

By Max Fellows, HR Specialist at allpoints

Every year the same question comes up across the industry “Is Cannes Lions actually worth it?” For agency owners and senior leaders, attending the festival is a serious investment, between delegate passes, travel, accommodation and time away from the business, the cost can quickly climb into the tens of thousands, but still vast amounts of people return to the Croisette each summer.

So what do you actually get from Cannes Lions, and who in your agency should be going? Based on observations from Cannes Lions 2025 and conversations across the industry, here are a few realities that agencies should understand before planning for 2026.

What Most People Don’t Realise About Cannes Lions

One of the most surprising things for first-time attendees is that Cannes Lions is not just the official festival programme inside the Palais. In fact, there are two parallel worlds operating throughout the week. The official programme inside the Palais includes the keynote talks, awards ceremonies and scheduled sessions that require a delegate pass and outside the Palais sits the unofficial Cannes ecosystem. Across beaches, terraces, yachts and pop-up venues, brands, platforms and media owners host their own activations, panels and networking events.

Companies like Amazon, Google, Spotify, TikTok and Meta all create large branded spaces where talks, demos and networking sessions take place throughout the week and what many people don’t realise is that a large portion of these fringe events are free to attend with advance registration.

For agencies looking to attend without committing to the full delegate pass, this “unofficial Cannes” route has become a popular and successful strategy. It is also where a lot of the ‘real networking’ takes place.

The Topics Shaping the Industry Conversation

Cannes is well known for big conversations about the future of marketing and creativity however, many of the themes discussed each year are evolutions of conversations that have been happening for some time. In 2025, the main topics included:

  • Artificial intelligence and its role in creative production
  • Retail media and the shifting digital advertising ecosystem
  • The creator economy and influencer-led campaigns
  • Sustainability and inclusive marketing

These are important themes for the industry, but many attendees noted that discussions often focus on big-picture narratives rather than practical frameworks, and for agency teams hoping to return with tactical learnings, rather than a bag full of business cards, the key is to carefully select sessions or focus on smaller, more specialist events rather than relying solely on the main stages.

The Expectation vs Reality of Business at Cannes

One of the biggest misconceptions about Cannes Lions is that it’s a place where new business deals are made on the spot. That’s just not the reality at all, most commercial outcomes come before or after the festival and not during.

What Cannes provides instead is visibility and access, it puts decision-makers, agencies, platforms and brands in the same physical space for a few days. That environment can be powerful if you arrive with existing conversations already in the pipelines. Some industry leaders describe Cannes as a multiplier rather than a starting point, if relationships or opportunities already exist, the festival can progress them. Very few partnerships begin from scratch during the week itself and any agencies attending with a commercial objective, need solid and strategic preparation. With this, meetings should be booked in advance and agendas clearly defined long before the event even starts.

One of the ways we approached Cannes strategically was by starting conversations before the festival even began. Ahead of the event, we created a leaders Cannes Lions WhatsApp group with industry contacts so people attending could introduce themselves, share plans for the week and start building connections early. This meant that by the time they arrived in Cannes, many of the conversations and introductions had already started, making it far easier to meet people and organise informal catch-ups during the week. For us, this simple step proved surprisingly valuable and reinforced the importance of preparing and networking before the festival rather than relying solely on chance meetings once you’re there.

How Long You Actually Need to Be at Cannes

Cannes Lions runs across several days, but most of the momentum tends to concentrate in the middle of the week. If you are an agency leader, two to three days is enough to capture the most valuable opportunities. Flying in midweek allows teams to attend key talks, host or attend events, and schedule meetings without the expense of staying for the entire festival. By having this shorter attendance window is becoming increasingly common among agencies looking to balance presence with practicality.

Who Should Attend Cannes from Your Agency

Cannes Lions is not designed for everyone within an organisation, and sending the wrong people can quickly turn an expensive trip into a missed opportunity and candidly, a rose-feuled jolly. Typically, the individuals who gain the most value include (bear in mind sending large teams without a clear purpose rarely delivers strong returns):

Senior leadership
Founders, managing directors and senior executives often attend to strengthen partnerships and build visibility for the agency.

New business and partnership teams
Those responsible for commercial growth benefit from the networking environment and industry access.
Creative leadership
Creative directors and strategy leads can use the festival to benchmark work, track industry trends and build inspiration.

When Cannes May Not Be the Right Investment

Despite its reputation, Cannes Lions isn’t always the right fit for every business and The festival becomes less valuable if:

  • There is no clear objective or agenda for attending
  • The business cannot justify the financial investment
  • The expectation is to gain deep strategic training from panel sessions
  • The primary motivation is simply to be seen there

Without preparation and a clear plan, the week can easily become more social than strategic.

The Real Value of Cannes Lions

For agencies that approach the festival strategically, Cannes Lions can be highly beneficial, offering strong opportunities for growth, visibility and partnership building, this is due to so many industry leaders, brands and platforms gathering in one place, the potential for meaningful conversations and new connections is significant when done with intention and not as a shortcut to success. The agencies that gain the most value are the ones that arrive with a clear plan, defined goals and the willingness to actively engage with the opportunities around them. 

Conclusion: Should Your Agency Attend?

If your business is looking to expand partnerships, strengthen industry visibility or stay close to the global creative conversation, Cannes Lions can absolutely be worthwhile, but the real return on investment comes from strategy, preparation and purpose and not just simply showing up.

For agencies already planning their calendars for 2026, the most important question isn’t whether Cannes is worth it but how you intend to show up.

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Allpoints Insights

Rethinking Company Culture: What Actually Works and Why It Matters in Hiring

By Gary Richards, Hiring and Talent Expert, allpoints

I’ve spoken to a lot of people over the years about company culture, and something that always gets talked about is that it means something different to everyone. If you ask ten people what company culture is, you’ll probably get ten completely different answers. For some people it’s the feeling you get when you walk into the office, people being chatty and a friendly welcoming and upbeat atmosphere, but I’ve also come across others who value flexibility more, or just want the space and trust to get on with their work without constant noise or pressure around them.

That’s what makes culture such a tricky thing to define, because there isn’t one version of it that works for everyone. It really comes down to the kind of environment you want to build in your business and the type of team you want around you, because those two things shape each other more than people think.

When you talk about culture, there’s still a tendency to focus on surface-level things, what the office looks like, what perks are on offer, whether there’s a pool table in the corner or somewhere to sit with a coffee, and while those things might add to the environment, they’re not what actually holds everything together. The cultures that tend to work best are not necessarily the ones with all the fanciest aesthetics, but the ones where people are motivated, unified and genuinely collaborative, and that kind of environment is not created by a pool table or a few comfortable beanbags.

In my role, I’m constantly speaking to senior talent, people who aren’t always actively looking for a move but are open to the right opportunity if something feels right, so more often than not what makes them lean in isn’t just the job itself, it’s the environment they’d be walking into.

The most effective cultures I see across the clients I work with are the ones that make that decision easier, the businesses people are already curious about, the ones that come up naturally in conversation where there’s a sense of “I’ve heard good things about them” before we’ve even started talking about the role in detail. That usually comes down to how those environments actually operate day to day, when people trust each other, when there’s a shared direction, and when senior hires feel like they’re stepping into something that will support how they work rather than get in the way of it. At this level, culture becomes a real deciding factor, because when someone has options, it’s rarely just about salary or title, it’s about whether the business feels like somewhere they can grow and develop and deliver their best work.


Where Culture Proves Its Value

A strong example of this and how culture plays a huge role is from a candidate I worked with last year within the events industry. They had been in an agency where the experience had got to a point where they needed to take time out, and when we first spoke, they weren’t just thinking about leaving their role, they were questioning whether they wanted to stay in the events industry at all. That wasn’t because they weren’t capable or experienced, it was because they had only seen one version of how an agency could operate, and naturally assumed that was the norm.

We ended up placing them into a different agency, one I already knew had a strong, supportive environment, and while it took a bit of time for them to settle in and rebuild their confidence, the difference over a couple of months was huge and are now going from strength to strength. What changed wasn’t just the job itself, it was the environment around them and they moved into a space where there was genuine collaboration, team members trusted each other, and where they felt supported rather than scrutinised, that allowed them to work in a completely different way.

It’s a good reminder that culture doesn’t just influence how people feel at work, it directly impacts how they perform, how long they stay, and in some cases, whether they stay in the industry at all.

Communicating Culture Without Forcing It

One of the biggest challenges for businesses is not just creating a strong culture, but communicating it in a way that actually feels genuine. There’s often a tendency to try and spell it out too much, to list values or say “this is what we’re like,” but more often than not that can feel forced. It should come across naturally rather than being over-explained.

If it’s genuine, people will pick up on it quickly and the interview process plays a huge role in that, particularly when there’s a face-to-face element involved, because the moment someone walks into an office, they can get a real sense of what it feels like to be there. You can pick up on how people interact, whether there’s energy in the room, if people seem engaged or disconnected, and that’s something a video interview can not replicate in the same way.

Most businesses still rely on a fairly standard job description, a list of responsibilities and requirements on a page, but that only tells a very small part of the story. The companies that do this well take it a step further and build out something more complete, a document that gives a proper sense of the business someone is joining. That might include an introduction to the team, how people work together day to day, what the values actually look like in practice rather than just a list of words, and even insights from current team members so it feels like it’s coming from real people rather than the business speaking about itself.

Some also include the wider mission of the business, what they’re working towards, what drives them, and how each role contributes to that. By the time someone finishes reading it, they should have a clear picture not just of the job, but of the environment, the expectations, and the kind of people they’d be working alongside. When that’s done well, candidates go into the interview already understanding the business, and the face-to-face conversation then reinforces what they’ve already felt on paper.

However, culture can not just be packaged into a document or explained in an interview if it isn’t already there, culture has to come from the top. It comes from leadership, from how people are treated, the level of trust that’s given, and from whether people genuinely feel supported in how they work. When that’s in place, it naturally flows through the rest of the business, and you don’t have to try too hard to explain it because people can see it and feel it for themselves.

My Final Thoughts

Culture is never going to be a simple or fixed thing. It depends on the individual, on how people like to work, and on what they value day to day, but the environments that tend to work best are the ones where there’s trust in every direction, where people feel empowered to do what they do best, and where everyone is working towards the same outcome. When that’s in place, everything else tends to follow.

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Allpoints Insights

M&A’s of the Month: February 2026

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

January set a strong pace for M&A activity across the industry. While February may appear quieter on the surface, there is still clear momentum as agencies continue to scale, integrate and invest in future capability. Take a look at four notable moves from the past month that show us where the market is heading:

Davis Experience and Events Makes First Strategic Acquisition with Whitelight Events – Ireland / UK

Deal: Davis Experience & Events has acquired Dublin-based Whitelight Events, marking its first acquisition as a group. The transaction brings Whitelight into the Davis fold while preserving both brands and relocating Whitelight’s operations to Davis’s Dublin headquarters.

Why does it matter? – For Davis, the acquisition expands delivery capacity across corporate and public-sector programming while adding Whitelight’s production expertise and client base. It underscores a broader trend where regional agencies are leveraging acquisition as a lever for scale and talent investment without diluting existing business. With up to 10 new roles expected over the next two years, it also shows how growth-oriented transactions can reinforce employment and service depth.

High Output, L!VE and Sardis Merge to Form Ansera – USA

Deal: Three specialist agencies, High Output, LLC, L!VE, and Sardis Media have combined under a single integrated brand called Ansera, which is backed by Willstown Capital.

Why does it matter? – This is a purposeful platform merger built around research and human experience design. Ansera’s positioning around the “study of awe” and research-driven engagement reflects a shift in buyer expectations. Clients want measurable impact, not just execution. It also reflects a maturing sector where integrating creative strategy, technical production, and insight elevates the proposition above a commodity model.

DRPG Expands Film and Content Offering with Acquisition of Liquona – UK

Deal: DRPG has acquired Liquona, a film and content production specialist, expanding its creative and brand storytelling capabilities.

Why does it matter? – This M&A reflects how event and experiential agencies are deepening content services to meet client demand for compelling narrative and broadcast-quality production. Content is increasingly inseparable from experience, and this acquisition strengthens DRPG’s ability to deliver integrated creative outputs across LIVE, hybrid and digital environments.

allpoints M&A report - DRPG Expands Film and Content Offering with Acquisition of Liquona - UK

Levy Acquires The iLUKA Collective to Expand Global Experience Capability – Global / USA

Deal: Levy has acquired sports marketing agency The iLUKA Collective, broadening its premium brand activation and hospitality expertise.

Why does it matter? – Experience is becoming more immersive and strategically layered. By adding specialist capability in global sports and brand engagement, Levy is reinforcing its end-to-end proposition in the premium experience economy.

allpoints M&A report - Levy Acquires The iLUKA Collective to Expand Global Experience Capability - Global / USA

IAEE Acquires Exhibitor Group – USA

Deal: The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) has acquired Exhibitor Group, including its flagship event, Exhibitor Live and the CTSM certification programme.

Why does it matter? – This is one of the most significant association-level acquisitions in recent years. By bringing together organisers and exhibitors within one structure, IAEE is expanding its influence across the full trade show value chain. It also strengthens its education and accreditation portfolio, positioning the organisation at the centre of industry standards and professional development.

Platinum Equity Acquires Czarnowski – USA / Global

Deal: Private equity firm Platinum Equity has acquired global exhibit and experience builder Czarnowski, with leadership transitioning as part of the deal.

Why does it matter? – Institutional capital continues to show confidence in experiential infrastructure businesses. Exhibit houses with scale, long-standing client relationships and global delivery capability remain attractive assets. This transaction reinforces the trend of private equity backing operationally mature players in the live events supply chain.

allpoints M&A report - Platinum Equity Acquires Czarnowski - USA / Global

Wizard Studios and Vox Productions Merge – USA

Deal: Wizard Studios Events and VOX Productions have merged, forming a bi-coastal production company with integrated national capability.

Why does it matter? – Geographic expansion paired with cultural alignment is often the foundation of successful mergers. This combination strengthens coast-to-coast delivery while building on an existing collaborative relationship, reducing integration risk and accelerating growth potential.

allpoints M&A report - Wizard Studios and Vox Productions Merge - USA

Final Thoughts

February’s activity reveals three defining themes shaping the market.

First, capability expansion remains the dominant driver. Whether through content production, research-led strategy or specialist sector expertise, agencies are seeking to deepen what they can deliver, not simply to grow headcount. Second, platform building is increasing. From association consolidation to multi-agency mergers, organisations are creating broader systems that serve multiple stakeholders across the events value chain. Third, private equity confidence remains strong. Institutional investors continue to back scalable experiential infrastructure businesses, signalling a long-term belief in the sector’s resilience and profitability.

While the volume of deals may fluctuate month to month, the direction is clear, the industry is consolidating, investing in specialisation, and strengthening its foundations for sustained growth through 2026.

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Allpoints Insights

Four HR Trends Shaping the Workplace in 2026

By Nic Neal, HR Specialist at allpoints

As People & Culture continues to evolve, driving meaningful culture requires the ability to surface, understand, and thoughtfully navigate the tensions that sit beneath day-to-day work, because culture is often defined by how organisations handle these moments. Our HR specialist, Nic Neal, has identified several key HR trends currently defining the industry.

1. The Progression Tension

There is a growing hunger among employees to know exactly when and how they will reach the next level. However, a significant disconnect remains. While the desire is there, investment in Learning & Development (L&D) or growth of any kind, is often patchy or ineffective.

The Reality: Even when L&D programs exist, employees frequently feel they lack the “cognitive bandwidth” or time to engage with them. 

What This Means For You: Organisations must move beyond “tick-box” training. Development needs to be intentional and integrated into the flow of work, ensuring employees have the protected time to actually focus on their own growth.

2. The Evolution of Work Ethic

Contrary to popular belief, “work ethic” isn’t the issue. The real challenge lies in how organisations communicate and provide clarity to their teams. We are seeing a “just get it done” energy that prioritises output while overlooking the conditions people need to perform at their best.

The Reality: Managers often feel frustrated when expectations aren’t met, while employees are often navigating ambiguity around priorities, standards and success measures. The issue is less about motivation and more about communication.

What This Means For You: For leaders, this means adapting how expectations are set, reinforced, and contextualised. A one-size-fits-all leadership style is no longer effective. To unlock performance within a diverse workforce, managers must embrace situational leadership, tailoring both their communication and support to the individual, the task, and the moment.

3. Returning to Basics

Employees are increasingly asking fundamental questions: What is my role? What are the rules? What can I actually decide?

The Reality: In an environment defined by constant change, people aren’t resisting responsibility, they’re managing cognitive overload. Without clear boundaries and decision frameworks, even high performers can feel stretched and uncertain. They want to feel that their work is sustainable. 

What This Means For You:  Clarity is the new competitive advantage. Businesses need to focus on stripping back the noise and providing clear “rules of engagement” so employees can navigate their roles without burnout.

4. AI: The Leadership Gap

AI is no longer met with hesitation – teams are increasingly open to experimenting with it in their daily work. The gap sits at leadership level, where strategic direction and consistent guidance are often missing.

The Reality: The potential for AI is immense, but it is currently lacking deliberate leadership. Organisations encourage innovation, yet fail to define what acceptable, high-quality AI use looks like in practice. Without clear expectations, teams are left interpreting boundaries themselves.

What This Means For You: Leaders don’t need to be tech experts, but they do need to be “AI-intentional.” Organisations must define a clear purpose for AI and provide the framework for teams to not only experiment, but confidently leverage its capabilities. 

The Bottom Line

The overarching theme for 2026 is intentionality. Whether it’s how we develop our people or our approach to adopting new tools, leadership that is defined by clarity, consistency and conscious decision making is what will drive high performance and connected cultures. 

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The Drum Predictions 2026: What It Means for Experience-Led Brands

By Andy Dougan, Strategic Business Consultant at allpoints

Recently, I attended The Drum Predictions 2026 event, surrounded by strategists, brand leaders, and industry commentators all attempting to divine what the next twelve months might hold. The honest answer? Nobody knows for certain. But several themes emerged that feel particularly relevant for those of us working in experiential marketing and live brand experiences.

The Drum Predictions 2026 with allpoints agency

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The forecast: flat, misty, familiar

Mark Ritson set the tone early. His view? 2026 will look dramatically like 2025. The economy sits in a strange middle-ground, political instability persists, and while AI will reshape certain marketing functions, the revolution won’t arrive overnight.

That’s not pessimism, it’s pragmatism. And running through the day was a useful reminder: don’t obsess over what’s changing and pay attention to what isn’t.

Dan Rubel, Brand and Marketing Director at Currys, reinforced this beautifully. He doesn’t believe marketing is at some unprecedented crossroads. It’s the same game it’s always been: build brands, market those brands. Referencing A.G. Lafley, he brought it back to two enduring questions – where do we play, and how will we win there?

For agencies trying to be everything to everyone, that’s a pointed challenge.

AI: still figuring it out

AI featured heavily, as you’d expect. But the nuance was refreshing. We’re all still working out what it actually means for our roles and our industries. Despite the noise, nobody’s truly “there” yet.

Ritson sees synthetic data and speed-to-insight as the genuine unlocks. Alice Anson from Nectar360 demonstrated real-world application, turning two-week processes into 90 seconds by starting with client friction points rather than technology for its own sake.

But Rory Sutherland offered a necessary counterweight. The bill for AI will eventually come due. The pressure to deploy it with cost-reduction as the primary lens means we risk destroying value we never properly measured.

His “doorman fallacy” captured this perfectly: the cost of a doorman is easy to quantify; the value they provide, status, reassurance, human connection, is not. Organisations will optimise processes, celebrate the savings, and quietly fail to account for what they’ve lost.

For those of us in experiential, that resonates deeply. The value of physical presence, sensory engagement, and genuine human interaction has always been harder to quantify than a click-through rate, but that doesn’t make it less real.

Human judgment is rising, not falling

Eileen Hanna Yague from General Mills offered one of the day’s sharpest observations: “As marketers we’re tasked to find solutions. With AI we’re being asked to judge solutions.”

That shift matters enormously. It places human judgement, taste, and decision-making back at the centre, precisely because AI isn’t there yet. The ability to discern, to choose, to apply context and cultural intelligence becomes the differentiating skill.

Sutherland extended this further. Marketers should stop selling what we do and start articulating how we think. That’s the genuinely differentiated capability in an age of automated execution.

The Drum Predictions 2026 with allpoints agency

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Brand matters more than ever

How you show up in the market, what you stand for, whether you bring original thinking – these genuinely influence customer decisions. Perhaps more than they did five years ago, when performance marketing promised to make brand-building feel optional.

The pendulum is swinging, but brands that try to do everything will struggle. Those that make deliberate choices and focus will thrive in a world that’s noisier, faster, and increasingly commoditised by AI-generated content.

There’s also a noticeable shift away from fast, wallpaper-style content toward slower, more intentional storytelling. A continued hunger for nostalgia. And a growing recognition that reach and frequency aren’t enough, brands need to enrich experience and relevance as the levers for genuine engagement.

The experiential opportunity

Tom Goodwin made an observation that stuck with me: our obsession with measuring things fast often means we stop measuring the things that actually matter.

Meanwhile, research cited during the event suggested we’ve entered an “efficiency death spiral” whereby we are optimising digital experiences to the point where they’ve lost sensory and emotional distinctiveness.

This is where live experiences and physical brand activations come into their own. Multi-sensory engagement, genuine human connection, and moments that create memory.

In a world increasingly mediated by screens and algorithms, the brands that invest in physical presence, thoughtfully, strategically, with genuine creative ambition, will stand apart.

Sutherland even predicted that Cannes will evolve from retrospective celebration toward something more like a trade show, where agencies and creators come to sell ideas they’ve already developed.

The mood in the room

Despite the cautious forecasts, most people I spoke to felt quietly optimistic. Uncertainty now feels like a certainty, and there’s a sense that people are simply getting on with it.

Clarity matters more than ever. Know what marketing can deliver and what it can’t. Stay rooted in brand health. Do fewer things brilliantly.

For those of us in experiential, that’s not a limitation. It’s a mandate.

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Five PR Priorities for Businesses in 2026

By Saffron Sumner, PR & Communications Manager at allpoints

Public relations is entering a year in which visibility and credibility are shaped simultaneously by people and machines, changing how priorities need to be set without turning the discipline into something mechanical. The task for 2026 is to protect judgment and narrative while adapting to systems that increasingly decide who gets referenced and trusted. So here are five PR priorities for businesses.

GEO as a discovery discipline

Generative engine optimisation (GEO) has shifted from an emerging idea to a core reputational concern, as AI platforms now answer questions at a scale that directly influences brand perception and customer decisions. Organisations are defined by how they appear in answers rather than by their rank, which means discovery depends on whether systems understand who a brand is and why it is relevant. GEO focuses on that interpretive layer, ensuring brands are represented accurately as models curate information from across the open web.

This matters because generative systems rely on existing signals to determine credibility and context. Clear explanations and evidence-led narratives help reduce ambiguity, while consistent naming allows models to attribute work correctly. The objective is legibility rather than optimisation tricks, so expertise can move cleanly from source material into generated responses without distortion.

Early visibility in large language models (LLMs) is primarily driven by earned authority rather than owned content. Approximately 62% of brand mentions in AI responses come from earned signals, including editorial coverage, customer reviews, rankings, and awards, reinforcing the central role of PR in the answer economy. Reputation work now feeds directly into discoverability, because third-party validation gives generative systems the confidence to surface a brand as a credible reference.

LinkedIn as your always-on channel

LinkedIn has settled into its position as the most reliable daily platform for B2B visibility, yet its real leverage comes from people rather than brand pages. Businesses that invest in a small number of visible leaders, each with a clearly articulated point of view, tend to build familiarity faster because audiences follow thinking before they follow logos. Ongoing commentary that unpacks how to approach live experiences helps shape how the market frames challenges long before a brief is issued.

The platform becomes more valuable when it stops acting as a noticeboard and starts functioning as a running proof stream. Meaningful assets can be expanded over time, so the thinking behind a piece of work and the context around recognition are visible. This approach sustains momentum without inventing narratives, simply extending the lifespan of existing material and allowing credibility to compound through repetition.

Awards as structured proof

Awards still matter, but their impact depends on intention rather than volume. A rolling calendar that reflects an agency’s positioning creates a pattern of recognition that clients can interpret easily and trust over time. Selective entry, guided by a clear rationale, does more to reinforce reputation than broad participation across loosely related categories.

When recognition arrives, its value needs to be fully integrated into day to day visibility. Shortlistings and wins should be reflected wherever decision-makers are likely to look, because they serve as shorthand for quality. Referencing nominated work within discovery focused content also strengthens authority signals that resonate with human audiences and AI systems alike, particularly when that language appears consistently across touchpoints.

Speaking as an authority

Speaking remains one of the most efficient routes to perceived authority, provided it is approached as a repeatable system. Identifying a defined group of relevant stages allows spokespeople to return to the same ideas, refining them until audiences begin to associate specific challenges with that spokesperson’s voice. Over time, this repetition builds recognition, which is what turns visibility into commercial leverage.

The effect multiplies when each appearance is treated as source material. Talks can be extended through online slide sharing and reflective writing, allowing a single idea to travel further. From a discovery perspective, this consistent presence across different domains helps position speakers as reliable sources and supports both search visibility and generative recommendation.

Move away from using AI to write your content

AI has a role in modern PR, but that role sits firmly in support. Journalists are increasingly alert to pitches and releases that feel machine-generated, and the response is rarely generous. Using tools to improve structure or sense check tone can increase efficiency, yet the core argument and voice need to remain human if trust is the goal.

Remember, restraint becomes a priority. When AI is used to refine rather than replace judgment, content retains the nuance that makes it worth reading and responding to. That balance protects media relationships while still allowing teams to work intelligently in an environment that rewards speed without excusing shortcuts.

Final thoughts

PR in 2026 will be judged less by activity and more by how clearly a brand shows up when it matters. The discipline is becoming quieter on the surface and more consequential underneath, with reputation, authority, trust, and consistency doing the heavy lifting. The opportunity for comms leaders is to stop chasing volume and start designing systems that compound credibility over time. We can then see how PR returns to its proper role as a growth driver.

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The Hidden Cost of Free AI

By Anton Christodoulou, AI Specialist at allpoints

Are You Training the Model With Your Data?

While I always prefer to focus on the positive benefits of new technologies, especially when writing about them, I am also a passionate privacy and security advocate. I have been thinking a lot about the emerging patterns we’re seeing around AI platforms, and the challenges of navigating the platform “tiers.”

Most people I speak to now use platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, to make their workload easier. But there’s a hidden detail many people miss, or underestimate. If you’re on a free or lower-tier plan, you’re not just using the AI model, you’re actually training it. It is why the free tier exists, as this is a great way to continue feeding and improving the models. In some cases this could prove to be particularly hazardous.

Why This Matters Right Now

Many organisations are already moving beyond AI in a chat window. It is fast becoming the orchestration layer, sometimes referred to as an “Agentic Ecosystem.” The benefits are immense, as the models are so powerful now, they can perform multiple tasks reliably and with limited oversight. While there are inherent risks around using “probability engines” to run your business (for a future discussion!), this also means they have unprecedented levels of access. There are now multiple new ways in which you can quickly and easily install AI directly on your machine – as an app, browser plugin, AI browser, even as a local command line tool. I use a combination of these in parallel (except the dedicated AI browser), and use a number of adjacent security and privacy tools to mitigate some of the risks.

The reality is that free-to-use tiers across all major LLMs (so called, Large Language Models) use your data and interactions to learn and improve. If you’re inputting sensitive budgets, client strategies, internal or personal data, you’re essentially feeding the model the information it needs to learn and train to get smarter. Your data becomes part of the model. This is why you can create images in the perfect style of a famous artist, and why you can ask them to build a go-to-market strategy and pricing model. On an enterprise tier, the benefits are obvious, as it can then use your treasure trove of internal data, without training the public model. You can even train your own internal models.

The models also use a version of the famous “summarise” feature to distill these interactions into a summary of you. When used ethically, this “AI memory” enables the models to provide much more personalised results. One positive step is that most models now, at last, enable you to at least access and delete your AI memory.

While enterprise models offer “walled gardens” and legal safeguards that keep your data private, not all platforms are created equal. We’re seeing a trend where Anthropic’s Claude is establishing itself as being more open and ethical, while all of the major players offer better protection on paid tiers, and the best protection on business and enterprise tiers – essential to building trust and meeting governance requirements.

I asked Claude how it differed from other companies in this regard. It started with “I have an obvious conflict of interest, so take it with skepticism.” Followed by stating its strengths, “Safety-focused research, relative transparency about methods, and designed to be honest rather than compliant.” In keeping with this, it was honest about its limitations, “Anthropic is still a commercial business, no AI company has solved alignment, Claude can still make mistakes, and privacy concerns apply industry-wide.” and finished with “You shouldn’t fully trust any AI system or company right now – including Anthropic. The technology is too new and the alignment problem isn’t solved. Healthy skepticism toward all of us is warranted.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​“ There are real solutions to this challenge, however, they are not yet easy to implement (For a much deeper insight into this, and the history of the web, I can highly recommend Sir Tim Berners Lee’s book “This Is For Everyone”.)

However, OpenAI has just taken the extraordinary step of introducing ad-based revenue on the free tiers. While they claim that this will not impact the responses you receive, OpenAI can now freely share deep knowledge of you and your interests to advertisers, which they already openly admit to harvesting, with limited controls. This move is following the old social media playbook of exploiting you and your interests in any way possible to make more money. That was in an era when most people were unaware of the risks, and the risks today are so much bigger and more complex. Hopefully the other large players do not follow OpenAI’s lead, and use that as a critical differentiator.

The Competitive Risk of Ignoring AI Privacy

During a time of unknowns, using AI without a privacy strategy isn’t just risky – it’s a competitive liability. However, analysis paralysis, not using AI at all or ineffectively due to fear of the risks, presents an even greater risk.

The Takeaway

If your business is using AI, you and your teams must be hyper-aware of the platform tier you’re on. Other businesses can and do use AI to find information on competitors, uncovering budget spends and strategic pivots that can “leak” into the models via lower-tier or free versions. While this “search and source” capability is a massive benefit for some, it’s a significant detriment to others who haven’t secured their data, and is the tip of the spear.

We started allpointsAI to specialise in navigating these complexities, and create and execute AI strategies that help companies reap the benefits, safely, and effectively. We are also passionate privacy advocates, always seeking to identify and mitigate the inherent risks when integrating this new and exciting technology.

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Agency Trends for 2026

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

Five Big Shifts Reshaping the Industry

As we reflect on 2025 and look forward to 2026, it is no secret the agency sector has experienced a slow down in growth and competition has intensified. The traditional agency model still remains under sustained pressure across the board from clients, to procurement, talent shortages to technology. However, opportunity still exists and 2026 will be the year for agencies who are prepared to adapt quickly and decisively.

Here are five major shifts that will be reshaping the agency industry in 2026, and what agency leaders must do to stay ahead. 

1. The Market Will Experience Slower Growth, With More Competition And Tougher Choices

With over 25,000 agencies operating in the UK alone, oversupply has become one of the industry’s biggest structural challenges. Where agencies once enjoyed 30–40% year-on-year growth, most are now operating in a far more constrained environment, with typical growth sitting closer to 6–8%.

The commercial reality is stark, with widespread revenue pressure and margins under constant strain, means many agencies are operating with increasingly thin cashflow buffers. On the opposite end of the scale, buyers within the market will look to consolidate spending and favour agencies that offer scale, as well as multi-disciplinary services with global reach.

2026 will be a barbell market, where well positioned agencies with clear differentiation will continue to win and generalist or undifferentiated agencies will be squeezed. Agency leaders and owners must make tough strategic choices by doubling down on defensible niche offerings or rethinking them completely whilst expanding capability through partnerships or acquisitions.

2. AI Will Move From Experimental Into Adoption

2026 will see AI move from a nice to have,  side project to a fundamental operational capability within the agency landscape. 

Currently only a minority of agencies have implemented a fully formed AI strategy as part of their daily operations. Many are still experimenting with tools in silo and only using AI for pitching and lead generation.

Early adoption agencies are already seeing clear advantages with faster delivery, leaner teams and more scalable offerings. Most notably, AI is shaping client expectations and brands want agencies that can move at the same pace as their internal teams, this can be achieved through the use and adoption of AI. Agencies who choose to ignore AI in 2026 will get left behind. 

In 2026, agencies will need a comprehensive AI strategy that covers:

  • Operations and delivery efficiency
  • Commercial modelling and margin protection
  • Productisation and IP creation
  • Data capture and insight generation

3. Charging Models Will Shift From Time to Value

The traditional day rate model has been under sustained attack for some time now with  value at the heart of the debate. Procurement pressure and budget scrutiny from the client side has exposed the flaws of charging purely for time and resource.

Clients are leaning much more towards outcomes and as a result, agencies are moving towards value-based pricing, with performance-linked fees and profit-share arrangements at the forefront of the agency pricing model. This shift reflects a deeper truth within the industry, that clients hold impact to a higher regard than volume of activity alone. 

For 2026, agencies will experience challenges on two fronts when it comes to implementing the correct charging strategy. First, agencies must be far clearer on the value they create commercially, not just creatively. Secondly, they must build financial models that support this shift from time to value, ensuring risk is priced properly and margins are protected.Those that succeed in doing this will unlock stronger client partnerships and more scalable revenue.

4. Centralised Budgets and the Evolving Role of Procurement

Another major shift is the centralisation of marketing budgets, decision-making power is slowly moving away from local teams and into global or regional hubs, often controlled by procurement.

This changes the buying dynamic significantly, with procurement no longer just a cost-control function, it is now shaping agency rosters and contract structures. Agencies that fail to understand this evolution risk being filtered out before they even reach the pitch stage.

Winning in 2026 means speaking the language of procurement and knowing how they operate inside and out. Agencies need:

  • Clear, transparent pricing
  • Demonstrable ROI and outcomes
  • Scalable, repeatable delivery models
  • Risk mitigation and compliance

Agencies that are able align brand ambition with procurement realities will be far better positioned than those that treat procurement as an obstacle rather than a stakeholder.

5. M&A Continues With Succession Being The Silent Driver

M&A activity in the agency sector will show no sign of slowing down even after 202’s record breaking year. Economic volatility has made deals more complex, but private equity appetite will remain strong throughout 2026, particularly for agencies who offer scale and defensible positioning. 

Crucially, succession is becoming one of the biggest drivers of M&A and 2026 looks to be no different, with many founder-led agencies who have shallow management benches and limited long-term transition plans. As a result, a growing number of founders are being forced to consider their exit options sooner than expected, from minority investment, to a majority sale or a full exit. 

Succession planning is no longer optional, it’s a necessity for all founder-led agency leaders. Buyers in 2026 will be  looking forward, not backward and they want agencies with strong leadership teams, who have clean financials and scalable offerings with AI literacy.

For agency founders looking to exit in the next few years, 2026 represents a narrow window to prepare the business so it is acquirable and attractive to investors.

Looking Ahead 2026 Is The Year For The Leaders, Not The Followers

The agency industry is entering a period of profound change, with oversaturation and slower growth, as well as AI disruption and a looming wave of agency succession, 2026 will be the year that reshapes the agency landscape.

Agencies that thrive in 2026 will be early adopters, who embrace AI into their strategies, and move with the constantly evolving commercial models. They will take time to understand procurement, as well as planning for the future of leadership and ownership.

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M&A’s of the Month: December 2025

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

Bearded Kitten, Bigger Bets and Broader Reach

December rounded off a remarkable year for dealmaking across the events, experiential and broader agency ecosystem. Against a backdrop of heightened strategic activity where buyers are increasingly looking to build scale, deepen capabilities and position for solid growth in 2026, December did not disappoint. The month showed a flurry of activity with a set of headline transactions signalling both ongoing trends of consolidation and targeted capability expansion.

The month began with a flurry of mergers and acquisitions from, Eventbrite‘s acquisition by tech group Bending Spoons, to the merger of UK agency OrangeDoor with US experience agency Unbridled. The acquisitions didn’t stop there, we then saw global exhibition and experiential agency 2Heads acquired by communications group Spiro, and production and corporate events agency FIRST being acquired by Encore.

Make no mistake, each of these December deals are reshaping the events and experiential agency landscape. Here is a deep dive at the key December M&A activity and what they really mean for the sector.

Havas strengthens experiential muscle with Bearded Kitten acquisition

Deal: Havas Play acquired UK-based experiential agency Bearded Kitten.

This move marks a strategic push by Havas to deepen its experiential marketing offering within the global Havas Media Network. Bearded Kitten is a multi award-winning agency known for immersive brand activations and end-to-end experience design that brings specialist capabilities in prop-making, theatrical production and immersive campaign delivery to the table.

Founded in 2007 and working with clients including Netflix, Unilever, Google and Disney, the 45-person team now sits alongside Havas Play’s broader experiential proposition within the UK and global market. The acquisition creates a nearly 200-strong experience division within Havas Play UK, underlining their premium position in the high-impact experiential brand market.

Why it matters?

This consolidation speaks to a broader trend within the market where holding groups are enhancing in-house creative and production expertise, especially in immersive and experiential marketing, to meet growing demand from brands seeking differentiated, culture-driven engagement.

Beyond the Headlines: December’s M&A Momentum

While not all deals in the events and agency space have been publicly disclosed or as widely reported, the broader market continues to be buoyant and reflects the momentum we have seen throughout 2025.

Globally M&A activity has rebounded strongly this year, with strategic deals forming a significant part of deal value growth across multiple sectors. Strategic buyers are increasingly using M&A to drive growth and pivot into new capabilities and markets.

Beyond the experiential and events world, large holding companies and networks like Havas are also active in other markets and sectors. Recent acquisitions in media and data assets with the purchase of Australian based independent media group, Kaimera indicates an appetite within the market to explore diversification strategies that straddle traditional creative, tech and data services.

Thought 2026 Outlook For Agencies and Brands

For agencies December’s deals underscore that scale remains a strong differentiator, particularly where strategic offerings or specialist skills such as experiential production can be brought under a unified network. Independent agencies with strong niches and demonstrable capability will continue to attract buyer interest.

For clients and brands consolidation will continue to amplify the value proposition for end-to-end partners looking to combine media, creative, tech and live experiences. Buyers are increasingly seeking seamless delivery models that reduce friction between strategy, creativity and execution.

For the market as a whole, corporate confidence and strategic M&A intent remain healthy,  reflecting a positive outlook for robust dealmaking across varying sectors. Agencies should sharpen their value narratives and consider how scale, specialisation or integration into broader networks might shape their next phase of growth.

Final Thought

December’s activity was anchored by the high-profile Havas-Bearded Kitten deal which reinforces that 2025 is closing with a strong statement on industry consolidation and capability expansion. As we head into 2026, we expect buyers will continue to prioritise deals that incorporate differentiated talent, technology, and immersive experiences.

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Allpoints Insights

Events Sector Shake-Up: Why Yesterday’s M&A Surge Matters

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

Yesterday the events sector saw an unusually high volume of M&A action. Four substantial deals were announced, each with different dynamics, but all pointing to the same trend of consolidation and strategic repositioning.

First, Eventbrite agreed to be acquired by tech group Bending Spoons in an all cash transaction valued at an estimated $500M. 

Eventbrite will now transition from public ownership into the hands of a private company who own an impressive portfolio of businesses such as Vimeo and WeTransfer to name a few. The tech arm of Bending Spoons signals renewed investment for the Eventbrite platform resulting in improvements in its product capabilities, potentially including AI assisted event creation, better ticketing experiences and improved long-term platform development. 

Secondly, UK based agency OrangeDoor merged with US experience agency Unbridled, combining OrangeDoor’s strong UK creative events and exhibitions heritage with Unbridled’s US experience agency footprint.

Not long after the OrangeDoor and Unbridled announce, global exhibition and experiential agency 2Heads broke the news that they had been acquired by communications group Spiro. Adding 2Heads’ live events and experiential capabilities to Spiro’s current offering will help them broaden their comms and content services.

Finally, production and corporate events agency First has been acquired by Encore, further strengthening Encore’s global agency side footprint and production offering.

Consolidation in Motion: Four Deals Redefining the Events Landscape

These Four deals took place in four distinctive parts of the events market, and all of them were structured under the guise of consolidation, capability aggregation and strategic repositioning.

Why now?

These moves are the industries response to client expectations for end-to-end capability that promotes scale, global reach, and certainty in delivery. Agencies and platforms that can offer breadth of service offering, from creative concept to global delivery, to ticketing tech and live production, are far more attractive to buyers than niche standalone players.

What does it mean for the agency landscape?

Expect tighter competition, raised expectations from clients, and increased pressure on independents. Buyers will look to agencies with depth in their senior leadership, as well as proven delivery, and a diversified service offering. These deals ensure the agencies have a strong operational discipline and long term vision.

At the same time, this wave of consolidation presents a real opportunity for independents with clarity of proposition, strong client retention, disciplined commercial operations and a compelling value narrative. If you are in that position now is the time to sharpen your strategy, invest in structure and consider whether you want to build for scale or position yourself as a viable acquisition target.

Final Thought

What we saw yesterday was not a random flurry, it was a strong message and indicator that the events and experiential industry is entering a new phase. Those who understand the new landscape and act accordingly will benefit tremendously.

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Autumn Budget 2025: What It Really Means for UK Agencies

By allpoints business collective

The government’s Autumn Budget sets out a mixed outlook for creative and agency businesses. With enhanced incentives for investment and stability around corporation tax, the environment is more supportive for agencies planning to grow and innovate or attract investment. Yet at the same time, higher employment costs and rising day to day expenses will tighten cash flow for many owner managed firms.

The takeaway is simple, this Budget creates opportunities for well prepared agencies whilst highlighting the importance for financial discipline and a strong cash flow position.

Incentive for Growth and Investment

  • The strengthening of the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) will make it easier for early-stage creative and agency businesses to attract external investment. Agencies looking to scale, innovate or launch new service lines now have a stronger footing to raise capital for growth.
  • The decision to keep the corporation tax rate unchanged gives agencies some stability from a top line profitability forecast.
  • The new UK listing relief will encourage agencies with a growth trajectory to consider equity backed fundraising or structural changes.
  • The confirmation that full expensing is permanent means that agencies planning to invest in plant, equipment or other qualifying assets can write these off upfront is a clear incentive to invest in infrastructure, tech or physical assets.

Although this budget underlines the value of long term growth planning with support from investment and scale, it is important agencies agencies sharpen their control on cashflow forecasting, whilst implementing tighter cost control. For those working on lean margins or project based cash flow projections, the margin for error is narrowing.

  • External cost pressures such as the first fuel duty rise in over a decade, and a new 3p per mile EV tax will all result in higher overheads. For agencies with physical events this has the ability to squeeze margins.
  • The planned increase in the National Living Wage to £12.71 for workers 21+ from April 2026 will push up wage bills for agencies employing junior or mid level staff.
  • With income tax and National Insurance thresholds frozen, both employers and employees may see higher effective tax burdens in subsequent tax years.
  • Changes to pension tax relief and higher taxes on dividends and savings will affect Directors, especially those who rely on dividends for income.

Final Thought

In light of the Autumn Budget, and the welcome appetite to strengthen UK investment we would advise agencies use this period to revisit growth plans, manage cash flow carefully, and lean on expert guidance to shape their long term growth strategy by:

  • Revisiting your agency’s growth roadmap, considering your current and future investment plans carefully.
  • For agencies exploring external investment or equity based funding, the strengthened EIS and stamp duty relief strengthens your position.
  • Rising running costs mean cash flow discipline and forward planning are more critical than ever.

Whether you are expanding or contemplating a sale or exit, this Budget underscores the value of partnering with expert advisors to model scenarios and define long term strategy outlook.

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Allpoints Insights

GEO, Explained Like You’re Five – And Why PR Is Suddenly The Grown‑Up In The Room

The bottom line – it is all about earned media

By Megan Johnstone-Mackie, PR & Marketing Head, allpoints

Okay, don’t panic. We know the information is overwhelming and rapidly changing, but don’t worry – we have done the tough bit. We have reviewed the research and put together a playbook for making sure your business shows up in AI. 

AI tools are becoming the place people go first when they’re hunting for agencies, venues or production partners, especially for complex event briefs. Instead of scrolling pages of search results, they ask a chatbot a long, human question – and trust the short‑list it gives back. That means your reputation now needs to live inside AI answers, not just on page one of Google. Let’s explain what this actually means…

What GEO Actually Is

Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) is simply: “how to show up when someone asks AI a question.” Traditional SEO tries to get your website high on a list of links; GEO tries to get your brand name and proof points written into the AI’s actual answer.

For event and creative agencies, this means optimising not just web pages but the whole footprint AI can see – coverage, reviews, profiles, directories, panels, even community threads.

How Buyers Are Using AI Instead Of Search

Image of a girls face and Ai related data coming off her head.

According to Nightwatch, recent UK and global studies show that more than half of people have now used AI chatbots, and usage is highest among professionals using them for work tasks. Traffic and search analyses suggest informational queries are steadily shifting towards AI assistants, even though Google still dominates classic search. In practice, a marketing lead might ask: “Which UK agencies specialise in sustainable live events for luxury brands?” then let AI propose a starting list – and only then click through to websites and LinkedIn. If you’re not in that first AI‑generated list, you may never even get searched.

Where AI Gets Its Answers From

When researchers look at the links and sources AI tools cite, they see a clear pattern: most of what gets pulled into answers is earned and third‑party content, not your owned channels. One widely shared analysis suggests that the large majority of URLs used in AI answers come from editorial coverage and other independent sites, with a tiny share from social posts and ads.

AI assistants lean heavily on:

  • High‑authority news and business outlets.
  • Trade and vertical media (marketing, events, sector titles).
  • Community and reference platforms like Reddit and Wikipedia.
  • Structured review/directory sites with clear ratings and descriptors.

According to Fastcompany, owned content still matters, but mainly as raw material for those third parties to quote and link to, AI is more likely to surface the article about your work than the case study you wrote yourself.

How To See What AI Is Really Saying About You

Kerry and the team from the Remarkables PR and the logo for The Mark

Tools like The Mark, developed by The Remarkables and powered by GEO leaders LEOPRD, give brands a way to stop guessing and start measuring how they actually appear inside AI answers. Instead of just checking search rankings, these audits run structured prompts across major AI platforms, analyse which sources are driving the responses, and benchmark how you show up versus competitors.​

For agency leaders, this is the GEO equivalent of media monitoring and share‑of‑voice tracking: you can see the narratives AI is repeating, where sentiment skews positive or risky, and which gaps in earned coverage or online reputation are holding you back. Led by reputation and communications specialist Kerry Parkin, The Remarkables and LEOPRD then translate that insight into practical PR and content recommendations, from the trade titles you need to be in, to the kinds of proof points AI currently can’t find about your work.

PR’s New Job In The GEO Era

If GEO is “how AI finds you”, PR is how you feed AI with the right stories. According to Linkedin, classic PR tasks, getting you quoted in trade titles, placing op‑eds, securing award write‑ups, landing interviews and panels, now double as GEO work, because every credible mention becomes another signal AI can reuse.

For agencies, that means:

  • Prioritising earned coverage in trade and business media so there is something trustworthy for AI to grab when a client asks “who’s good at X?”
  • Making sure your “proof” lives off your own site – in directories, partner case studies, speaker bios, award books, and community spaces where AI is allowed to train.
  • Treating PR, SEO and GEO as one strategy: every announcement, thought‑leadership piece or case study should be designed to work for humans, search engines and AI answer engines at the same time.

PR puts your best stories into the biggest, most trusted books in the library; GEO is about making sure the robot librarian reads those stories out loud when someone asks for an idea.

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Allpoints Insights

M&As of the Month – October & November 2025

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

October proved to be a compelling month for M&A in the events, experiential, and agency space; a period that underscores how the conference and entertainment landscape is consolidating in ways that balance scale, creativity, and strategic reach.

Key Deal: Secret Cinema’s Parent Company Acquired

Secret cinema setting

Perhaps the headline grabber of the month is the acquisition of TodayTix, the parent company of the London based immersive entertainment powerhouse Secret Cinema, by Mari, a global events firm backed by Apollo Global Management and RedBird Capital Partners.

Why it matters

Secret Cinema is not just a niche film screening outfit, it’s a brand known for immersive, highly experiential storytelling; combining cinema with theatre, set design, live performance, and audience participation, making it a perfect fit for Mari, which appears to be building a portfolio that goes beyond traditional live events. By acquiring TodayTix, Mari gains access to a massive customer base, of an estimated 20 million members, giving them a direct to consumer (D2C) platform for future entertainment, sports, and art experiences to accelerate their growth in the market.

This deal signals that the experiential events landscape is changing, it is being reimagined not just as gatherings, but as integrated entertainment ecosystems, combining ticketing, content, community, and brand partnerships.

Continuing the trend

November, has also shown a major move from Encore, who acquired Eclipse, a UK based event production company. This deal boosts Encore’s presence and production capabilities in one of the world’s most important event markets. With Eclipse’s creative and technical expertise; especially across high profile London venues, now combined with Encore’s global reach, this acquisition underscores the broader M&A trend that growth is being built on creative strength and strategic alignment.

Broader M&A Trends: Agency and Professional Services

Two women at a desk discussing business matters in front of laptops

Beyond immersive events, October M&A activity saw strong movement among more traditional sectors with the strategic drivers being scale, specialisation, and operational consolidation.

October featured a number of M&A transactions across regulated services, logistics, infrastructure, and professional services, demonstrating the appetite for UK investment. Investors are focusing on certainty, scale, and strategic goals. Portfolio refinement remains a strong indicator, with sales like Smiths Group to Molex mirrors indicating investors are concentrating on fewer, higher-margin divisions. Whilst the Tritax and Macquarie transactions show the persistent pull of UK hard assets for long term capital. Both deals demonstrate how global investors are seeking dependable yield through physical infrastructure rather than cyclical equities.

Meanwhile in technology and professional services, the acquisition of Decho by Accenture and SRG’s dual healthcare deals illustrates how specialist UK firms continue to command premium valuations from international buyers.

Overall, deal flow throughout October suggests that, despite economic caution, buyers are targeting assets offering either resilience through essential infrastructure or strategic leverage through specialisation.

On the flip side the UK investment sector, saw a drop in deal volume during October, with only four transactions above £5m reported. This relative slowdown may reflect a more cautious approach heading into year end.

In the public M&A arena, WSP Global completed a major move by acquiring Ricardo in a recommended cash offer, reinforcing its technical and regulated services footprint.

What This Means for the Events and Agency Ecosystem

Mari’s acquisition of TodayTix/Secret Cinema isn’t just a bet on ticketing, it’s a bet on immersive storytelling as a scalable, premium product. As event companies consolidate, they are increasingly positioning themselves as content producers, not just organisers.

Data and technology are forcing the more traditional agency’s to build scale in regulated or technical areas, whilst leaning into specialist advisory to differentiate themselves within the market.

The drop in deal volume in the UK investment sector suggests that while big, high profile acquisitions continue, some mid market M&A is slowing. This could reflect valuation discipline or macro uncertainty heading into year end.

Brands and agencies working in the experience space should watch Mari closely, their expanded event production portfolio could make them a valuable partner for immersive brand activations, sponsorship, or content collaboration. Opposingly, independent event producers may face increasing pressure; with consolidation, competition for talent, venues, and audience attention intensifying.

Overall, the deal suggests institutional investors continue to see live, immersive experiences as a growth area. For founders, this could mean more capital and exit options, but also higher expectations around scale, digital reach, and profitability.

Final Take

October 2025 marked a moment where the lines between events, entertainment, and platform businesses blurred. The Secret Cinema deal is a standout example, but it also reflects a broader strategic trend, that M&A in the agency and events world isn’t just about putting companies together, it’s about building the future of experiences.

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Allpoints Insights

The Real-Life Succession Unfolding Across UK Agencies

By Max Fellows, Founder, allpoints

Succession stories make great TV: from Waystar RoyCo in Succession to the brewing dynasty in Netflix’s new House of Guinness, but while those dramas play out on screen, a quieter, no-less-intense version is happening across UK agencies right now.

Since the boom of the early 2000s, around 43% of agency founders are now in their early 60s. With over 25,000 agencies in the UK across brand experience, events and creative services, the question of who takes over next isn’t a niche concern, it’s about to redefine the industry’s structure for the next decade.

The generational tipping point

The first generation of modern agency founders built their businesses in an era of growth, global expansion and post-recession resilience. Many of them are now facing their biggest challenge yet: how to exit gracefully without dismantling the culture, reputation and client trust they’ve spent 20 years building.

What happens next will depend on the choices these leaders make. Some will sell, others will merge, and a few will simply fade out. But just as often, their senior lieutenants, those account directors, strategists and creative leads who’ve grown up under them, are spinning out to start something new. It’s the natural lifecycle of our sector: succession breeds reinvention.

The tax trigger

The latest tax rise has accelerated the shift. With the first tax bill now a million pounds higher, Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) are booming, up nearly 40% this year. Entirely tax-free and approved by HMRC, EOTs let founders sell to a trust representing their employees, using the business’s own profits to fund the buy-out.

It’s a smart, sustainable route for those who want to protect their teams and legacy, but it’s not without risk. The business has to stay profitable for years to pay the founder out, and many owners still hold up to 50% of shares, creating a complex “double-dip” dynamic. Still, compared with the volatility of private equity or trade sales, EOTs are offering a new kind of stability, and increasingly, credibility.

Slowing growth, rising pressure

The backdrop to all this is far from buoyant. Agency growth has slowed to 6–8% year on year, down from 30–40% a decade ago, and 90% of agencies reported revenue losses in the past 12 months. Against that reality, the old playbook of “grow fast, sell high” simply doesn’t hold.

The next few years will see a polarisation of the market. On one side, large networks and investor-backed groups will continue consolidating. On the other, lean, independent agencies, often led by second-generation founders, will focus on agility, specialism and purpose. The mid-market players in between will face the toughest squeeze.

Planning the handover

If House of Guinness taught us anything, it’s that chaos fills the vacuum when succession isn’t planned. The same applies here. Too many founders still treat succession as a distant problem rather than an urgent business priority.

The answer lies in early planning, financial literacy and transparent leadership. Decide your endgame before you’re forced into it. Bring your senior team into the conversation. And treat succession not as an ending, but as the start of your agency’s next chapter.

In the 1800s, Guinness heirs fought over barrels. Today, we’re fighting over clients, culture and continuity. The agencies that survive, and thrive, will be those that understand that succession isn’t a storyline. It’s strategy.

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Allpoints Insights

M&As of the Month – September 2025

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

September saw a wave of consolidation and expansion across the worlds of publishing, events and experiential, each move underscoring a shared ambition: scale with purpose.

Haymarket Media Group strengthened its hold on the UK marcomms landscape with the acquisition of Marketing Week, Creative Review and Festival of Marketing. Global events agency emc3 expanded stateside with the launch of its new emc3 Collective. Experiential heavyweights Identity and Smyle united under one powerful brand.

And accommodation management specialist bnetwork extended its global reach into Switzerland through the acquisition of Hotel Management International Europe (HMI Europe).

Together, these deals point to a sector in motion where integration, creativity and connected ecosystems are driving growth across every touchpoint, from media to live experience.

emc3 launches the emc3 Collective following US acquisition

Global events agency emc3 has expanded its international footprint with the acquisition of Boston Experiential Group (BEG) a full-service B2C experiential agency based in the US, and used the move to launch a new umbrella entity: the emc3 Collective.

The new structure brings together three specialist arms, emc3, BEG and sustainability consultancy from now under one purpose-led platform that unites creativity, collaboration and scale.

Alistair Graham, CEO of the emc3 Collective, said:
The emc3 Collective represents the next chapter of our journey, bringing together bold, creative, and values-led agencies that can scale with intention.

Daniel Curtis, Chief Strategy Officer, added:
This is just the beginning. With BEG, we’re stepping into the B2C space and actively exploring further acquisitions to expand our capabilities for clients worldwide.

With B Corp credentials and a new global structure, emc3 is positioning itself as a purpose-led powerhouse in experiential marketing, balancing creative ambition with sustainability and scale

bnetwork acquires HMI Europe, launching bnetwork Switzerland

Accommodation management specialist bnetwork has acquired Hotel Management International Europe (HMI Europe), the Switzerland-based arm of HMI Canada. The business will now operate as bnetwork Switzerland, offering clients both HMI’s regional services and bnetwork’s full global portfolio.

Co-founders Stéphane Filone and Stéphane Teboul called the move “a significant step forward,” strengthening capabilities and global reach while enhancing agility for clients.

HMI Canada executives Conrad Doucet and Luc Myre praised the partnership, while Leonor Lopes Gil, Group MD at bnetwork, highlighted HMI’s “deep local knowledge and trusted relationships in Switzerland and across Europe.

The acquisition comes as bnetwork celebrates its 20th anniversary, supporting more than 150 events annually, generating 1.5 million overnight stays across a 2,400-hotel network, with clients including Informa, RX Global, MWC Barcelona and Festival de Cannes.

A timely and strategic expansion that gives bnetwork a stronger foothold in Europe’s event-heavy markets. By combining local expertise with global infrastructure, bnetwork continues to set the pace in sustainable, scalable accommodation solutions for major live events.

Haymarket Media Group acquires Marketing Week, Festival of Marketing and Creative Review

Haymarket Media Group has acquired Marketing Week, its flagship event Festival of Marketing, and sister title Creative Review from Centaur Media Plc — strengthening its position as one of the UK’s most influential players in marketing and communications publishing.

These powerhouse titles now join Haymarket’s existing portfolio including Campaign UK, PRWeek, Performance Marketing World and In.Comms, creating one of the most comprehensive ecosystems for marketing and creative audiences globally.

Russell Parsons, Editor-in-Chief of Marketing Week and Festival of Marketing, commented: “Marketing Week will continue to be the go-to source of news, insight, and analysis for marketers, championing and challenging the industry in equal measure. I look forward to working with the team at Haymarket to enhance our offering and provide even more value to our audience.

This move cements Haymarket as the dominant voice in UK marcomms publishing, bringing once-competitive titles under one roof and setting the stage for a more connected ecosystem of content, events and insight. Expect sharper cross-brand collaboration and richer audience data as the group deepens its influence across the sector.

Identity and Smyle consolidate under one powerful brand: Identity

Launching November 2025, this strategic unification between Identity and Smyle marks a major moment for the events and experiential industry: creating one powerhouse agency designed to deliver greater creative innovation and seamless experiential solutions at scale.

The move demonstrates that scale and specialism can coexist, providing smarter, more efficient event experiences for clients worldwide. As the market evolves, clients demand more, more creativity, more value, more impact, and this consolidation answers that call by combining world-class talent, technology and global reach under one cohesive brand.

Michael Gietzen, CEO of Identity, explained: “Both Identity and Smyle are performing exceptionally well on their own, but clients expect more as the market evolves. Unification unlocks real value, disrupting the notion that scale means expense.

Olivier Vallee, Managing Director of Identity, added: “This is a moment of strength. By unifying, we combine scale with specialism, delivering enhanced experiences for clients efficiently, while keeping our teams’ talent at the core of everything we do.

With expanded global operations, including new US East Coast offices, the refreshed Identity will lead the industry into a new era of creative innovation and operational impact.

Final Take

From Haymarket’s bold publishing consolidation to emc3’s global collective launch, from Identity x Smyle’s unification to bnetwork’s expansion into Switzerland, September’s M+As reveal an industry focused on connection, capability and clarity.

What this means for the industry:

  • Rapid consolidation creating end-to-end ecosystems across media, events and experiential
  • Stronger international links with Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific increasingly integrated
  • Purpose-driven growth balancing creativity, sustainability and commercial scale
  • Rising client demand for simplified partnerships delivering greater value and speed
  • Continued blurring of boundaries between media, brand and live experience

Congratulations to all the teams shaping this next chapter, proving that collaboration, clarity and creativity remain the ultimate growth drivers.

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Allpoints Insights

April Deals, Disruptions & Data: The Agency Moves Shaping the Events Industry

By Max Fellows, Founder of Allpoints

The events and experiential marketing industry is buzzing with activity, as mergers and acquisitions continue to redefine the competitive landscape. From powerhouse collaborations to strategic expansions, here’s a roundup of the most significant deals from the past 30 days.

1. Common Interest Acquires Amplify, Wonder, and Seed

Image: Jonathan Emmins, Amplify and Freedman, Common Interest

In a groundbreaking move within the brand experience sector, Common Interest has acquired AmplifyWonder, and Seed, three renowned agencies known for their innovative approaches to brand activations and experiential marketing.

  • Amplify, an award-winning agency with offices in London, Los Angeles, Paris, New York, and Sydney, has worked with high-profile clients such as adidas, Airbnb, Google, Netflix, and PlayStation.
  • Wonder specialises in delivering creative events for global brands.
  • Seed is recognised for its expertise in experiential campaigns that drive cultural relevance.

Anthony Freedman, Founder and CEO of Common Interest, shared: “We’re here to find new ways to harness the power of creativity in culture to deliver growth in brand and business.”

What this means for the industry:
This acquisition signals a major shift in the brand experience space. By integrating Amplify’s global reach and creative expertise alongside Wonder and Seed’s innovative capabilities, Common Interest is poised to empower creativity on a global scale.

2. Camm & Hooper Joins Broadwick Group

Image: Camm & Hooper

Big news for the events world! 🎉 Camm & Hooper has officially joined forces with Broadwick Group following a strategic restructure. This merger brings together two giants in venue management and live experiences.

Camm & Hooper’s iconic venues, such as Banking Hall, OXO2, 26 Leake Street, and Victoria Bath House, will now be part of Broadwick’s impressive portfolio.

Simon Tracey, CEO of Broadwick Group, commented: “We’re thrilled to welcome Camm & Hooper to the Broadwick family. This marks an exciting new chapter for both brands, building on their legacy to create unforgettable experiences.”

Derick M., CEO of Camm & Hooper, added: “This isn’t just about a merger – it’s about pushing boundaries and unlocking new opportunities in the events space.”

What this means for the industry:

  • Expanded offerings of world-class event spaces across London.
  • Strengthened leadership in venue management and live experiences.
  • A bold step forward for innovation in the UK events scene.

3. Freeman Acquires Tag Digital

Image: Tag Digital

Freeman has announced its acquisition of Tag Digital, a digital marketing agency specialising in event organisers across EMEA, APAC, and North America. Tag Digital will integrate with Freeman’s mdg division to enhance digital marketing capabilities using AI-driven tools designed to optimise audience engagement.

What this means for the industry:

  • Increased focus on connecting millennial and Gen Z audiences through digital-first strategies.
  • Strengthened global reach for event organisers, leveraging advanced AI-powered solutions.

4. MCI UK Merges with Meet & Potato

Image: MCI UK & Meet & Potato

Another exciting development sees MCI UK merging with creative events agency Meet & Potato. This partnership combines MCI UK’s global event design expertise with Meet & Potato’s immersive experiential approach, strengthening both firms’ positions in the industry.

MCI UK, part of the Geneva-based MCI Group, delivers high-end event design, conference management, and incentive planning for brands like Ocado, Adobe, and Ubisoft. Meanwhile, Liverpool-based Meet & Potato has built a reputation for crafting engaging brand experiences for Dunelm, Magnet, and Holland & Barrett.

Charlee Gough, Managing Director of MCI UK, commented: “Meet & Potato brings an energy and creative flair that mirrors our own. This merger supercharges our ability to deliver imaginative, insight-led experiences that inspire audiences and drive engagement.”

Jon Kelly, Founder of Meet & Potato, added: “In MCI UK, we’ve found the perfect partner – an agency with the strategic thinking, global reach, and creative integrity to help us scale our ambition without losing what makes us unique.”

What this means for the industry:

  • Expanded regional presence, particularly in Northern England.
  • Strengthened creative and strategic service offerings.
  • A step forward in AI-powered event experiences and consultancy.
  1. Kru Live Joins Brand Partnership Group
Image: Kru Live

Kru Live has officially joined the Brand Partnership Group in a landmark acquisition that marks a defining moment for the brand experience and event staffing industry.

From its roots in Southampton to becoming a global leader, Kru Live’s journey continues, now with even greater scale and opportunity. This move will unlock enhanced capabilities, expanded resources, and innovative solutions for clients around the world, while remaining true to the people-first culture that defines the brand.

Sarah-Jane Benham, CEO of Kru Live Global, will continue to lead the business, driving forward an ambitious growth agenda. Founder Tom Eatenton will exit the business as part of the transition. This new chapter is powered by the strategic vision of Andrew Leaver, CEO of Brand Partnership Group, whose leadership experience across Samsung and Blue Square brings a wealth of expertise to the partnership.

What this means for the industry:

  • A new benchmark for excellence in experiential staffing.
  • Greater global scale and delivery capabilities.
  • Strong leadership continuity with ambitious growth plans.

Industry Trends to Watch: Consolidation & Innovation

These acquisitions highlight key trends shaping the events industry:

Global Expansion: Companies are acquiring assets to strengthen their presence across continents (e.g., Common Interest expanding globally with Amplify).

Sector Diversification: Agencies like Freeman are investing heavily in technology-driven solutions to meet evolving client needs.

Creative Collaborations: Partnerships like Broadwick Group and Camm & Hooper demonstrate how merging expertise can unlock new opportunities for innovation.

With these bold moves reshaping the landscape, one thing is clear: The events industry is entering an exciting new era of creativity and growth! Stay tuned for more updates as these collaborations unfold!

The big question: Who’s next?

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Allpoints Insights

March – Deals, Disruptions & Data: The Agency Deals Shaping the Events Industry

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

The independent agency world is buzzing with major mergers and acquisitions this month, with strategic moves that will reshape branding, creative strategy, and experiential marketing. Whether you’re an agency insider, a marketing strategist, or just someone who loves to see industry shake-ups, these latest deals are setting the stage for bold new collaborations. Grab a coffee (or something stronger), and let’s dive into the biggest industry moves happening right now.

1. Common Thread Group Launches & Acquires Notepad | B Corp

Ideas + Outcomes

A major new player has entered the independent agency scene: Common Thread Group. This London-based collective is bringing together top-tier agency talent to work with leading brands. In a major first move, the group has acquired Notepad | B Corp, a Birmingham-based brand and creative agency.

The Takeaway for the Agency Industry:
This move signals an ongoing trend of independent agencies uniting under larger collectives, allowing for greater creative collaboration, resource sharing, and strategic growth. Expect more bold, results-driven branding solutions from this new powerhouse.

2. Impact XM Acquires Touch Associates

A game-changing move in experiential marketing—Impact XM has acquired Touch Associates, merging two leaders in brand experiences, events, and creative production.

The Takeaway for the Agency Industry:
With this acquisition, Impact XM significantly expands its creative and strategic capabilities, allowing brands to deliver more immersive, high-impact experiences on a global scale. The industry is seeing a shift toward fully integrated experiential solutions.

3. Opus Agency Expands with The Company We Keep

Kim Kopetz, President and CEO of The Opus Group (left), Nigel Ruffell, CEO of The CWK (middle), and Dena Lowery, President of Opus Agency (right), in Sydney, Australia.

Global experiential leader Opus Agency has acquired The Company We Keep, an Asia-Pacific-based experiential marketing agency. This move solidifies Opus Agency’s presence in key international markets and strengthens its ability to execute seamless brand experiences worldwide.

The Takeaway for the Agency Industry:
The rise of global experiential networks means more comprehensive, multi-market event solutions for brands. This is a sign that event agencies are prioritising seamless execution across regions, ensuring a consistent brand presence.

4. IPG Sells Huge & R/GA

A major shift in agency ownership—IPG has sold two of its most well-known digital agencies, Huge and R/GA, to private equity firms.

Huge was acquired by AEA Investors and merged with Hero Digital, forming a consolidated, digital-first agency. Meanwhile, Truelink Capital acquired R/GA, marking its return to independence after 23 years under IPG.

The Takeaway for the Agency Industry:
This isn’t just IPG trimming its portfolio—it signals a fundamental shift in how creative agencies are owned and operated. Holding companies are selling, while private equity firms are buying. The focus is shifting from traditional creative-driven business models to operational efficiency, AI-powered creativity, and scalable financial returns.

Expect to see more PE firms entering the space, reshaping the way agencies operate and generate value.

What This Means for the Industry

The independent agency world is seeing significant consolidation, with major players scaling up and acquiring strategic assets to enhance their capabilities. Whether it’s creative branding, experiential marketing, or integrated event production, these deals are shaping the future of the industry.

The big question: Who’s next?

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Allpoints Insights

February – Deals, Disruptions & Data: The Agency Deals Shaping the Events Industry

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

The events industry never stands still, and this month is no exception. There’s plenty to talk about from ambitious startups shaking up corporate retreat planning to major acquisitions reshaping the global event infrastructure landscape. Whether you’re an event planner, a tech aficionado, or just someone who loves to see how the industry evolves, these latest deals are set to make waves. So, grab a coffee (or something stronger), and let’s dive into the biggest moves and shake-ups happening right now.

  1. Informa’s Acquisition of Ascential

Informa, a UK-listed business events group, acquired its British rival Ascential for £1.2 billion. This acquisition is part of Informa’s strategy to restructure its operations and focus on major industrial trade events, moving away from smaller-scale gatherings.

The Takeaway for the Events Industry:

This move signals a shift toward consolidating large-scale industrial events while leaving behind smaller, niche gatherings. Expect bigger, more streamlined trade shows with increased global reach.

  1. Hyve Group’s Acquisition of HLTH

Hyve Group, a British events and conferences company, acquired HLTH, an organisation specialising in health-related events. This move aligns with Hyve’s plan to double its revenues and expand its presence in the corporate events market, which has seen increased demand post-pandemic.

The Takeaway for the Events Industry:

With healthcare and wellness events booming post-pandemic, this acquisition positions Hyve as a dominant player in the sector. The corporate event landscape is shifting towards more specialised, high-growth areas like health and wellness.

  1. Clarion Events’ Acquisition of Eaton Hall Exhibitions

Clarion Events acquired Eaton Hall Exhibitions, a company specialising in pre-arranged, face-to-face meetings. This acquisition led to the launch of Clarion Connect, a new division dedicated to facilitating one-to-one meetings.

The Takeaway for the Events Industry:

The rise of structured, high-value networking is evident with this move. Expect more curated, personalised meeting opportunities within major events, enhancing efficiency and ROI for attendees.

  1. Naboo’s Expansion with €20 Million in Funding

French startup Naboo secured €20 million ($21M) in Series A funding from Notion Capital. Led by CEO Laurent Gendre, Naboo is streamlining the corporate event space with a concierge-style platform that bundles accommodation, catering, transport, and activities into a single marketplace.

Not content with just making retreat planning easy, Naboo has also rolled out a SaaS platform for large-scale MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events, helping companies keep a grip on procurement policies, approvals, invoices, and payments. With booking volumes hitting €60 million in 2024, this fresh funding is set to fuel automation and a UK expansion.

The Takeaway for the Events Industry:

The event tech revolution is still in full swing, and Naboo is leading the charge in corporate event management. Expect more automation, more convenience, and fewer stressed-out event planners drowning in spreadsheets.

  1. Arena Group Acquires Maestra & Gets Bought by Modon Holding

Arena Group, a global provider of temporary event infrastructure, acquired Maestra, a premium event production and fabrication company known for crafting show-stopping builds for luxury events and exhibitions. With operations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Maestra has been behind some of the biggest spectacle-heavy gigs, including COP28 and Diriyah Bashayar 2024.

Not long after Maestra joined the family, Arena Group itself was acquired by Abu Dhabi-based Modon Holding P.S.C. This double-whammy of acquisitions cements Modon’s growing presence in the events industry, strengthening its position across more than 10 countries, including the US, UK, and KSA. With 150 employees and 80,000 square feet of workshop space, Maestra now gets to play on a much bigger stage, backed by Arena’s global infrastructure and deep pockets.

The Takeaway for the Events Industry:

The Middle East is becoming a hotbed for high-profile event investments, and this deal signals a push towards bigger, bolder, and more immersive event experiences. Expect an even stronger focus on large-scale, integrated event solutions—because, let’s face it, people love a spectacle.

  1. Noble Events Joins veSpace International Limited

Noble Events, an award-winning agency that works with some of the world’s leading brands, has been acquired by veSpace International Limited, an event management and venue sourcing agency.

veSpace has expanded its portfolio over recent years and this addition the portfolio of companies, which includes Chilled Events, We Love This, Absolute Corporate Events, and Absolute Digital Communications.

Under the veSpace umbrella, Noble Events will be able to have continuity of service for their clients and security for the team members.

The Takeaway for the Events Industry:

This acquisition strengthens veSpace’s position in the event management sector by adding another reputable brand to its growing portfolio. Clients can expect enhanced service offerings, increased venue access, and a more robust network of event professionals.

Final Thoughts

From game-changing startups to multi-million-dollar takeovers, the events industry is buzzing with action. Whether it’s tech-driven event planning, corporate retreat automation, or large-scale infrastructure investments, one thing’s clear: the way we plan, build, and experience events is evolving fast.

So, whether you’re an event planner, tech enthusiast, or just someone who appreciates a good party, buckle up. The next wave of innovation in events is just getting started.

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Allpoints Insights

2025 Agency Survival Guide: The Six Trends You Can’t Afford to Ignore

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

Introduction
As we continue into 2025, the agency landscape remains dynamic, offering a mix of opportunity and unpredictability. The Agency Hackers’ Q1 2025 Forecast dives deep into the challenges and victories agency leaders face, revealing a roadmap to thrive in the year ahead. From changing client expectations to leveraging technology and collaboration, here’s a comprehensive guide to navigating the trends shaping the creative, digital, and events industries.

1. Confidence with Caution
The forecast highlights a renewed sense of optimism among agency leaders, with 65% rating their confidence at 7 or higher. However, many are adopting cautious strategies due to lingering economic uncertainty. Agencies are ditching rigid growth plans in favor of adaptable KPIs tied to campaigns and outreach metrics.

✔️ Who’s Doing It Right?
Agencies like Boutique and The Digital Maze are leading with agility, focusing on flexible, campaign-driven goals rather than fixed revenue targets. For instance, Boutique recalibrated its 2024 plan multiple times and is now prioritising sustainable growth over aggressive expansion.

2. Growth Is the Buzzword
While uncertainty looms, growth remains the ultimate goal. Agencies are shifting from reactive to proactive strategies, including refining sales processes, streamlining service offerings, and adopting productised approaches. This shift allows agencies to focus on repeatable, scalable solutions that drive predictable revenue.

✔️ Who’s Doing It Right?
Sherpa
, a B2B marketing agency, has successfully productised its services, launching two repeatable products that have already seen renewals. By simplifying its offerings, Sherpa reduced inefficiencies and created a scalable growth model. Similarly, Napier doubled down on niche sector expertise to move upmarket, securing high-value clients with its proprietary strategic models.

Takeaway: To achieve growth in 2025, focus on narrowing your niche, building scalable offerings, and optimising your sales funnel.

3. Embrace Collaboration
Collaboration between agencies is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s essential. Partnerships and referral networks are becoming a significant revenue driver. Agencies that invest in building relationships with complementary businesses are expanding their reach, diversifying offerings, and creating long-term opportunities.

✔️ Who’s Doing It Right?
JonesMillbank doubled its agency-partner revenue from 21% to 42% in a single year by actively seeking collaborative projects. Meanwhile, Studio Graphene attributes a large part of its growth to referrals and has made expanding its partner network a core focus for 2025.

Takeaway: Build a robust referral and partnership strategy to leverage the expertise of complementary agencies while growing your revenue streams.

4. Navigating the Client Relationship Shift
Client expectations are changing rapidly. Many clients now prioritise immediate, measurable results over long-term strategic value, often leading to transactional relationships. Agencies are finding themselves under pressure to deliver quick wins while maintaining quality. This shift emphasises the need for clear communication, realistic expectation-setting, and a focus on measurable outcomes.

✔️ Who’s Doing It Right?
Napier is leading by example with radical transparency. They emphasise clear communication about what clients can achieve with their budgets, ensuring no promises go unfulfilled. Similarly, The Digital Maze introduced real-time dashboards for clients, creating trust and accountability while showcasing measurable progress.

Takeaway: Set clear expectations, prioritise communication, and integrate measurable outcomes into every client interaction.

5. Talent and Technology Investments
Agencies are increasingly relying on a combination of skilled teams and cutting-edge technology to stay ahead. AI tools are enabling operational efficiency, while training programs are upskilling teams to meet evolving demands.

✔️ Who’s Doing It Right?
Curated, an AI-driven marketing agency, has integrated GPT technology to automate 60% of its workflow, freeing up resources for strategic work. Similarly, Napier has invested heavily in training, allocating £10,000 per employee to upskill their teams and boost client delivery.

Takeaway: Invest in automation tools and training to increase efficiency while empowering your team to deliver high-value work.

6. Productisation as a Path to Profitability
Productisation is the process of turning bespoke services into scalable products, and it is on the rise. Agencies adopting this model are seeing greater efficiency, higher client retention, and predictable revenues.

✔️ Who’s Doing It Right?
Sherpa’s productisation journey has already proven successful, with its first renewals validating the model. By streamlining services into repeatable products, they’ve reduced operational overhead and improved scalability.

Takeaway: Identify services that can be transformed into repeatable, scalable products to ensure consistent revenue streams.

Looking Ahead
2025 holds promise for agencies ready to adapt. By focusing on flexible strategies, fostering collaborations, and leveraging technology, agencies can turn challenges into opportunities. The key lies in staying agile, investing in relationships, and positioning services as essential, measurable drivers of client success.

✔️ What’s Your Move?
Whether you’re looking to streamline your offerings, build a referral network, or upskill your team, the time to act is now. The agencies thriving in this environment aren’t just reacting, they’re proactively shaping their futures and opportunities in an evolving landscape.

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Allpoints Insights

From Pop-Ups to Permanence: Why Experiential Agencies Are Building Their Own Entertainment Destinations

By Andrew Dougan

In an era where our lives are increasingly lived through screens, there is a countervailing desire for the experiential. This hunger for tangible encounters has created a golden opportunity for experiential agencies to evolve beyond temporary activations into permanent entertainment destinations. Here’s why this shift matters and how it’s reshaping the industry.

The Digital Paradox: Why Physical Experiences Are Booming in a Digital World

As our daily lives become more digitally oriented, the desire for authentic, sensory-rich experiences has intensified. This isn’t just speculation – the numbers tell the story. The global location-based entertainment market is projected to reach $85.4 billion by 2025, with immersive experiences leading this growth. The more time we spend in virtual spaces, the more we yearn for physical experiences that engage and excite our senses.

The New Entertainment Landscape: Where Technology Meets Physical Space

The past few years have seen an explosion of groundbreaking immersive destinations. Las Vegas’s Sphere has redefined what’s possible in entertainment architecture, while London’s Outernet has transformed digital art into a public spectacle. ABBA Voyage has revolutionised the concert experience through cutting-edge mixed reality, and Area15 has proven that experimental art can be commercially viable at scale.

These venues share a common thread: they blur the line between physical and digital, creating hybrid spaces that feel both futuristic and deeply human. At Battersea Power Station’s newly announced Neon, visitors will soon step into a world where technology enhances rather than replaces human connection. Meanwhile, Phantom Peaks and Immerse LDN demonstrate how narrative and interaction can transform spaces into living stories.

Why Experiential Agencies Are Perfectly Positioned to Lead This Revolution

Experiential agencies have spent years mastering the art of creating memorable moments for brands. Now, they’re leveraging this expertise to develop their own entertainment IP and permanent venues. This strategic pivot offers multiple benefits:

New Revenue Streams Rather than relying solely on client projects, agencies can create sustainable income through ticketed experiences. This diversification provides financial stability and the freedom to innovate without client constraints.

A Living Portfolio Permanent installations serve as powerful demonstrations of an agency’s capabilities. Instead of showing potential clients photos of past events, they can invite them to experience their work firsthand, year-round.

Real-Time R&D Lab Operating a permanent venue provides invaluable insights into audience behavior, technology implementation, and experience design. This continuous learning loop helps agencies refine their approach and stay ahead of industry trends.

Pioneers in Action:

Several forward-thinking agencies have already made successful moves into owned entertainment experiences:

  • Moment Factory Montreal-based Moment Factory has created a series of enchanted night walks across forests in Canada and Asia. Their “Lumina” series transforms natural settings into magical multimedia experiences, combining light, sound, and storytelling. What began as a single installation has grown into a global entertainment product, with over a dozen permanent locations attracting millions of visitors annually.
  • Secret Cinema While not traditionally an agency, Secret Cinema’s evolution offers a compelling blueprint. Starting with temporary immersive film experiences, they’ve grown into a global entertainment brand, recently opening their first permanent location in Los Angeles. Their success has demonstrated how experiential expertise can be transformed into a scalable entertainment property.
  • Superblue Founded by Pace Gallery, Superblue represents a fascinating hybrid model. They’ve transformed their expertise in artistic installations into permanent venues in Miami and London, showcasing immersive works by artists like teamLab and Es Devlin. Their success demonstrates how agencies can evolve from creating temporary installations to operating permanent cultural destinations.
  • Meow Wolf Though beginning as an art collective rather than an agency, Meow Wolf’s trajectory shows the potential scale of immersive entertainment. They’ve expanded from a single location in Santa Fe to permanent installations in Las Vegas, Denver, and beyond, proving the market for bold, artist-driven permanent experiences.
  • Fivecurrents Fivecurrents, renowned for their work on Olympic ceremonies and global events, demonstrated their versatility by becoming a fundamental part of the founding team and creation partners for Frameless in London. This permanent digital art experience showcases how agencies can leverage their expertise in large-scale productions to create intimate, technology-driven cultural destinations.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Experiential Entertainment

As technology continues to evolve and audience expectations rise, we’re likely to see more experiential agencies step into the role of entertainment providers. The most successful will be those who understand that technology should enhance, not overshadow, the human element of these experiences.

The opportunity is clear: in a world hungry for meaningful experiences, agencies that can create compelling permanent destinations will find themselves at the forefront of a booming industry. The question isn’t whether to enter this space, but how to do it in a way that creates lasting value for both the agency and its audiences.

This isn’t just a trend – it’s a fundamental shift in how we think about entertainment, experience design, and the role of physical spaces in an increasingly digital world. For experiential agencies willing to take the leap, the rewards could be transformative.

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Allpoints Insights

The IPA Bellwether Report Reveals Events as the Fastest-Growing Marketing Channel – Here’s What It Really Means

By Max Fellows Founder of allpoints

The Q4 2024 IPA Bellwether Report paints a promising picture of renewed marketing budget growth in the UK. Events have emerged as the top-performing category, with a robust net balance of +12.3%. The outlook for 2025/26 suggests further gains. At first glance, this is fantastic news for the events industry. But let’s dig a little deeper.

As always, there’s more to the story than meets the eye.

The Bigger Picture: It’s Marketing, Not Just Events

While the report highlights growth in marketing budgets, it’s important to recognise that these budgets encompass a wide range of channels. Events are just one piece of a much larger puzzle that includes digital, direct marketing, PR, main media, and more. When marketing budgets increase, it’s often the “bigger lumps”, such as digital and main media, that receive the lion’s share of investment. Events, on the other hand, often sit further down the priority list, acting as part of an integrated strategy rather than the primary focus.

This means that while the events category is growing, its relative share of marketing budgets may not always reflect a seismic shift for our industry.

The Lag Effect: When Will We Feel It?

Another critical point to consider is timing. Marketing budgets may have increased, but the impact on events won’t be immediate. Events, whether they’re internal activations, external campaigns, or top-of-funnel experiences, typically require longer lead times and are tied to broader strategic planning. This often means:

  • Events planned now might not take place for six to nine months after budgets are finalised.
  • Calendar vs. fiscal year budgets: Many organisations operate on financial year cycles, which could delay the real impact of increased marketing spend until late 2025 or even 2026.

The positive sentiment is encouraging, but as an industry, we should manage expectations and prepare for a gradual, rather than immediate, uptick in activity.

What This Means for Events and Experiential Marketing

The data from the Bellwether Report reflects the strength of events as part of a well-rounded marketing strategy, but it’s not exclusively about our industry. This nuance matters. While events and experiences continue to gain traction as high-ROI channels, they’re still competing for budget share against other priorities like digital performance marketing or AI-driven personalisation.

So, what does this mean for us? Here are a few key points to keep in mind:

  • Positioning is crucial: As the fight for budget allocation continues, we must position events as an essential channel that drives measurable business outcomes. ROI storytelling will be more critical than ever.
  • Consultative capabilities: By operating in a more consultative capacity, further up the chain, you can gain insight into the broader budget and use your expertise to help steer how it is allocated and ultimately spent.
  • Collaboration is key: Events rarely operate in isolation. By integrating with other marketing channels, digital, PR, and direct marketing, we can amplify impact and justify investment.
  • 2025/26 will be pitch-heavy: Be ready! A reported 73% of businesses will be reviewing their current agency/supplier rosters over this period. Stay prepared and ensure you’re part of those conversations.
  • Innovation will win: With advancements in technology and AI, the events space is ripe for creative disruption. Brands will be looking for experiential marketing that goes beyond the traditional to deliver hyper-personalised, high-impact experiences.

Looking Ahead: Building for the Future

The report’s optimism for 2025/26 is worth celebrating, but we’re not out of the woods yet. Budget increases in the broader marketing landscape are great news, but they don’t always translate directly into immediate growth for the events industry. As we move forward, here are three things to focus on:

  1. Stay proactive: Engage with clients early to secure your share of the increased marketing budgets. Demonstrate how events can drive value within broader campaigns.
  2. Prepare for delayed impact: Align your business strategy with the reality that significant growth may be felt later in 2025 or even 2026.
  3. Champion collaboration: Events thrive when they’re part of an integrated marketing ecosystem. Build partnerships and align your offerings with complementary channels to maximise impact.

Final Thoughts

The Q4 2024 Bellwether Report offers a sense of optimism for the broader marketing landscape, and events are undoubtedly in a strong position. But as an industry, we must remain realistic about what these figures mean in practical terms. Growth in marketing budgets is encouraging, but for events, the impact will likely be gradual and require strategic effort to capture.

Let’s celebrate the positive sentiment while also staying focused on the bigger picture. Together, we can ensure that events remain not just a part of the marketing mix but a driving force for meaningful engagement and measurable success.

What’s your take on the report? Let’s discuss how we can shape the future of events together.

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Allpoints Insights

Mergers & Acquisitions: This Month’s Deals, Disruption, and Data

Max Fellows, founder of allpoints delves into three of the largest mergers and acquisitions from our industry in the past month and explains what these mean for the future.

In the ever-dynamic world of marketing and events, recent mergers and acquisitions are shaking things up more than a double espresso on a Monday morning. Let’s dive into the latest industry shake-ups and what they mean for us all.

  1. Omnicom and Interpublic Group Merge to Form Marketing Behemoth

What happened? Omnicom has announced its acquisition of Interpublic Group (IPG) in a stock-for-stock transaction valued at $13.25 billion. This merger creates the world’s largest advertising agency, with over $25 billion in revenue and a workforce of 100,000+. This deal follows Omnicom’s formation of Omnicom Advertising Group (OAG) last August, which united top creative networks such as BBDO, DDB, and TBWA under one umbrella, aiming to drive innovation and enhance data-driven and AI-powered solutions. Business Insider

What does this mean for the industry? The merger marks a shift to data-driven, AI-powered advertising, potentially reducing creative roles and increasing demand for tech-savvy professionals. Smaller agencies may find new opportunities as clients look for more personalised services amid this consolidation. WSJ

  1. Clarion Events Embarks on Acquisition Spree Amid Ownership Changes

What happened? Clarion Events, under the ownership of Blackstone since 2017, has been on an acquisition spree, aiming to purchase three companies per year until 2030. This aggressive expansion strategy focuses on sectors such as consumer electronics, energy, and defense. However, recent reports suggest that Blackstone is planning to sell Clarion Events, adding a twist to the tale. Skift Meetings

What does this mean for the industry? Clarion’s ambitious acquisition strategy indicates a robust growth trajectory, potentially enhancing its market position across various sectors. However, the impending sale by Blackstone introduces uncertainty, which could impact Clarion’s future direction and stability. Industry players should keep a close eye on these developments, as they may influence market dynamics and competitive strategies.

  1. veSpace Acquisition Completes Northern Creative Powerhouse

What happened? In a move that adds a new brushstroke to the creative landscape, veSpace, the agency founded by Chris and Anita Lowe, has completed an acquisition that solidifies its position as a Northern creative powerhouse. Celebrating its 35-year anniversary, veSpace’s expansion reflects its commitment to growth and innovation in the creative sector.

What does this mean for the industry? veSpace’s acquisition underscores the vitality and competitiveness of regional creative agencies. By expanding its capabilities and market reach, veSpace is poised to offer more comprehensive services, challenging larger agencies and contributing to the industry’s diversity and dynamism.

Conclusion

These developments highlight a trend towards consolidation and technological integration in the marketing and events sectors. While mergers like Omnicom and IPG’s aim to create comprehensive, data-driven solutions, the aggressive acquisition strategies of companies like Clarion Events and veSpace reflect a desire to diversify and strengthen market positions. Industry professionals should stay alert to these changes, as they present both challenges and opportunities in an evolving landscape.

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Allpoints Insights

The Great Resignation Continues: Building & Valuing a Workforce That Stays

By Nic Neal, People & Culture Expert at allpoints

It’s January, and we’re just about getting back into the swing of things after a much-needed break and one too many mince pies. For many of us, the Christmas break is the one time we can truly switch off from projects, deadlines, and overflowing inboxes. But with the slower pace comes more time to think—and we may find ourselves wondering if we’re truly happy with our work and careers.

As well as being the month of #NewYearNewMe, January is also often the month with the highest turnover of the year. Sadly, the Great Resignation isn’t a thing of the past just yet.

Retention was one of the biggest challenges facing organisations and HR leaders in 2024, with 56% of companies experiencing increasing difficulties in this area (CIPD). The trend isn’t slowing down anytime soon either; according to EY’s Work Reimagined Survey, 38% of employees are likely to leave their jobs in 2025.

Why Are Employees Leaving?

What’s driving employees to reevaluate their relationship with their employers and draft resignation letters? While there are many reasons why people decide to move on, a recent survey by McKinsey & Co found that not feeling valued and lacking a sense of belonging were the main culprits.

When 70% of employees say their sense of purpose is largely defined by their work, it’s no surprise they’re leaving in search of a company that better aligns with their personal values.

Tackling Retention: What Really Works

To address the retention challenge, senior leaders need to understand what truly matters to their people. Financial incentives alone won’t cut it anymore. Total reward strategies that go beyond the paycheck and incorporate both tangible and intangible benefits can create a more holistic employee experience—and may just help organisations keep their teams motivated and loyal.

Here are six areas where organisations can make a meaningful impact:

1. Learning, Development, and Progression Opportunities

Employees want to grow, learn, and access clear progression opportunities. Providing structured learning paths and demonstrating a commitment to personal development keeps people engaged and excited about their futures. A Culture Amp study found that employees with access to learning and development opportunities were 21% more engaged than those without.

2. Flexibility and Work-Life Balance

2024 saw many companies, like Barclays and Amazon, push for full-time office returns, yet flexibility remains a top priority for employees. According to EY’s Work Reimagined Survey, 31% of employees rank flexible work schedules as crucial. Balancing human connection with hybrid work options is key to creating an environment where employees thrive.

3. Positive Workplace Culture

A strong workplace culture isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. Employees need to feel a sense of belonging and alignment with their organisation’s values and purpose. McKinsey & Company research highlights that people are far more likely to stay in inclusive, supportive environments that foster genuine connections and mutual respect.

4. Recognition and Feedback

Recognition is a powerful motivator. Employees who feel acknowledged and appreciated for their contributions are far more likely to remain committed. Programmes for peer recognition, as well as open channels for two-way feedback, cultivate a culture of achievement and loyalty.

5. Effective Leadership and Communication

Empathetic, communicative leaders are vital to building trust and fostering team loyalty. Employees who feel supported, coached, and mentored are significantly more likely to stay. Leaders who prioritise their teams’ well-being and growth create a ripple effect of positivity and commitment.

6. Competitive Compensation

While not the only motivator, fair compensation remains essential. Amid a continuing cost-of-living crisis, employees expect competitive and transparent pay packages. Regularly benchmarking salaries and reviewing pay structures ensures employers remain competitive and equitable.

Listening to Employees: The Key to Retention

Crafting an effective total rewards strategy is a powerful way to boost retention, but there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Every organisation faces unique challenges, and the key lies in truly listening to employees.

Providing multiple channels for honest, often anonymous, feedback—such as engagement surveys and exit interviews—offers invaluable insights. Acting on this feedback sends a clear message: employees’ voices matter, and their experiences are valued.

In 2025, let’s commit to creating workplaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. When employees feel a sense of purpose and connection, retention is no longer a challenge—it becomes a natural outcome.

Sources:

About Nic Neal

Nic Neal is an expert advisor at AllPoints, specialising in People and Culture consultancy. With a wealth of experience in helping organisations optimise their approach to workplace culture, Nic partners with businesses to align their people strategies with overall performance goals.

Passionate about creating meaningful workplace experiences, Nic helps organisations define and implement core company values, streamline performance and pay review processes, enhance internal communications, and develop forward-thinking HR policies. Her approach empowers businesses to listen deeply to their people, driving inspired action and fostering environments where talent thrives.

If you’re ready to give your team a compelling reason to invest their time, energy, and talent in your organisation, Nic is here to help. Let’s start a conversation that transforms your business.

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Allpoints Insights

In-Housing: Is It a Threat?

Emma Sexton, one of our expert advisors on the allpoints team explores the evolving creative landscape and how in-housing fits into the picture, highlighting real-world examples from agency and in-house teams.

For nearly three decades, I’ve watched the creative industry go through waves of change. Trends come and go, disruptive technologies shift paradigms, and business models rise and fall. But today’s transformation feels like a more fundamental realignment—one that’s overdue.

Central to this change is the rise of in-house creative teams, which many perceive as a direct threat to traditional agencies. But is in-housing truly a threat? Or is it a sign that the creative industry is evolving to better meet the needs of clients and creatives alike?

A Necessary Shake-Up

The traditional agency model has been under scrutiny for years. Retainers that once provided stability have become rare, free pitching has left agencies exhausted, and the race to secure new business often feels like a race to the bottom.

This shift has sparked a significant transformation in the agency world. A good read is Micheal Farmer’s book ‘Madison Avenue Makeover’on the transformation of agency Huge where they have started rethinking their structures to stay relevant. Huge worked with Caroline Johnson at The Business Model Company, challenging the status quo by pioneering new ways for agencies to charge for their creative work, moving away from outdated hourly billing to more value-driven approaches.

Agencies have historically operated in ways that served their own structures rather than their clients’ needs. Retainers locked them into repetitive work cycles that didn’t always align with their creative strengths. The rise of in-housing is accelerating the need for agencies to rethink their role, adapt their business models, and rediscover their creative focus.

The Collaborative Advantage of In-Housing

In-housing has risen in prominence, but rather than being a threat, it presents an opportunity for agencies to evolve. In-house teams excel at delivering creativity with operational efficiency and deep brand understanding. However, they often rely on external agencies for specialist skills, fresh perspectives, or additional capacity during peak periods.

The growth of in-house teams is best exemplified by some of today’s most prominent brands:

  • Pepsi’s Sips & Bites Team: Under Matt Watson‘s leadership, this in-house creative team has gained widespread recognition, even winning prestigious awards. The team demonstrates how brands can integrate creativity deeply into their operations while still delivering exceptional output.
  • Sky Creative: Headed by Ceri Sampson, Sky’s in-house team boasts over 800 members. This vast operation allows Sky to manage a consistent brand presence across its diverse offerings while retaining the flexibility to innovate quickly.
  • Specsavers’ Creative Team: Led by Nicola Wardell, Specsavers has long been a pioneer in in-housing. Its well-established team delivers strategic and creative solutions tailored to the brand’s needs.

These examples show that in-house teams aren’t just about cost savings; they bring a level of strategic depth and brand ownership that agencies often find difficult to match.

A New Role for Agencies

Rather than competing with in-house teams, agencies can carve out new roles in this evolving ecosystem. The most successful agencies today are adopting more flexible models.

The rise of ‘spikey’ (specialist) and ‘spokey’ (freelancer-focused) agencies shows how businesses can scale up and down based on project needs. These lean, focused models don’t rely on retainers or high overheads. Instead, they emphasise expertise, quality, and the ability to deliver targeted creative solutions.

With leaders like Caroline Johnson paving the way for more innovative pricing models, agencies can shift away from the constraints of traditional billing practices and focus on work that aligns with their strengths. By becoming specialists or partners to in-house teams, agencies can continue to provide value without directly competing with internal teams.

Opportunities for Everyone

In-housing is not the enemy—it’s part of the industry’s natural evolution.

For brands, in-housing offers a chance to embed creativity more deeply within their operations, fostering a culture where innovation thrives across departments.

For creatives, this shift opens new paths to build careers or businesses that align with their passions. Whether working in-house, running a boutique agency, or freelancing as a specialist, there are more opportunities than ever to focus on meaningful, fulfilling work.

For the industry as a whole, this change represents a move away from bloated, outdated models. What’s emerging is a more sustainable, flexible, and collaborative ecosystem—one that prioritises commercial sense and creative excellence.

In-Housing: A Call to Evolve, Not a Threat

No. In-housing isn’t a threat to agencies—it’s a challenge to adapt. It’s a call to shed outdated practices and embrace a more collaborative, specialised, and client-centric approach.

The creative industry is finally landing where it should be: in a space where agencies, in-house teams, and freelancers coexist, each bringing unique strengths to the table. For those willing to evolve, the future is bright.

About Emma Sexton

Emma Sexton is a highly experienced brand advisor and ex-agency founder who has worked with global brands such as Google and Snap. She is also a Creative Expert in Residence at King’s College, London, and a member of the Allpoints team. Known for her strategic expertise, Emma helps ensure that brands drive business objectives while maintaining creative integrity.

Her diverse experience spans brand, strategy, creative direction, advisory roles, and non-executive directorships, making her a leading voice in the creative industry. Her podcast The Future of In-House Creative Leadership is available on Spotify and Apple.

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Allpoints Insights

Why Client Entertainment is the Secret Weapon Your Business Isn’t Using (Enough)

From Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

Here’s the thing: the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t just shake up our daily routines; it redefined how we do business. With hybrid work now a staple, markets more competitive than ever, and procurement becoming the uninvited guest at every negotiation, the landscape is challenging. But there’s one overlooked strategy that could give you a critical edge—and no, it’s not another software tool or webinar series.

I’m talking about client entertainment.

Now, before your mind races to clichéd images of boozy lunches in the City, let’s reframe what “entertainment” actually means. Post-pandemic, this isn’t about expensive wine pairings or fancy golf days (though, hey, if that’s your client’s vibe, lean into it). It’s about shared experiences that create genuine connections.

Why It Matters

Relationships are the foundation of long-term business success. Yes, you’ll do 90% of your work through emails, Zoom calls, and spreadsheets. But that last 10%? The human connection? That’s where loyalty, trust, and advocacy are born.

In today’s hybrid world, getting quality face time with clients is a Herculean task. Meetings are virtual, schedules are packed, and no one really wants another hour-long PowerPoint marathon. Yet, carving out moments to engage with clients on a personal, authentic level is more critical than ever. Why? Because it’s these moments that differentiate you from your competitors.

What Does Modern Client Entertainment Look Like?

Forget what you think you know. Today, client entertainment isn’t about big budgets; it’s about shared values and memorable experiences. It’s about understanding what makes your clients tick and creating events or activities that align with their interests and your business ethos.

  • Are they into fitness? Host a yoga class or join a local running event together.
  • Avid foodies? Bring in a chef for a cooking class or curate a tasting menu inspired by your shared projects.
  • Passionate about sustainability? Set up a volunteer day planting trees or tackling environmental challenges.

The key is to offer experiences that go beyond work and build emotional, human connections. This isn’t just good for your current accounts; it’s a brilliant sales strategy too.

The Long-Term Benefits

When done right, these interactions do more than entertain—they fortify relationships. Here’s how:

  • Stronger Retention: Clients are less likely to jump ship if they see you as more than just a service provider.
  • Deeper Insights: Casual settings often lead to candid conversations about their pain points, challenges, and goals—intel you can’t buy.
  • Brand Differentiation: It’s the little things that stick in people’s minds. Being the team that brought a creative, personal touch to the table makes you memorable.

Time to Act

So, where do you stand? Is client engagement a dusty relic in your sales strategy or a shiny tool you’re actively wielding? If it’s the former, it’s time to rethink how you’re building relationships in 2024 and beyond.

Client entertainment isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s a need-to-have. And when done with intention, it’s a game-changer for growth, loyalty, and long-term success.

So, over to you: How are you reimagining client engagement? What’s worked for you, and what hasn’t? Drop me a note—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Max Fellows Founder, Allpoints your agency—reach out today.

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Allpoints Insights

Mastering Lead Generation: Eight Strategies for Sustainable Growth

Lead generation is the lifeblood of any business. Without a steady stream of leads, your business can struggle to grow and thrive. Here are some key strategies to help you generate quality leads consistently:

1. Define Your Sweet Spot: Before you start any lead generation efforts, it’s crucial to define your target market and understand your ideal customer. What are their pain points, challenges, and where do they look for solutions? Invest time and resources into gathering insights on your target audience.

2. Consistency is Key: Consistency is crucial in lead generation. Whether it’s your branding, messaging, or marketing efforts, maintaining consistency builds trust and credibility with potential customers over time.

3. Utilise Online Marketing Strategies: Implement SEO optimisation on your website to ensure it ranks well in search engine results. Leverage social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook to promote your business, share valuable content, and engage with your audience.

4. Networking: Attend industry events, conferences, and local business organisations to network and build relationships with potential customers. Networking allows you to establish rapport and trust, which can lead to valuable leads down the line.

5. Content Creation: Create and publish valuable content such as blog articles, e-books, videos, and infographics. Share insights, tips, and solutions that address your audience’s pain points. Valuable content establishes your business as a thought leader in your industry and attracts potential customers.

6. Lead Magnets: Offer free resources or incentives, such as whitepapers, guides, or consultations, to attract potential customers and collect their contact information. Lead magnets are effective in capturing leads and nurturing them through the sales funnel.

7. Referral Programmes: Encourage your existing customers to refer friends and colleagues to your business by offering rewards or incentives for successful referrals. Word-of-mouth referrals are powerful and can help you tap into new networks and generate leads organically.

8. Qualify Leads: When leads come in, it’s essential to qualify them effectively. Not all leads are created equal, so prioritise and focus on those that align with your ideal customer profile and are more likely to convert.

Mastering lead generation requires a combination of strategic planning, consistent effort, and a deep understanding of your target audience. By implementing these strategies, you can build a sustainable pipeline of quality leads and drive growth for your business.

Remember, lead generation is not just about quantity; it’s about quality and relevance.

#LeadGeneration #BusinessGrowth #MarketingStrategy

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Allpoints Insights

Six Key Mergers and What They Mean for the Events & Creative Industry

By Max Fellows , Founder, allpoints

The M&A landscape is buzzing with activity as we navigate Q4, a period of both challenge and opportunity for businesses across the industry. This month, six significant mergers have captured attention, showcasing a unique approach to navigating market conditions, driving growth, and building dominance.

Despite a tough sales environment, with organic growth proving elusive, mergers and acquisitions are accelerating as a route to scale and strategic advantage. Here’s a closer look at the standout deals and what they reveal about the evolving industry landscape:

1. Amplify Acquires Problem Child

This acquisition highlights the growing trend of niche-focused M&A. Amplify, known for its expertise in experiential marketing, has strategically acquired Problem Child to deepen its capabilities and expand its specialist offerings.

While Amplify has focused on organic growth, including its previous acquisition of Wonder Agency, this move demonstrates a deliberate strategy to strengthen specific skill sets. Looking ahead, we may see Amplify pursuing larger-scale acquisitions as it continues to scale its operations.

2. CT Travel Group Ltd Merges with Good Travel Management

This merger unites two complementary travel businesses to create a robust platform for corporate travel management. The collaboration appears to prioritise balance, with senior leadership teams from both organisations set to remain in place. This signals a “don’t fix what isn’t broken” approach, ensuring that the combined entity leverages its existing strengths while positioning itself for market dominance. Source.

3. The Human Network Acquires Beyond Business Travel

The Human Network, parent company of Identity and Smyle, has made a strategic play by acquiring Beyond Business Travel. This move represents a pivot toward corporate communications, expanding its reach into new markets.

Smyle, facing a potentially challenging market position, seized this opportunity to diversify and enhance its service offerings. The acquisition underlines a trend of creative agencies evolving into corporate comms players to broaden revenue streams and secure stability.

4. Trivandi Acquires The Bulb

Trivandi’s acquisition of The Bulb is another example of deepening specialised skill sets to enhance service offerings. By integrating The Bulb’s expertise, Trivandi positions itself to fill profit gaps and increase its ability to upsell across its portfolio.

This acquisition demonstrates the importance of targeted, skill-enhancing mergers beyond revenue to focus on value creation for existing clients.

5. Strata Acquires Element London

Strata has taken a major step forward with the acquisition of Element London, bolstered by new investment to fuel further expansion. This move strengthens Strata’s position in the brand experience and live events space, broadening its capabilities and reach.

The acquisition not only enhances Strata’s creative offering but also aligns with its vision of becoming a global leader in experiential marketing. With additional resources and expertise, Strata is well-positioned to deliver even greater value to clients and accelerate its growth trajectory. Source.

6. Stellar Joins Marvesting

Stellar has partnered with Marvesting, marking a bold step in its journey to strengthen global omnichannel marketing capabilities. This merger is set to enhance audience engagement strategies by combining Stellar’s creative expertise with Marvesting’s robust marketing infrastructure.

The union represents a forward-looking approach to scaling operations, improving efficiencies, and delivering innovative campaigns. With a shared focus on audience-first solutions, Stellar and Marvesting are primed to make a significant impact in the global marketing landscape. Source.

What These Mergers Tell Us About the Industry

  1. Strategic Scaling Through Specialisation: Deals like Amplify & Problem Child or Trivandi & The Bulb highlight how companies are acquiring niche expertise to strengthen their market position. These acquisitions are not about mass scale but about offering deeper, more tailored services to clients.
  2. Diversification to Mitigate Risks: The Human Connection’s move into corporate communications exemplifies how businesses are broadening their market reach to safeguard against downturns in core areas.
  3. Market Consolidation for Dominance: As seen in CT Travel Group’s merger and Chris Wareham’s deal, M&A is also being used to reduce competition, corner specific markets, and emerge as the dominant player.
  4. Overcoming Organic Growth Challenges: In a depressed market, where sales and organic growth are hard to achieve, acquisitions offer a faster route to scale and profitability.

Looking Ahead: What to Expect in the Next Five Months

While 2024 has been a challenging year for many, there’s optimism for a budget uplift in 2025. However, this will likely only restore the industry to equilibrium rather than representing substantial growth. In the meantime, M&A activity is set to continue as businesses seek to consolidate, diversify, and future-proof their operations.

For those considering M&A, the focus must remain on strategic alignment, cultural fit, and long-term value creation. As these six mergers show, the right deal at the right time can be a game-changer.

Which of these mergers do you think will have the biggest impact? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

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Allpoints Insights

You are not a business athlete, but you need to start behaving like one!

By Mike Ford

As part of this blog series on sustainable performance, I would like to introduce you to a concept called “unapologetic recovery”.

A concept and phrase that is likely new to you, but has been a constant for over 50 years in the world of sport.

Harry Kane interviewed at the recent European Championships when being interviewed after a game, he said “Yeah that was a really good performance and win. But now we need to recover again because we go again in three days.

A deliberate focus on recovery.

In the business world and especially in events, our routine looks more like this…

we go to work on a Monday, come home

we go to work on  Tuesday, come home

We go to work on Wednesday and so on

The concept of recovery is non-existent and I can hear you now saying “But they’re professional athletes. They’re physical and active and need the recovery.”

But from my perspective, you are a corporate athletes.

You may not have the same physical challenges that they have, but you certainly have the same emotional and you certainly have the same mental challenges, if not greater.

The headline message is a simple but important one …

How you live your life outside of the workplace has a direct correlation to how you perform in the workplace.

The answer is not to fear hard work or stressful projects. Far from it. The answer is setting yourself up to be able to tackle those ferocious activities with full gusto.

To do so over the long term, you need habits and rituals that ensure you embrace the need for recovery. That does not mean leading a boring existence (I know you were thinking it!!)

No, a healthy life doesn’t have to be boring. Making healthy changes can be addictive and lead to feelings of energy, happiness, and clarity. However, some people may assume that being healthy means giving up on fun. Far from it.

But if you want to be at your best to make a positive impact and perform at your best time and time again, you need to think about your lifestyle and habits today.

Some things for you to ponder…

  1. Be careful what you consume. Be the gatekeeper to your mind

Pay attention to what you consume because your emotions, stress levels, and mental health are directly impacted by what you consume.

When was the last time you watched the news on TV…and came away saying..wow, I feel better for that!! NEVER!!! My point exactly.

Content consumption has a direct correlation with how we feel.

As Gandhi famously said, “ I will not let anyone walk through my mind with dirty feet”.

2. When you are “off”, make sure you are not still “ON”

When was the last time you sat and watched a film, series episode, or programme without having your phone and constant notifications ongoing at the same time?

But it’s not just the constant switching between content and social media that is affecting our mental health, it’s also our overall increased screen time. In fact, a study conducted in the US found that there were higher odds of developing depressive symptoms if you spend six hours or more a day watching TV and /or using the computer.

3. Do you celebrate a culture of “midnight oil success”?

I used to be a leader that celebrated what I call “hustle culture”, with late-night and sometimes all-night creative output celebrated.

While I recognize the industry sometimes requires this and like my previous message I am not suggesting we do not embrace ferocious activity, but we need to ensure we counterbalance it with acceptable downtime and also importantly do not build a culture that encourages or god forbid expects all-nighters as the acceptable norm.

There. Is. Another. Way.

Even in the hustle and bustle of the event industry

Taking breaks

Associated with that, let’s now explore the importance of the word “unapologetic” in my headline of unapologetic recovery. How many of your team take a break, especially when working remotely, yet don’t feel empowered to do so. Too often, when we do take breaks, we somehow feel like a fraud, that we are skiving from work or that we are letting someone down. That mindset provides little or no true relief or the break we actually need.

During a recent workshop, I was discussing this very topic with a team of event profs and they all stated that I tried to not take more than 3 mins for lunch (whether in the office or remotely) and if they did, they were always clock watching and getting more stressed by being out/away from their desk.

When I looked towards the leader for their perspective, the leader looked dumbfounded and said “I wasn’t aware of this and I certainly have never made this a rule!”

So then I asked the group where this behavior and perception came from. They said it because it was written in their work contract that said 9-5.30 pm with 30 mins for lunch. The base contract was written more than 10 years ago and this small clause had a powerful negative impact on the team.

So my question to you is – what habits or rules do you have amongst your team that are hindering their ability to be unapologetic in their taking of breaks and recovery?

So in summary, TWO key messages:

  1. Consider how your habits OUT of work are impacting your ability to perform at your best sustainably.
  2. Review your habits and culture IN work and how well are you embracing the concept of recovery amongst your team … and unapologetic recovery at that.

For more information, visit our website at https://fromallpoints.co.uk/ or email us at hello@fromallpoints.co.uk.

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Allpoints Insights

Rewiring The Workday

As our data highlights, 77% of event profs regularly experience overwhelm, 81% skip taking regular breaks, and 73% struggle to focus

Our rapidly evolving working habits, the lifestyle of notification overload, and an industry renowned for always being on sit amongst some of the root causes of these worrying stats.

Not surprising then to be told that on average we get 70 smartphone notifications a day, and if you’re under 23 that increases to 237.

On top of that did you know that every time you’re interrupted it takes 23 minutes to get back to the same level of focus? Yet that’s how we live our lives. Smartphones, watches, emails, social media, Slack, Teams, and the endless ping of notifications provide constant interruptions throughout the day

It’s so ingrained in how we live that, even if we don’t receive a notification, we still pick up our devices checking to see if we’ve got one. Our brains and bodies have been trained to go through the whole working day multitasking.  In simple terms, our brain has too many tabs open!

And according to The Economist, 28% of our workday is lost to multi-tasking and distraction. That’s three months of every year!

I was running a workshop last week and one of the event prof participants said to me that they felt they were constantly overworked. I replied “do you have too much work or are you working in the wrong way? Have you considered the latter might be the issue and not that the company is overworking you?” When we’re constantly interrupted we can’t expect to be at our most productive. But if we rewire the way we plan our workday and in doing so limit our interruptions then we can go into deep focus mode. Here is a simple 3-point plan to better productivity, less stress and overwhelm, and more focus.

  1. The 90-minute rule -Break your day into 90-minute or 2-hour chunks. In those chunks, turn off all notifications, close any browsers that might distract you, and put your phone in another room. Then focus on focussing on some predefined set tasks or projects for that set time. When the timer goes, take an unapologetic break. Go for a walk, or go outside. Move away from your desk and make sure the break is an unapologetic one. Then repeat the process.
  2. Your Environment Matters. Optimise your workspace for success. Create a designated workspace that is free from clutter and away from the kitchen or anywhere you might be interrupted
  3. Don’t go it alone.

You can try this on your own of course, but that’s hard when your teammates, boss, or workplace don’t align with this approach. The big challenge is getting the whole team to do it. There needs to be a shift in the team’s way of working and expectations. It can be done, and when it is done the difference in productivity and focus is incredible. But it’s a challenge and something that ideally needs to be led from the front. Why not suggest it at your next team meeting? It’s a small shift that has huge results. Not only in terms of work output but also in terms of the team’s mental health. Try one session and I promise you, it’ll change the way you work

The next time you think you’re overwhelmed and/or overworked, ask yourself if that’s really the problem or whether you need to change how you’re working.

Removing interruptions and retraining our brains to focus on one thing at a time is a game changer for productivity and for quality of work. And at the same time, removes the anxiety and the “I can’t get shit done” stress

In today’s modern world, our productivity and focus is always under attack. Use the simple strategies above to reclaim your time You’ll add back 3 months to your life every single year. And add back 10 years over a career!

Sources :

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/constant-companion-a-week-in-the-life-of-a-young-persons-smartphone-use

https://ics.uci.edu/~gmark/chi08-mark.pdf

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Allpoints Insights

Are you, the leader, sleepwalking into a burnout crisis for you and your team?

Hi, my name is Mike Ford, and if my question above has made you stop and reflect then maybe this is your wake-up call!

As an event industry veteran of almost 30 years, I was that leader.

My habits out of work and leadership habits in work were, unbeknown to me, leading myself and my team on a rocky road to burnout which caused me to fall out of the industry that had served me so well.

From that point,  I set out to turn my mess into my message and I have spent the last number of years working with some of the best leaders in their respective fields of science, health, psychology, sport, and personal development, to identify how to inspire event industry leaders and their teams to build a foundation of sustainable human performance for themselves and their team.

By sustainable human performance, I don’t mean peak performance. Anyone can perform as a one-off at any moment. I mean sustainable high performance for the longer term that benefits the individual, the team, and the business.

In an industry whose prize asset is its people, making the connection between human performance and well-being is like Turing cracking the Enigma’ code in World War 2!

And how do we know that the problem is real?

With data from more than 2,000 event professional surveys and thousands of data points, our trend analysis tells us the worrying story…

Highlights include;

  • 60% don’t get enough quality sleep
  • 77% regularly experience overwhelm
  • 81% skip taking regular breaks
  • 73% struggle to focus
  • 60% suffer from digestive issues
  • 60% lack time for the activities they love (what we call “flow”)

What’s even more concerning is that when asked if they felt their personal trajectory was headed in a positive or negative direction, 80% said it’s going the wrong way i.e things have got worse for them.

So what follows is a series of blogs aimed to provide insight and ideas, and we hope to help you and your team build that foundation of sustainable high performance.

As a keynote speaker, founder of GratefulLemon , and Performance Lead at allpoints, I aim to provide real help for event profs that has a real impact on them in the workplace, on-site, and importantly away from work.

So let’s dive into the first in our series of Sustainable Performance blogs.

PART 1 – SLEEP

We can’t really start anywhere else than with the foundational pillar of human performance and indeed human existence. And that is with SLEEP

What does sleep have to do with performance at work?  The answer is EVERYTHING

A common trait of high performers across the spectrum of business and sport (including Roger Federer, Jeff Bezos, Serena Williams, LeBron James, Beyonce to name a few) is how they priortise sleep . As Lebron James said, “ The thing I priotise, above everything else, is sleep”.

As our data shows, more than 60% of event profs do not get enough sleep.

Did you know that…

  • Sleep deprivation is so bad for you it was struck from the Guinness Book of World Records.
  • If you average 6 hours of sleep for 10 nights (and for many that is their regular sleep pattern), your cognitive performance is equivalent to being twice over the drink-drive limit
  • Those deprived of sleep, consume on average  400 calories more every day. And this additional intake is usually from bad fats and sugars (high-carb foods). This is due to ghrelin the hunger hormone becoming overactive making us feel superficially hungry. A direct correlation between sleep and obesity  (Obesity and sleep link, Study insight No2)
  • If you are sleep-deprived, you will be 10% more stupid the next day. In all seriousness, your cognitive decision-making is negatively affected when sleep-deprived. (WHOOP, episode 176 and related study)

Also, leaders beware! The same study by Whoop showed that psychological safety amongst team members decreases by up to 50% when a leader is sleep-deprived. And that is more important than you might think. As Google famously found through its Project Aristotle, psychological safety was the single most important factor separating its highest-performing teams from the rest.

Taking a more positive look at sleep, WHOOP, the wearable health tracker device company, pays their staff monthly bonus if their sleep is “in the green”. Their data shows that their staff performance /output improves by more than 15% when getting good sleep (Business Insider, LINK).

In the world of events, that problem is a heightened one due to the habits and nature of what we do. Burning the midnight oil on site, and working around the clock to get a pitch done all encroach on our sleep patterns.

While I am not suggesting that we don’t do this or run away from late nights, what I am suggesting is that we individually and collectively move sleep further up our list of priorities and if nothing else, recognise the need for consistent and effective sleep.

So what can you do to start to prioritise sleep?

The 3-2-1 method.
  1. Implement the simple 3-2-1 method.
  2. Remove all clocks and phones from the room. Probably the hardest but also the most impactful habitual change you can make to enhance your sleep
  3. Get daylight in the morning. This has an amazing impact and relates to our circadian rhythms and our relationship with light and dark. The earlier and longer you engage in daylight first thing in the morning, the better you sleep at night. This applies to on-site events too! How many events do you never see the light of day sitting in the conference room somewhere? Encourage your team to get fresh air and light, especially in the morning.
  4. Start a conversation at work and understand your team’s sleep patterns. While not your responsibility, it can be game-changing to understand their patterns as you might find out why they behave like they do at certain times or under pressure.

Sleep impacts it all and truly is the foundation of your, your team’s, and your collective performance.

Become champions of sleep and watch your performance fly!

Coming next in Part 2 will be a focus on FOCUS and why our inability to focus sits at the heart of overwhelm, stress, and our ability to perform creatively and consistently.

Stay tuned…

To find out more about what we do please contact hello@fromallpoints.co.uk.

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Allpoints Insights

What the Upcoming Budget Could Mean for Event and Creative Businesses and Business Owners

By Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints

With the previous government—widely considered more business-friendly—now out of power and the new government poised to deliver its first budget on 30th October, all eyes are on how this shift might impact business growth and stability. For those of us in the event and creative sectors, understanding these changes will be critical in navigating what’s to come.

While much of the commentary is focused on the broader economic outlook, we’re looking specifically at the potential impacts on event and creative businesses. Here are some key areas likely to be addressed, and what they might mean for owners and senior leaders within our industries.

Disclaimer: These thoughts are purely our own, and we recommend seeking guidance from your board, financial advisors, and legal teams before making any decisions.

1. Employment Law Reforms

The current government has signalled sweeping reforms to workers’ rights, with 28 changes expected. These include statutory probation periods for new hires, removing the current two-year qualifying period for protection against unfair dismissal, and enhancements to paternity, parental, bereavement leave, and statutory sick pay. There are also likely to be new rules for freelancers and zero-hour contracts, alongside efforts to eliminate exploitative practices like fire-and-rehire. However, it’s worth noting that many of these reforms could take over a year to fully implement, giving businesses some time to adjust.

Additionally, while the current government has pledged not to raise National Insurance for employees, the Business Secretary has not ruled out raising employer contributions. This creates an expectation that employers’ National Insurance costs could increase in the budget. If your business employs a large workforce, this is a potential cost factor you’ll need to prepare for.

2. Capital Gains Tax (CGT) Increases

We’re expecting significant changes to CGT, with rates now rumoured to rise to between 33% and 39%, although they won’t align with PAYE as previously speculated. This will particularly affect those with premises or who are considering selling their business in the next few years, as the annual CGT allowance may also be reduced. Additionally, the treatment of CGT on owner-operated offices remains unclear, adding a layer of uncertainty for those with property investments.

It’s also important to note that Entrepreneurs’ Relief, now called Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR), could come under review. Any changes to BADR could impact those looking to sell their businesses, so it’s essential to keep a close eye on this area if you’re planning an exit or major sale soon.

3. Inheritance Tax (IHT) Adjustments

While inheritance tax is always a point of debate, at this stage, we don’t know if there will be any changes to IHT in this budget. Similarly, the complex area of Inheritance Tax Business Property Relief—which currently allows qualifying business property to be passed on at a 0% tax rate—remains uncertain. Business owners planning generational transitions should stay informed, as even minor adjustments could have significant implications.

4. Business Rates Reform

A reform of the business rate system is expected, with the aim of raising the same revenue but through a “fairer” approach. This could include cutting rates for smaller businesses but closing loopholes that have benefited certain creative industry players. Agencies and event businesses should prepare for potential changes that could affect operating costs.

5. Pension Tax Relief Changes

We’re anticipating a move towards a flat-rate system for pensions tax relief. For business owners and senior leaders, this could make personal pension contributions less attractive, particularly for higher earners. This is an area where personalised advice from your accountant will be key, especially if you draw funds from your business via PAYE or dividends.

6. Private School VAT

For those with children in private education, the long-anticipated VAT on private school fees is coming. While the full 20% VAT is expected, many schools appear set to absorb some of this cost, likely passing through an increase of around 14-16%. For business owners, this could impact personal financial planning. That being said, there is a rallying of support for legal action against this from schools and parents so watch this space.

7. Impact on SME Taxation

Ultimately, this is the current government’s first budget appears to be positioning itself to increase taxation on SMEs—businesses that form the backbone of the creative and events industry. Now may be the time to assess whether you can take advantage of the current tax environment, but any decision to act should be carefully considered in consultation with your financial and legal advisors.


The budget is on the horizon, and for creative business owners, it’s a time to be strategic and proactive. Understanding how these potential changes might impact your business can help you stay ahead of the curve. While we aren’t political experts, when it comes to buying, selling, or scaling your business, that’s where our expertise lies.he shareholders, but for the clients and staff alike.ot only survive a few more rounds but can become true champions!

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Allpoints Insights

Breaking the £3M Growth Plateau: Six Strategies to Scale Your Agency and Attract Bigger Clients

Many agencies find it relatively easy to get from start-up to circa £3m to £4m turnover, but then the growth stalls and becomes entrenched at that level, sometimes for many years.

Here are some suggestions to enable you to scale the business, attract bigger clients, and increase profitability.

1. Expertise and Specialisation

  • Big clients like working with specialists, and certainly an agency that has taken time to learn about their brand, so focusing on becoming an expert in a particular company, industry or type of service can really help you stand out. By positioning yourself as an expert in a specific area, you’ll naturally attract the attention of larger brands from that sector that want to work with someone who truly understands their business. Once mastered, it’s good to branch out and spread the risk by doing the same in another industry.

2. Expand Service Offerings

  • Offering a full range of services is a great way to appeal to bigger clients. They love the idea of a one-stop shop where they can get everything from strategy to execution. Plus, adding new capabilities like AI-powered marketing or data analytics can make you cutting-edge, which is exactly what bigger brands are looking for.

3. Build a Strong Reputation

  • Your agency’s reputation is everything when it comes to attracting bigger clients. You can strengthen your brand by sharing thought leadership content, winning industry awards, and building a stunning portfolio. Larger clients want to work with agencies that are known for delivering creative solutions and impactful results – and bigger clients feel more comfortable buying from agencies with a proven track record of successfully working with larger companies

4. Upgrade Talent and Capabilities

  • Bigger clients want to work with experienced, top-tier talent. If you bring in seasoned creatives or strategists who’ve handled high-profile projects, you’ll be much more attractive to larger brands. And by building a network of freelancers, you can easily scale up your team when a big project comes in, without the commitment of full-time hires.

5. Proactive Business Development

  • Follow the money! Look for the industries where larger spending is to be found. Don’t wait for big clients to come to you—go after them! Build a list of target companies and reach out with personalised proposals that show you understand their challenges. Account-based marketing can also help you tailor campaigns directly to those high-value clients, making it easier to land the big fish.

6. Mergers or Acquisitions

  • If you want to scale quickly, consider acquiring another agency that complements your services or has clients in a sector you’d like to break into. This can be a fast way to grow without hiring more staff. Partnerships are another great option. Whether it’s with a PR firm, advertising agency, or a tech company, joining forces with another business can help you expand your services and reach bigger clients. Beware though – merger or acquisition takes a lot of consideration and technical knowledge – luckily, we have it, so get in touch!

These strategies will help you scale your agency and bring in the larger, more lucrative clients you’re after, but it takes time, dedication to research, and, most importantly, investment. In the building stage, inward investment of profits is essential, so it’s by no means a get-rich-quick scheme – more a commitment to building a solid, robust business, not just for the shareholders, but for the clients and staff alike.ot only survive a few more rounds but can become true champions!


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