Leeds based digital marketing firm Ascensor are celebrating after picking up the prize for Best Large Digital Agency of the Year in the Northern Digital Awards.

MD Andrew Firth says: “This is a wonderful win for us, not least of all because our exceptional growth means that Ascensor has been catapulted from the category of Small Agency to Large Agency of the Year.”

The Northern Digital Awards recognise the very best in digital marketing campaigns and talent across the region, including work across the private, public and third sector.

Ascensor achieved their win from a shortlist of eight firms from across the wider region, including Newcastle and Manchester. Andrew Firth says: “It’s good to represent Leeds, which is an established hub for the digital market. Of course, I’m especially proud of the team at Ascensor, whose achievements have enabled us to win this great award.”

He adds: “We won the top award for our successes across 2020, including our significant growth, our investment in our technical capabilities and data security, and for the creativity of our digital transformation projects.”

Andrew continues: “We achieved a 55% increase in turnover in 2020 following a similar uplift in 2019. Despite the market difficulties of lockdown, 2020 provided our best-ever trading figures.”

“Like many companies, 2020 presented Ascensor with a number of operational and commercial challenges. However, we quickly understood the needs of our clients and embraced the opportunity. Many of our current and new clients have needed to scale up their online sales and servicing capabilities. This has created increased demand for our services, and we have been able to advise on and deliver our clients’ digital transformations.”

Successes in 2020 at Ascensor included the creation of a technology solution that allowed their biggest client - a face-to-face lender - to continue to trade during lockdown. They also delivered more than £12m in revenue for their clients through their digital marketing activity. A variety of campaigns and solutions have delivered results worth hundreds of times their clients’ investment, including one for a hotel which generated vital staycation bookings worth more than £300,000 in just four months.

The firm also recently achieved ISO27001 information security accreditation, which is now required by many financial services firms and government agencies.

Andrew Firth says: “Achieving full accreditation is an important credential in the procurement process for larger contracts and will give all Ascensor clients the reassurance that we’re protecting theirs and their clients’ data.”

He adds: “We have enjoyed a very successful 2020 and scooping the award for Best Large Digital Agency of the Year is a fantastic opening win for 2021.”