A digital design agency has expanded into the Midlands and is creating new jobs after a strong period of growth.
Blanc Ltd offers outsourcing, design and development services for a wide range of clients and was founded by Paul Evans and Steve Hawkes in 2011 after merging their respective businesses on the back of working on projects together.
The duo previously had remote operations running out of Cardiff and Norfolk and have now joined forces at the University of Warwick Science Park’s Blythe Valley Innovation Centre near Solihull.
Blanc’s client roster includes a string of major organisations, such as Macmillan, Friends of the Earth Europe, Tearfund, the Church of England, and the Labour Party.
Paul has more than 10 years of London design agency experience for FTSE100 clients and leads Blanc’s design team, while Steve has worked in corporate web development for around 16 years and is a nominated fellow of the Python Software Foundation.
Steve said while the company has enjoyed success offering a competitive alternative to London-based designers for four years the time was right to join forces under one roof.
“We’ve been functioning online for some time now, but to take the company to the next level and joining forces under one roof was what we needed to do,” he said.
“We’ve grown quite rapidly over the last few years and many people we speak to are surprised that we compete evenly with much larger agencies and by the calibre of our clients.
“Opening our new offices at the Innovation Centre gives us the perfect platform to support our growth and we’re currently on the lookout for new developers and designers to strengthen us further.”
Among Blanc’s latest projects includes working with Greenpeace on an interactive campaign to aid the effort to release the Arctic 30, along with several large design projects for the Church of England. The firm also recently helped another of their larger clients, Renewal, to win a Christian New Media award for most engaging large church website.
Paul added: “- We do a lot of work with the third sector, and to give back one in every ten projects we do is for a charity at no cost to them.
“Our work ranges from producing brochure-ware sites, to intranets and systems for million pound turnover companies. We’re pleased with the progress we’ve made in a short space of time and look forward to kicking on further now from our new home.”
Janet Bunch, centre manager at the University of Warwick Science Park’s Blythe Valley Innovation Centre, said she was delighted to attract Blanc.
She said: “Blanc is a fantastic addition to the centre. From the outset the company has embraced the benefits of not being chained to London, and we’re delighted they’ve chosen the West Midlands to continue their growth and build on the impressive success they’ve already enjoyed.
“This is a great place from which to do business and also comes with a host of advice and support, should the company need it.”