Blurred

Since it was founded in 2019 by Nik Govier, Stuart Lambert and Katy Stolliday, with a vision to blend strategic insight with world-class creativity, Blurred has pushed boundaries, fusing communications with management and sustainability consultancy to help businesses tell better stories and make a meaningful impact.

During 2023, after winning PRovoke Media’s EMEA corporate agency of the year award, Blurred faced significant challenges, including a downturn in the consultancy sector (where it had, by its own admission, somewhat overindexed its focus), a shifting political landscape that saw ESG become a divisive issue, and serious illness among the team. Despite losing £1m in income from major clients, it made no redundancies, instead focusing on adapting its model to ensure long-term resilience.

In 2024, by refining its positioning, shifting from pure consultancy to a stronger execution focus, and anchoring itself firmly in communications, the 26-strong agency emerged stronger, growing 8% to fee income of £3.1m with a 19% margin over the year – rising to 25% in Q4 – and securing an 87% pitch win rate. 

The agency’s client roster expanded impressively, with wins from high profile clients including Lloyds Banking Group, E&, Twinings, Vodafone, and Bacardi. It also delivered standout creative work, such as an award-winning campaign for Oatly, which turned a conversation about dairy alternatives into a cultural moment with a Peckham pop-up and an authentic community-driven narrative. Blurred’s work for Diageo on the ‘Men on a Mission’ campaign encouraged men over 55 to drink less while supporting the Men in Sheds charity, exemplifying its ability to create campaigns with both impact and resonance.

At its core, the agency remains committed to ‘people, planet, profit’, with 98% of the team endorsing this ethos in a the most recent employee survey. Blurred has continued investing in people, maintaining coaching for all staff and refining its talent strategy. The introduction of ‘The Deal’ formalised its commitment to employee wellbeing, offering a range of benefits while fostering a high-performance culture. With 37% of its senior team from ethnic minority backgrounds, 32% neurodivergent, and 36% the first in their family to pursue higher education, Blurred has positioned itself as a leader in inclusivity and social mobility within the PR industry. 

The agency’s thought leadership also continues to set it apart, notably through the introduction of the ‘Anchor Goal’ methodology, helping brands integrate sustainability authentically into their corporate narrative. —MPS