Webfactory to join with European agency

THE Dublin-based digital agency Webfactory is to become part of major continental network Dept, and the move will see Webfactory expanding its services into Europe, it said.

Dept is a network of digital agencies that operate across the continent with offices in the Netherlands, UK, Germany and Spain, as well as the United States.

After the addition of Webfactory and its Dublin office, the network will employ 600 staff and have a combined turnover of over €70m.

“After 24 years it was time for the next step,” said Simon Walsh, director of Webfactory. “A step that energises us, that allows us to continue to do what we are good at and to learn new things.

“The collaboration with the agencies within the network ensures that we will get even better at meeting international demand and can broaden our horizons, especially when it comes to online marketing and digital media.”

Webfactory was founded more than 20 years ago and has become one of the leading digital agencies in Ireland. It employs 45 strategists, creative staff and developers and its client base includes a number of well-known Irish finance, insurance and utility players such as AIB, Irish Life Health and Calor Gas.

In recent months Webfactory has won major contracts, including a HSE contract worth €720,000 and a website contract with Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland worth close to €1m.

It has also worked with international clients such as Google and Microsoft.

Paul Manuel, co-founder of Dept, said he believed that “the Irish market will continue to grow and it will become easier to collaborate with the major international brands that are based in Dublin”.