AMBITION

Independent creative agency Whitespace has celebrated its 20th anniversary by posting “record” figures for 2016.

The business, headquartered at the foot of Edinburgh Castle with 70 staff, and clients across sectors including tourism, the arts and financial services, said fee income was up to £4.5 million while turnover increased to £5.6m.

It also said that amid its ambitions for further growth both in the UK and overseas, it has launched a senior management team.

Frances Pratt, Alex Turnbull, Olly Jackson and Chris Davey are being promoted to associate director with equity holdings, and joining managing partners Iain Valentine, Emma Jardine and Phillip Lockwood-holmes on the board.

Valentine said the business is “excited about the energy and potential” of the new top-level team. He added:

“While it’s great to post record numbers, it’s equally important that we have an environment that attracts the best people, allows them to flourish and we continue to

0 The firm’s new senior executive team at its base in central Edinburgh

IAIN VALENTINE focus on our culture and our clients because that underpins everything we do.”

The agency said the promotions come after a twelvemonth period during which it picked up new accounts including Highland Spring, Whyte and Mackay, and Green Investment Bank, and won Agency of the Year 2016 at the Scottish Design Awards.

Its client roster also includes the Scottish Government, financial services names Sainsbury’s Bank, Kames Capital, Aegon and accountancy body ACCA, as well as Visitscotland, charity Mary’s Meals and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Whitespace was founded in 1997, with Valentine joining as creative director in 2004, and he and fellow managing partners Jardine and Lockwoodholmes carried out a management buyout in 2010.

It said it remains self-funded and has grown organically since its inception, with a growing client base in Scotland, the rest of the UK and overseas.

“While it’s great to post record numbers, it’s equally important that we have an environment that attracts the best people.”