Comms giant buys social media agency

A BIRMINGHAM social media firm has been bought by communications consultancy BECG. Jewellery Quarter-based Crowd Technologies owns social media management platform CrowdControlHQ and works with firms to boost their social media activity and support strategy.

Its roster of clients includes Redrow Homes, Derbyshire County Council, Greater Manchester Police and University of Greenwich and the deal will provide it with additional funding and opportunities to promote further the CrowdControlHQ platform.

BECG has seven offices across England, including one in Birmingham city centre.

The undisclosed buyout gives it ownership of Crowd Technologies’ intellectual property in social media aggregation, management, publishing, engagement, analysis and reporting.

Crowd Technologies’ 18 full-time staff, including seven software developers, will transfer over to the new owner while founder James Leavesley will join BECG as a director and lead on the group’s social media strategy and product development.

BECG chief executive Stephen Pomeroy said: “A year of living with Covid-19 has confirmed that our digital-first strategy is what clients, their customers and stakeholders need.

“Bringing Crowd’s existing intellectual property and new product development capability into BECG gives us the agility and capability to deliver the digital services that can engage, empower and drive change.

“We are committed to engaging with the Government’s levellingup agenda and this acquisition will help us to strengthen our position in the Midlands and respond to client needs across the region.”

Mr Leavesley added: “In BECG, we have found the ideal acquirer to take Crowd to its next stage of growth. We share a conviction that a partnership approach across digital and social media communications will solve our clients’ challenges in new and innovative ways and we are passionate about a UK-based company leading in this marketplace.

“We have been based in central Birmingham for the past decade and are proud to be part of a growing tech sector within the area. We are now looking ahead to the next ten years and the opportunities that working with BECG will bring.”