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The Top 15 Performance Marketing Agencies in the UK (2025)

The Top 15 Performance Marketing Agencies in the UK (2025)
Byron Tassoni-Resch

July 22, 2025

Reading time: 14 minutes

The era of vanity metrics is over. Today, success in the digital-first economy is written in the language of data: Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), Return On Investment (ROI), and tangible revenue growth. 

 

Choosing an agency is no longer about finding a simple service provider; it’s about sourcing a strategic partner capable of navigating a ferociously complex digital landscape. The right choice can ignite exponential growth; the wrong one becomes a costly drain on resources and morale.

 

That’s why we’ve created this definitive 2025 report. We delved deep into publicly available data to compile a ranking based on a multi-faceted evaluation framework. We weighed the significance of recent industry awards, analysed the strength of client case studies, and assessed the market momentum reflected in talent acquisition and employee growth. This process separates the proven performers from the crowd.

 

What follows is a curated list of the top 15 agencies leading the charge in the UK. These are the firms that have demonstrated a superior ability to blend creativity with data science, strategy with execution, and partnership with performance. Let this be your guide to finding the agency best equipped to drive your business forward in the year ahead.

 

What makes a top performance marketing agency?

 

Today’s elite agencies are masters of a complex craft, blending the quantitative precision of Paid Search, Paid Social, and Analytics with the strategic nuance of Organic growth, Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO), and predictive Data Science. They operate at the intersection of technology and creativity.

Our Evaluation Framework

We analysed firms against five key pillars of excellence, using publicly available data to identify those that consistently demonstrate superior performance, market leadership, and a proven track record of success. Here are the specific criteria that shaped our 2025 list:

 

  1. Client Calibre and Portfolio: An agency is known by the company it keeps. A strong portfolio featuring well-known brands, high-growth companies, and long-term partnerships is a powerful indicator of trust, experience, and the ability to navigate complex, large-scale campaigns successfully.
  2. Employee Growth & Momentum: An agency’s growth trajectory is a vital sign of its current health and market demand. We analysed year-over-year employee growth as a key indicator of momentum, successful client acquisition, and an agency’s ability to attract and retain top talent in a competitive industry.
  3. Thought Leadership & Market Influence: Leading agencies do more than just participate in the market; they help shape it. We looked for firms that actively contribute to the industry through insightful research, expert commentary, and educational content. This demonstrates a deep, forward-thinking expertise that benefits both their clients and the wider digital ecosystem.
  4. Verifiable Case Studies & Quantifiable Results: Promises are easy to make; proof is what matters. We scrutinised agency case studies for transparent, quantifiable evidence of success. This includes specific data on improved Return On Investment (ROI), revenue growth, lead generation, and lower Cost Per Acquisition (CPA). Agencies that openly showcase their results demonstrate confidence and accountability.
  5. Recent Industry Awards & Recognition (2023-2024): We gave significant weight to recent accolades from prestigious bodies like the UK Search Awards, The Drum Awards for Digital Industries, and the Performance Marketing Awards. These honours serve as impartial, third-party validation of an agency’s ability to deliver innovative, best-in-class work that is recognised by its peers.

 

The agencies that consistently scored highly across these five pillars are the ones that earned a place in our definitive 2025 ranking.

The Top Performance Marketing Agencies For 2025

  1. WeDiscover
  2. Impression
  3. Croud
  4. Journey Further
  5. Hallam
  6. Propellernet
  7. Brave Bison
  8. Bind Media
  9. Bark.London
  10. Precis Digital
  11. StrategiQ
  12. Cedarwood Digital
  13. Vervaunt
  14. MRS Digital
  15. Crafted

1. WeDiscover

Topping the list, London-based WeDiscover embodies the “agency as a tech company” ethos. The firm moves beyond running campaigns by building bespoke data infrastructure and automation engines for clients like Domino’s Pizza and New Look. Their core proposition is to act as a catalyst for sustainable growth, delivering a fundamental “digital evolution” rather than just incremental uplift. This technology-first approach, which fuses data engineering with marketing execution, is validated by their explosive growth and top-tier awards.

  • HQ: London
  • Headcount: ~55
  • 2-Year Growth: 105%
  • Key Awards: Best PPC Agency in Europe (2024), Global Search Awards (2024), Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50, Financial Times 1000.
  • Partner Status: Google Premier Partner, Meta Business Partner.
  • Glassdoor: 5.0/5 (100% CEO Approval)

2. Impression

With significant scale and a B Corp certification, Nottingham’s Impression practices what it preaches. Their “Evidence into Action” methodology, backed by proprietary tools, has earned them the trust of organisations like Cancer Research UK. They operate as a strategic partner to ambitious brands, using a rigorous experimentation process and in-house technology to maximise effectiveness. Their thought leadership is demonstrated through the creation of custom tools, reflecting their ethos: “If we can’t find a piece of technology that gives us the data we need, we’ll build one.”

  • HQ: Nottingham
  • Headcount: ~110
  • 2-Year Growth: 22%
  • Key Awards: European Search Awards (Best Large Integrated Agency), Performance Marketing Awards (Independent Agency of the Year), B Corp Company of the Year.
  • Partner Status: Google Premier Partner, Meta Business Partner.
  • Glassdoor: 4.8/5 (98% CEO Approval)

3. Croud

Croud’s unique model, combining a core in-house team with a global network of 2,400+ freelance “Croudies,” gives it unparalleled scale and flexibility. This structure allows them to service major clients like Audible and AllSaints with deep channel expertise and operational agility. The agency’s proposition centres on delivering a “Return on Intelligence,” applying data-driven insights across brand strategy, media, and creative. 

  • HQ: London
  • Headcount: ~600
  • 2-Year Growth: 5%
  • Key Awards: Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work (2024), Campaign’s Best Places to Work (2024), Performance Marketing Employer of the Year.
  • Partner Status: Google Marketing Platform & Cloud Platform Sales Partner.
  • Glassdoor: 3.7/5 (70% CEO Approval)

4. Journey Further

This Leeds-based agency has built its entire model on a disruptive principle: “Clarity at Speed.” By removing traditional account managers, they give clients like Sky and Dr. Martens direct access to senior specialists. It’s a bold move that challenges the established agency hierarchy and champions transparency. Their innovation is also seen in proprietary tech like “Salient™,” a data-driven tool designed to enhance content optimisation and link-building strategies within their digital PR offering.

  • HQ: Leeds
  • Headcount: ~180
  • 2-Year Growth: -5%
  • Key Awards: Named UK’s #1 company for employee wellbeing.
  • Partner Status: Google Premier Partner (Marketing Platform & Cloud Platform), Google Cloud Data Analytics Specialisation.
  • Glassdoor: 3.9/5 (82% CEO Approval)

5. Hallam

Founded in 1999, Nottingham-based Hallam has the experience to back its strategic approach. Their work with brands like The United Nations and Suzuki showcases their ability to operate at the highest level. The agency positions itself as a trusted digital partner, leveraging combined expertise across SEO, PPC, web design, and CRO. Their award-winning “No BS CRM” campaign for Workbooks demonstrates a thought leadership approach centred on bravery and honesty in B2B marketing.

  • HQ: Nottingham
  • Headcount: ~60
  • 2-Year Growth: -10%
  • Key Awards: Marketing Week’s ‘Best Campaign of 2024’, Winner at Global Search Awards (2024), Winner at European Search Awards (2024).
  • Partner Status: Google Premier Partner, Meta Business Partner.
  • Glassdoor: 4.2/5 (80% CEO Approval)

6. Propellernet

This Brighton-based B Corp has a rich history of innovation, having created industry-standard tools like AnswerThePublic.com and CoverageBook. This history of building successful SaaS products demonstrates a deep, first-principles understanding of marketer needs. Their current focus on emerging areas like Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) and AI consultancy for clients like Gymshark and PureGym shows they are still looking to the future.

  • HQ: Brighton
  • Headcount: ~55
  • 2-Year Growth: 12%
  • Key Awards: Campaign’s Best Places To Work (2024), European Search Awards Winner.
  • Partner Status: Google Premier Partner.
  • Glassdoor: 5.0/5 (100% CEO Approval)

7. Brave Bison

Through strategic acquisitions like SocialChain, Brave Bison has built a modern, integrated media company “purpose-built for now, and what’s next.” Their work with New Balance and KFC demonstrates a model that combines social, performance, and commerce under one agile roof. Their M&A strategy itself is a form of thought leadership, signalling a belief that the future lies in combining deep specialisms under a single, agile operational umbrella.

  • HQ: London
  • Headcount: ~209
  • 2-Year Growth: -12%
  • Key Awards: Alokai’s Partner of the Year (2023), Performance Marketing Awards Finalist (2024).
  • Partner Status: Google Partner, Meta Business Partner.
  • Glassdoor: 3.4/5 (55% CEO Approval)

8. Bind Media

This Bath-based B Corp is a force in the paid media space, winning Campaign’s #1 Best Place to Work in 2024. Their “human-led approach” combines data, AI-driven insight, and creative thinking. Their laser focus on paid media, creative, and CRO for clients like Strava and gousto proves that you don’t need to be a full-service agency to make a massive impact. They proudly state they “stick to one specialism and do it very well.”

  • HQ: Bath
  • Headcount: ~28
  • 2-Year Growth: 22%
  • Key Awards: Campaign’s #1 Best Place to Work (2024), Small Paid Media Agency of the Year (European Paid Media Awards 2024).
  • Partner Status: Google Premier Partner.
  • Glassdoor: 4.9/5 (100% CEO Approval)

9. Bark.London

A specialist in the e-commerce space, Bark.London focuses on transforming digital advertising into a predictable growth driver for brands like Chilly’s and hims. Their integrated team structure, where media buyers, creatives, and data analysts work cohesively, is a core strength. Their unique triple-certification from Meta in strategy, creative, and data gives them a distinct edge in the social commerce arena.

  • HQ: London
  • Headcount: ~28
  • 2-Year Growth: 8%
  • Key Awards: Noted as UK’s only independent agency with Meta triple-certification.
  • Partner Status: Meta Partner (strategy, creative, data).
  • Glassdoor: 5.0/5 (100% CEO Approval)

10. Precis Digital

Born from ex-Googlers, Precis has technology at its core, with a mission to “define the future of marketing.” Their most significant move has been productising their internal data platform into a customer-facing SaaS solution. This hybrid service-and-technology model, serving clients like Amazon and Fjällräven, represents a fundamental shift in what a modern agency can be, evolving from a pure service model to a hybrid provider.

  • HQ: Stockholm, Sweden (also a major UK presence)
  • Headcount: ~594
  • 2-Year Growth: 4%
  • Key Awards: Multiple Google Premier Partner Awards, Winner at Global & European Search Awards (2024).
  • Partner Status: Google Premier Partner.
  • Glassdoor: 4.4/5 (91% CEO Approval)

11. StrategiQ

Explicitly calling themselves a “Brand x Performance Agency,” StrategiQ operates on the principle of solving problems, not just answering briefs. Their tagline, “We don’t want briefs. We want problems,” encapsulates their strategic, consultative approach. Their work with the Dorchester Collection and their “New Future Value™” framework demonstrate a commitment to integrating high-level brand storytelling with scientific marketing performance.

  • HQ: London
  • Headcount: ~70
  • 2-Year Growth: 19%
  • Key Awards: UK Search Awards (2024) winner for Best use of AI in Search, Sunday Times’ 100 Best Places to Work (2024).
  • Partner Status: Google Partner.
  • Glassdoor: 3.2/5 (64% CEO Approval)

12. Cedarwood Digital

Manchester’s Cedarwood proudly eschews the “full-service” label, instead doubling down on being specialists in SEO, digital PR, and paid media. Their “no account managers” policy ensures clients work directly with practitioners. This practitioner-led thought leadership is evident with senior team members speaking at major events like Brighton SEO, positioning the agency’s leadership as recognized experts in their field.

  • HQ: Manchester
  • Headcount: ~14
  • 2-Year Growth: 56%
  • Key Awards: UK Search Awards (2024) wins for Best Small PPC Agency, Best Use of Search – B2C, and Best Use of Search – Health.
  • Partner Status: Meta Certified Partner.
  • Glassdoor: 5.0/5 (100% CEO Approval)

13. Vervaunt

As one of the world’s only Shopify Plus consultancy partners, Vervaunt is a dominant force in the e-commerce niche. Their deep specialism has attracted a stellar client roster including Dr. Martens, Mulberry, and Fred Perry. Their thought leadership is highly focused, demonstrated through their industry event, the Pulse Ecommerce Summit, and “Vervaunt Labs,” an initiative to build proprietary tech for attribution and performance monitoring.

  • HQ: London
  • Headcount: ~57
  • 2-Year Growth: 36%
  • Key Awards: Previous winner at UK eCommerce Awards. Hosts the Pulse Ecommerce Summit.
  • Partner Status: Shopify Plus Consultancy Partner.\Glassdoor: 4.8/5 (100% CEO Approval)

14. MRS Digital

With a 25-year history, MRS Digital has built its reputation on deep expertise in integrated search. Their numerous awards for delivering combined SEO and PPC strategies for clients like LV= highlight their mastery of a complex and vital channel. Their stated approach is simple: “we put people, clients, and data first,” which they believe leads to smarter strategies and consistently better results.

  • HQ: Hampshire
  • Headcount: ~39
  • 2-Year Growth: 5%
  • Key Awards: UK Search Awards (2024) winner for Best SEO Campaign (large), European Search Awards (2024) winner for Best Use of Search – Automotive.
  • Partner Status: Google Premier Partner.
  • Glassdoor: 3.1/5 (47% CEO Approval)

15. Crafted

This independent agency has built its brand on a foundation of strong client service and a commitment to digital sustainability and accessibility. Their “Crafted Labs” initiative provides tools and resources to inspire marketing strategy, including practical guides on writing briefs. Their work with the Natural History Museum and Eurotunnel exemplifies a thoughtful, value-driven approach.

  • HQ: Ipswich
  • Headcount: ~104
  • 2-Year Growth: 4%
  • Key Awards: Campaign Best Places to Work award holder, Investors in People accreditation.
  • Partner Status: Unconfirmed.
  • Glassdoor: 4.6/5 (100% CEO Approval)

The takeaway for 2025 is clear: the UK performance marketing industry is not a monolith. It is a dynamic, fiercely competitive ecosystem where success is being redefined by technology, strategic integration, and a relentless focus on tangible results. The agencies on this list do more than win clients – they are setting the bar for the entire industry.