Scriba PR launches new strategic comms service

The ‘Marketing Director as a Service’ (MDaaS) offering represents the company’s ability to become a truly bolt-on comms department for clients’ businesses, regardless of location. 

Remaining true to the agency’s specialism in the written word, the service sees the team devise, oversee, and in some instances partially or entirely execute clients’ marketing strategies, including the management of budgets and C-suite reporting. Where complementary marketing services are required, Scriba will draw upon its decade-long partner network, or take care of the tender process for a new third party, as required.

With a number of clients already using Scriba’s MDaaS support — even before the proposition was launched — the latest business to tap into such expertise is healthtech firm, Mizaic. With ambitious scale-up plans, the NHS software specialist — whose technology houses more than 1 billion patient images — sought to build a best-in-class marketing team at pace. Scriba has already overseen the strategic renaming and rebranding of the business — with the support of brand specialist The Engine Room and creative integrated agency The Bigger Boat. Now all eyes are on the client’s objective to attract and secure contracts with a further 20 NHS Trusts over the next three years.

Scriba’s B2B technical focus has seen the agency’s turnover and net profits figures both rise by 80%, over the last three years. And with clients across various complex sectors — including technology, recycling, engineering, architecture and manufacturing, to name just a few — the goal is to pursue further growth by concentrating on this niche. 

“When Scriba was first established, the goal was to support organisations who believed their stories were too complex to tell,” explained founding managing director, Katie Mallinson. “As our reputation has grown, so too has the number of businesses we’ve been able to help — including those who don’t even speak English as their first language. Yet our focus has remained the same — making sense of these often tricky businesses and ensuring our words have an impact.

“Now, as we approach our tenth anniversary, we’re marking Scriba’s next chapter by formalising the breadth and depth of the strategic support we offer. Anything that treads beyond the written word will be managed by us but delivered via a partner, giving clients the peace of mind that the right support is being delivered by the right people, at the right time.

“That’s not to say every client will need such a comprehensive suite of services, so we’ll still provide everything from ad hoc copywriting assistance up to multi-day-per month retainers, and more. But for clients without any internal marketing resource — or organisations that need to bolster the return on investment from their existing activities — the MDaaS proposition allows them to scale their marketing efforts, quickly, and strategically. It’s a fantastic opportunity for colleagues within the Scriba team too.”

The MDaaS launch coincides with the recent appointment of account director Grace Lenihan — a strategic marketer with an integrated agency background. She will bolster the team’s senior skill-set and ability to cultivate multichannel communications plans, while leading on partner collaborations to augment Scriba’s own offering. 

Alice Kelly — who has been with the business for three years — has been promoted to the new position of international communications manager, reflecting Scriba’s growing overseas client base. Account manager Bethany Lunt has also returned following a short time with a Manchester agency, and Philippa Ogden has joined the agency as a copywriter, from Leeds firm One Nine Nine. Plans are now underway to finalise the appointment of an additional account manager and PR administrator, this month. 

Scriba marks its 10th anniversary in June. The company has helped around 200 B2B organisations to date, and employs 16 people.