A growing Newcastle digital agency is set to almost double in size after securing a £200,000 investment package.
Digital marketing agency Curtis Gabriel was launched in 2013 by Roger Gabriel and Simon Curtis, who quickly grew the firm on the back of work with international brands.
The firm, which specialises in social media and digital marketing management for clients in the hospitality, transport and lifestyle sectors, now employs nearly 50 members of staff at its head office in Gosforth, Newcastle, and also has offices in Leeds, London and New York.
Now Curtis Gabriel is set to create around 40 new jobs as it prepares to take on more people locally and scale up globally, after securing the six-figure investment from the North East Innovation Fund.
The package follows an initial investment from the fund, supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Northstar Ventures, in August 2018, which triggered rapid growth at the company.
The firm now has more than 200 clients around the world, including the likes of international brands Marriott, Hilton and IHG
The follow-on investment from the Newcastle venture capital firm will allow Curtis Gabriel to accelerate their global expansion and customer acquisition plans.
The investment will also aid in securing additional UK office space this year, thanks to its continued recruitment drive.
Chief executive officier Martin Such said: “Northstar Ventures have given the Curtis Gabriel team excellent support since August 2018 and this new investment will really help us accelerate our global growth throughout 2020 and beyond.
“We anticipate employing a further 40 staff in 2020, most of which will be based in our Newcastle head office”.
Rick Charnley, Northstar Ventures Investment Manager, said: “We were impressed with the team and the vision for scaling up, and have been very happy to support their growth.
“We’re looking forward to continuing our relationship and seeing the company go from strength to strength in the future.”
Three years ago former Benfield Motors director Matthew Squires joined the firm as a director after making a significant investment in the business.
Mr Squires had been a director and brand manager at the motor retailer until the family firm was bought out by national group Lookers.
