An ambitious Newcastle design led marketing agency is undertaking a major company evolution to significantly expand the range of services it offers.

Blumilk is formally establishing new digital and change management divisions alongside its existing design and marketing services offerings, to help take advantage of a growing range of commercial opportunities with both existing and new clients.

The service developments follow Blumilk’s best ever business performance, with the company achieving a 17 per cent year-on-year rise in turnover.

And it is now aiming to further increase its turnover to more than £3m within the next five years, as well as to grow its 29-strong team by around a quarter over the next 12 months.

Blumilk is implementing its growth plans with the help of a £150,000 investment from regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers.

And after establishing the new range of services in the north east, it plans to expand them on a national, and even international basis, in the future.

Founded in 1999 by managing director Colin Robertson and creative director Adam Robertson, Blumilk already works regionally and nationally with a wide range of household name brands, including Northumbrian Water, Cumbria Tourism (Lake District), Port of Tyne, the RSPB, Akzo Nobel, Benfield Motor Group and the NHS.

The former managing director of the Federation Brewery and current chairman of the North East Tourism Advisory Board, Geoff Hodgson, was appointed as the company’s chairman in 2009.

Growing demand from clients over the last few years for strategic and tactical advice beyond their standard range of creative services has prompted Blumilk’s planned evolution.

Development director Eve Stoner says: “We’ve become more and more involved at a very high level with many of our clients, developing change management programmes, providing interim staff and even sometimes taking over and managing their entire marketing communications function.

“Adding in the ever-growing demand for digital services clearly indicated to us that we had much to gain from strengthening and widening the range of services we offer.

“There are many strong marketing agencies in the north east, but our aim is to create the region’s first true communications group, bringing together a spread of expert companies with the backing of a financially-sound corporate infrastructure.

“We’ve already brought a new head of digital to the region from a high-profile London role, as well as a new head of client services who joins us in the near future – these new appointees add a great deal to an already strong team, and our chairman’s advice and unrivalled commercial expertise is also making a tangible difference to the company’s development.

“Despite the difficult economic climate, we managed to record our best ever year on 2009, which gives us fantastic momentum to go forward with our expansion plans – we had a very positive response to them from NEL, and their investment will be central in establishing the enhanced Blumilk brand as a major regional and national name.”

Simon Johnson, senior investment executive at NEL, adds: “Blumilk’s development plans are based on an impressive combination of creative excellence, high client service standards and proven demand for their services, and the clear path towards their commercial ambitions that they presented to us made a very compelling investment case.”

Malcolm Page, Deputy Chief Executive of One North East, says: “I am delighted this fund has been able to support such a creative and forward-thinking company. Blumilk’s strong regional client list is testament to the company’s ability to deliver on exciting and innovative projects.”

For more information about NEL’s investment criteria, contact Barrie Hensby on 0845 111 1850.