Continuous

Scouse, anyone? We took a break this week to celebrate Global Scouse Day with a proper team lunch. A simple dish, but part of Liverpool’s identity. Our team is a mix - some born and raised Scousers, some from a little further afield (yes, even Manchester), and plenty who’ve joined us from overseas. So it’s always fun to introduce them to a bit of local culture - starting with a bowl of Scouse. Agency life moves fast, but moments like this keep us connected. Good food, good company, and a proper Liverpool tradition. Thank you Michelle Ford and David Beattie for putting on a great spread for our team. Who else tucked into a bowl this week?

Cervical screening rates in England hit an all-time low in 2023 - just 68.7% of eligible women attended ?? Traditional healthcare marketing isn’t cutting through. Fear-based messages? People scroll past. Clinical language? Ignored. Lives are at risk because campaigns aren’t connecting - it’s time for a new playbook. In our latest blog, we break down how bold, culturally relevant campaigns - like our recent Whatever Gets You Going campaign for The Eve Appeal - can spark real conversations and drive life-saving action. Want to know what’s missing from most healthcare campaigns? Read more ?? https://lnkd.in/eKDTj3UB

Never go into business with your friends... That’s the cliché, and I get why people say it - mixing personal and professional lives can be tricky. But for me, working alongside one of my closest pals Nick Bentley, for the past 26 years has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Here’s why it works: ? We have complementary skills While I focus on our vision, the future and the balance of the business, Nick is all about building great relationships, delivering on time and to the highest quality. Two sides of the same coin - different strengths, same goal. ? We push each other We don’t avoid the tough conversations. We lean into them because they come from a place of care and a shared vision. There’s no ego, just honesty. ? We trust each other’s judgement After 26 years, trust runs deep. Whether it’s making big decisions or navigating challenges, we know we’ve got each other’s backs - no second-guessing needed. ? We have fun Work isn’t always fun. There are tough days, stressful projects, and moments when it feels like the fun has dried up completely. But working with someone you genuinely like makes the good days even better and the hard days a little easier. Am I saying you should start a business with your best friend? No. But if you share a passion, have ideas you believe in, and your skills complement each other - forget the clichés. You might just find yourself, 26 years down the line, thinking, “I’m so glad we did that.” Here’s a photo of the two of us - out of the studio for once - at an event I spoke at in London last week.

A reason to spend the weekend at your local Last night, we raised a glass to the 2nd Annual Launch of Fusion Pale Ale - a beer with purpose, crafted by industry leaders to support the UK’s independent pubs after a tough January. At the forefront of this project is David Beattie, our Senior Client Director. Every great initiative needs a captain, and David steered this with heart, driven by one alarming fact: 34 pubs close every month. At this rate, by 2035, the UK could lose every independent pub. That hit hard. And it sparked an idea to create a lifeline for our locals by supplying a great tasting beer at cost - giving them a great margin on all Fusion sales. David’s passion for the industry isn’t just in this project - it spills into the work he does every day for our brilliant drinks clients. His drive for change lit the spark, but it’s the amazing partners and venues that keep it burning. We’re proud of David. We’re grateful for every partner who’s backed this. And if you’re wondering how you can help? It starts with a pint. Find Fusion near you ?? www.fusion.beer Track Brewing Company Yakima Chief Hops Crisp Malt White Labs Inc

A good beer for a good cause- that’s the vision behind Fusion, whose launch I was lucky enough to attend last night. It’s been a brutal time for the hospitality industry as costs keep rising, hitting customers and venues alike. That’s why David Beattie of Continuous has teamed up with Yakima Chief Hops ,Crisp Malt and White Labs Inc WHITE LABS to launch Fusion ale – and then to encourage people to visit their local pubs and bars to taste it. At the BUYERS CLUB LTD launch, David told me: “Something like this to drive footfall in February, to really kickstart February and start that bounceback ahead of hopefully a prosperous year for them, is absolutely critical. They need to start February with real momentum.” Fusion shows the people who make beer coming together to help the venues that sell their ales. It’s also a delicious beer – crisp and flavourful and refreshing. And you can read more about it here ?? https://lnkd.in/eVkTS7hp

Great partnerships, great beer, greater cause. For those of you who haven't seen our recent posts, Fusion Pale Ale is officially back and it’s proving what happens when passionate people come together for a bigger purpose. Ideated by our very own, David Beattie, Fusion is a collaborative effort from industry experts across the beer supply chain. Everyone involved has brought something new and exciting to the table, united by a shared goal: helping independent pubs bounce back after a tough January. The idea? Simple. ?? Brew a great-tasting pale ale ?? Sell it to venues at cost price ?? Support the pubs we can’t afford to lose After selling out last year, we’re back - brewing 67% more and served in kegs and cans to make an even bigger impact. Fancy a pint? ?? Join us at Buyers Club, Liverpool, this Thursday from 6 PM to try it for yourself - drop us a message with your headcount and we'll save your spot. ?? Not in Liverpool? Find your nearest Fusion stockist at www.fusion.beer. Thank you to our fantastic partners White Labs Inc, Crisp Malt, Track Brewing Company and Yakima Chief Hops - we're so proud to be a part of this impact-led project for the 2nd year in a row. #Liverpool #beer #paleale #beerindustry #hospitality

Fancy a beer on Thursday? If you ignored previous posts, Fusion Pale Ale is back this year after the success of last year. Fusion was born from my love of the industry (and, being honest, going for a pint). With 34 pubs closing every month on average in the UK, I was keen to do something. After a call with an old colleague (and close friend) Luke Kulchstein of Yakima Chief Hops, we formed a loose plan: ? Brew an amazing beer that showcases ingredients ? Make it with a great brewery ? Ensure venues can make a disproportionate profit from it ? Give pubs a boost after a tough trading period in January Fortunately Luke managed to work his magic and get White Labs Inc, Crisp Malt and Track Brewing Company onboard, all of whom shared our passion for making it happen. Working alongside them last year and this year has been a total joy in growing Fusion as a project. So, in Liverpool tomorrow (Thursday 6th) and want to help us save the on-trade? If so, come and join us at BUYERS CLUB LTD from 6pm. Just drop me a message, and I’ll save you a spot. Not in Liverpool? Don't worry - Fusion is stocked nationwide. Find your nearest venue here: https://www.fusion.beer/ Beer brewed by the community, for the community. Continuous

The importance of your brand Too often, businesses invest in everything but their brand - systems, products, operations - while overlooking everything that their customers see, hear, feel and touch. For 26 years, we’ve worked with businesses to build brands that inspire future confidence, drive growth, and redefine possibilities. As our Managing Director, Stephen Ardern, puts it: “The biggest threat to businesses that don’t invest in their brand? Competition.” A strong brand shouldn’t just sell - it needs to resonate with your audience. Your brand creates trust with customers, clarity for employees, and confidence for stakeholders. It goes beyond what you do and defines why you matter. But it’s important to balance why you matter with impactful, meaningful and visually interesting creative that cuts through. All that being said, branding can feel like a headache for business owners and marketing teams alike. At Continuous, we build brands from the inside out. That means deeply understanding your business, aligning your strategy with your values, and creating a brand that’s both seen and felt. As you’ve probably experienced, investing in your brand is often the first thing to move down the priority list in today’s fast-paced world. But the brands that win in 2025 will be the ones that put it first. If you’re serious about making that happen, let’s talk.

Thanks for having me, Agency Hackers ?? This time last week, I had the privilege of speaking at the Agency Hackers Growth Summit in London. I joined a panel with Mike Craddock and Adam Reaney to discuss the journey from start-up mentality to sustainable growth. What I love about panels like this is how much you learn, not just from sharing your own experience, but from hearing others. Adam Reaney raised a vital point about accountability - time, hours, and billable focus. He spoke about the importance of agencies keeping an eye on their time efficiency and how they got their team onboard through gamification (bonus points for creativity ??) About ten years ago, we learned the hard way that our largest client was actually damaging our bottom line - the profit vampire. That realisation completely shifted how we approach value and efficiency today. Mike Craddock shared his recent growth journey, consolidating his individual businesses in a bid to win more retained work and stabilise cashflow. For us, the approach has been the opposite. During COVID, we built a group structure under Uniform Group and launched two new customer-focused brands: Continuous and Somewhere so we could focus on serving two distinct customer segments with clarity and purpose. What's interesting is that both approaches work. Growth isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s about context; knowing your market, your clients, and your goals. The energy across the day was incredible. Seeing so many ambitious agency owners hungry to level up reminded me why I’m so passionate about this space. Growth is more than scaling numbers. It is about solving challenges, seizing opportunities, and building something meaningful. It was a privilege to share our journey and lessons, and I hope it gave others a bit of inspiration to navigate their own paths. Here’s to tackling the growing pains and driving forward. Great to catch up with Jason Neale, Steve Vincent, Alex Rowlands, and nice to meet?James Leavesley, Kim Somerville, Tom Durrant and the brilliant Steve Parks ?? Image ? NEIL STODDART PHOTOGRAPHY LIMITED

8 days to go… ?? Fusion Pale Ale is back for 2025, hitting venues across the UK from next Thursday - aka Fusion Day. For those new to the project, Fusion was born in 2024 from an idea by our drinks industry expert, David Beattie. It's a beer brewed to support independent venues following the tough trading period of January, supplied at cost to help keep pubs thriving. Last year, every pint brewed was poured, enjoyed, and, most importantly, made an impact - so this year, we’ve brewed 67% more and introduced cans so we could reach even more venues. Crafted by industry leaders Track Brewing Company , Yakima Chief Hops, White Labs Inc, and Crisp Malt, Fusion isn’t just a great beer - it’s a way to give back. Later this week, we’ll reveal the venues stocking Fusion over on the @FusionBeer Instagram - make sure you're following to get your hands on a pint. Want to learn more? The Drinks Business has covered the project, go and read it here ?? https://lnkd.in/ej4bBqvQ #hospitality #beer #craftbeer #fusionpaleale #drinksindustry