South Shields design agency Urban River Creative splashes out with expansion plans

Feb 25 2010 by Karen Dent, The Journal

Urban River Creative works with clients in the public and private sector. It produced the interactive website allowing Tyne Tunnel users to buy and renew permits online and has worked in the education and young people’s sector, such as the campaign against underage drinking. The business has grown by about a third in the last year, but Mr Buckley says no one has escaped the effects of the recession.

“Towards late summer, we didn’t think it had [impacted],” he said.

“But where it hit us is the decision making – projects have been stretched.

Now it could be three to four months before that decision is made.

“Secondly, there will be a delayed reaction especially in the public sector. That will start coming in this year, running into next year. Marketing is a very quick thing to cut like training.

“We have quite a mixed bag of work in the public and private sector.”

But Mr Buckley is keeping his eye on the big picture and says in addition to organic growth, Urban River Creative may dip its toe into the acquisition market.

“If there was an opportunity there. It depends what’s out there at the time,” he said.

And he also sees a future for the region’s creative businesses looking at the partnership approach.

“In a lot of cases collaboration doesn’t really seem to exist, which is a shame because there are a lot of projects that are getting bigger and bigger.”