Published by Sue Johns-Chapman
Published Date 08.08.2025 
We’re excited to announce that Cairn has been shortlisted for Best New Agency at this year’s UK Agency Awards.
This nomination reflects the hard work and determination of our talented team as we proudly build a different kind of marketing agency.
Introducing Cairn
Cairn isn’t meant to be everything to everyone. We’re an agency made for brands in the built environment. The spaces people live in, work in, grow in and make their own.
We start at the top. With sharper strategic insights designed to tackle the toughest business challenges, unlock commercial value and transform brand futures.
From this strategic bedrock, we create brave, boundless conceptual ideas and activate them across the channels that matter most.
Our story
Founded in 2023 and based in Sale, Greater Manchester, Cairn was built with a clear purpose: to deliver standout creative for brands in the built environment.
Our name reflects our purpose. A cairn is a marker on a path, signalling the way forward and that’s what we aim to be for our clients: a strategic guide, helping brands to go further.
What began with two founders and a shared passion for the sector, has grown into a team of ten specialists in under two years. We are also supported by a trusted network of specialists, giving us the flexibility and expertise to deliver outstanding results for our clients.
We now work with a broad portfolio of sector-leading brands and surpassed £1 million in revenue in year one – proof that our approach is working.
Our approach
At Cairn, we specialise in building campaigns for properties and everything within them. We partner with brands big and small, from geo-technical consultancies to national house builders, kitchen brands to roofing companies. These sectors are dynamic and highly competitive, demanding a balance of creativity, strategic insight, and data-driven performance.
We start with big creative ideas based on strategic insight and deep sector knowledge. We activate across the channels which will deliver the best results. From digital performance marketing, PR, brand development to web development, we create integrated campaigns tailored to each client’s objectives.
Our work is characterised by bold ideas that are grounded in business strategy and designed to deliver measurable impact.
What this nomination means to us
Being shortlisted for Best New Agency is a fantastic validation of our approach and the work we’ve delivered in our first two years. It recognises the trust placed in us by our clients and reflects the culture we have worked so hard to build and nurture.
It really is a tribute to the hard work and commitment of our team, who have embraced the challenge of building a new agency from the ground up.
Team and culture
Our team is the reason Cairn has come this far. Everyone here has an entrepreneurial mindset. They take ownership, have a can-do attitude and are driven to deliver great work.
We’re lucky to employ an incredibly talented group of people who are as passionate about Cairn as we are. This energy and commitment is evident in everything we do and it’s what makes Cairn the fantastic agency that it is.
Key Achievements
Since launching in early 2023, Cairn has reached several significant milestones:
- Exceeded revenue target, achieving £1 million turnover within our first year
- Expanded core team from two to ten permanent specialists across disciplines including PR, creative, and client services
- Won work from several brilliant brands including Blum, Kutchenhaus, InSinkErator, Sensio Lighting, Onward Living and PJH
- Secured 70% of new business through referrals, reflecting the quality of the work we deliver for our clients
Why should we win?
We know most agencies believe in themselves and the work they do, but at Cairn we know we have built something special, thanks to the wonderful feedback we receive from our clients.
Here is a recent testimonial from one of our clients, which we think captures why Cairn would be a deserving winner in this category:
“We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for all the incredible work you’ve done this year. Your creativity, dedication, and strategic insights have been invaluable, and your designs continue to inspire and elevate our brand, not just in the UK but Europe and beyond. Thank you for being such fantastic partners – we truly appreciate the passion and effort you bring to everything you do.”
Looking ahead
We’re proud to be recognised among the UK’s best new agencies and we’re looking forward to celebrating on awards night.
This nomination is a moment to pause and take stock of what we’ve built together in just two short years. But we’re only just getting started. There’s so much more to do – for our clients, for the sector, and for the people who’ve supported us along the way.
We can’t wait to find out what’s next!
Follow our journey:
