Shaped By – The Bold Behind B2B Creative

Shaped By shares their B2B Agency Nomination success.

Being shortlisted for B2B Agency of the Year (Small) at the UK Agency Awards means a lot to us, not because we entered to chase recognition, but because it validates a path we’ve deliberately chosen. One built on deep focus, long-term thinking, and the kind of creativity that moves the needle.

What began as a small Bristol studio is now a team of 22 people shaping strategy and design for tech companies who see bold as a strategy, not a style. We don’t try to be all things to all sectors. Our focus is razor-sharp: high-growth firms in the US B2B space. That’s it.

That clarity lets us go deep. We know the language, the nuances, and the pressure. And because we know the rules, we can break the rules. 

We’re a group of people who like thinking hard and designing boldly. We back creativity not for its own sake, but because it drives results. We help our clients find and show their authentic edge, then push it further.

Our team is the reason we’re here. We’ve grown steadily, kept our staff turnover low, and stayed true to our values: people first, product before profit. We believe financial success is the applause that follows great work. 

That thinking earned us B-Corp certification in May 2024, marking our commitment to sustainable and ethical business. We also contributed 187 pro bono hours to community initiatives over the past year.

Our structure reflects that: a flat hierarchy, strong creative leadership, and a delivery team who speak the client’s language. When clients say we feel like an extension of their team, we know we’re doing it right.

We overcome challenges & celebrate achievements

In early 2023, a change in ownership marked something more than a structural shift – it reshaped how we work, lead, and grow. Internally, we restructured. We clarified what kind of agency we wanted to be, and built around the values that mattered: people first, product before profit.

At the same time, our core market was taking a hit. Mass layoffs. Collapsing valuations. A tough environment for any agency, especially one based in the UK, working to build rapport and relevance with a US audience. But instead of pulling back, we doubled down. We invested in relationships. We met clients face-to-face. We showed up consistently and built trust over time.

That mindset shaped how we showed up in the market too. We grew a 100+ person community of brand and creative leaders. Launched a 50-episode podcast. Built a two-day virtual summit with over 700 signups. All of it grounded in the kind of agency we’re building: values-led, creatively ambitious, commercially sharp.

The result? A 68.7% increase in gross profit (FY24 vs FY25), and new business performance that beat our targets by 289%.

Aligning strategy, design, and commercial impact

We’ve listed below some of the latest impactful projects we’ve worked on in the last year. We don’t just deliver creative; we deliver solutions that move the needle. Here’s a glimpse of what we’re proud of.

CYERA: 

Cyera doubled its valuation (from $3bn to $6bn) just six months after launch. Our brand and web work gave them the credibility and visual distinctiveness they needed to punch well above their weight.

PALO ALTO NETWORKS: 

We helped the world’s largest cybersecurity company create a disruptive ransomware awareness campaign. It generated $6 million in new pipeline and influenced 90 existing opportunities and 52 new deals.

RUBRIK: 

Rubrik’s IPO was oversubscribed 20 times. Our Rubrik Zero Labs thought leadership hub, helped position them not just as a security vendor, but as a thought leader driving the industry conversation.

These examples truly show that creativity, when strategically applied, delivers monumental results.

Why this shortlist matters to us, by Nick Farrar, our CEO 

“Our recent restructure really galvanised the team. We quickly realised we were a stronger, more aligned group, with a shared goal and shared values. The business has grown in headcount, revenue and profitability over the last 2.5 years. It’s been fantastic to see what happens when like-minded people get together. Being shortlisted for these awards is a reflection of the hard work and commitment given by the whole Shaped By team.

Thanks to the UK Agency Awards for the nod. And thanks to our team and clients who’ve backed us, challenged us, and trusted us to go bold.”

Connect with us:

• Shaped By Website: https://shaped-by.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shaped-by/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaped_by_/