Scottish company, Genoa Black has enjoyed a 73% increase in turnover over the past 12 months, which has created significant investment plans for the business and will create nine new jobs over the next 18 months.
Less than three years old, the strategic marketing and creative company has experienced strong year-on-year growth, with a rise in employee numbers of 150%, a win at the HSBC Scottish Export Awards for Professional Services Exporter of the Year and the development of a client portfolio across a wide range of both Scottish and international cross-sector clients.
Now the company plans to invest £300,000 in new positions from graduate level to Director and new office space across Scotland, including a new headquarters in Central Scotland.
To nurture new talent in the industry, initial focus will be to bring on two new graduates as part of a new graduate programme, “Shipmates in the Making”. Mentored by a Senior Marketing Manager, the 12-month programme will expose graduates to all areas of the marketing mix across a diverse range of sectors to empower them with the knowledge, expertise and ambition to take on a Marketing Executive role within the business by the end of the programme.
Claire Kinloch, Managing Director of Genoa Black commented: “Graduates have been an invaluable part of Genoa Black’s growth and we are passionate about investing in the next generation of marketing experts. As we continue to grow, it is exciting to now formalise this ethos into a programme that will attract a new wave of talent. There is also a significant opportunity for development across the existing highly valued and committed team, as well recruiting for an additional nine new roles over the next 18 months.”
Genoa Black’s first intern, Gaynor Duthie, was taken on when the company launched in 2013 and is now a Senior Marketing Manager with equity in the business. She commented: “The team at Genoa Black is without a doubt our greatest asset. The Directors have invested heavily in my development here, giving me the skills and experience to grow. To have the opportunity to recruit new talent and see the business reach further new heights is both inspiring and exciting.”
The business currently has three offices across Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Perthshire and will be moving to a new headquarters in the Central Belt in 2016, which will be the main hub of activity for the growing UK and global client portfolio that the business services.