We are C21, an integrated creative communications agency. As an employee-owned, independent agency, we care about who we do business with, choosing to work with organisations that are positive contributors to society. We create change.
Our award-winning campaigns are driven by purposeful strategies across digital, print, social and environmental. Whether working with small start-ups to global blue-chip clients, our creative ideas enable our clients to create positive change for their audiences and wider communities.
We’re courageous in the face of every challenge, driven by passion and proud of the visionary organisations we’ve worked with over the last 25 years. Whatever the brief or budget, we always explore ideas that push boundaries and take risks that capture the audience’s attention in memorable ways.
Celebrating 25 years
June 2023 was an incredibly important month for C21 as it saw us celebrate our 25th anniversary as an agency. When the company was founded in 1998, Christina Clarke, alongside original members Emma Bewley and Neil Parsons, didn’t know what to expect. However, she and her colleagues knew they had the right level of knowledge, passion, dedication and experience to make C21 something special. To read more about our story and how we celebrated this landmark day, click here.
Our purpose
A legacy for all
We are employee-owned.
100% of the shares in the business have been placed into a Trust with C21 staff beneficiaries of the Trust. The Employee Ownership Trust model safeguards the successful culture of C21, rewards staff members, and provides a secure framework for long-term growth.
Awards
- Best Digital Campaign 2021
- Best Integrated Campaign 2021
- Best Integrated Agency 2021
- Best Small Agency 2021
- Top 50 Integrated Agencies of 2022
Happiness matters
We work hard to make people happy.
Whether that’s clients, staff, or supplier partners, we believe respect, trust and shared values go a long way. They’re the key building blocks for great relationships. We believe that’s why we have such long-standing clients and members of staff.
We deliver happiness by:
- Making a difference
- Committing fully
- Staying true
- Being driven by passion
- Always being grateful
Continuous improvement
As an Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) member, we are committed to continuous professional development and training for our staff. In 2021 staff logged 1,000 hours of dedicated professional advancement.
When you work with a member agency, you’re working with an agency endorsed for its professionalism and best practice, whilst also enjoying the support and access to leading-edge knowledge of the industry body.
Crown Commercial Services
C21 are an approved supplier on the Crown Commercial Services Marketplace Framework. Being part of this Framework allows central government and public sector organisations access to our wealth experience in this field, and across our project management, strategic and creative teams.
Prompt Payment Code
The Prompt Payment Code (PPC) sets standards for payment practices and best practice and is administered by the Small Business Commissioner on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Being part of the PPC means, as a business, we operate with the following criteria:
- Pay suppliers on time
- Give clear guidance to suppliers
- Encourage good practice
- Pay 95% of all invoices within 60 days
- Pay 95% of all invoices within 30 days where the supplier is a small business with fewer than 50 employees
- Avoid any practices that have an adverse effect on the supply chain
The team
Community focused
We support local, national and global causes.
The most impact often occurs when we empower each other. We support causes we’re passionate about. Over the years we have helped to fund educational opportunities for young girls in Africa, supported grassroots football and remained committed to helping to provide healthcare for the most vulnerable children in the North West.
Careers at C21
Looking for change?
If you’re a designer, strategist, developer, content writer, animator, project manager or all-round problem solver, why not send us your CV. We’re a fast-growing team of change creators. As well as working across meaningful causes with a close-knit team of amazing people you can expect:
- Non-gendered remuneration
- WFH Mondays and Fridays
- Enhanced Pension after qualifying period
- Death in service benefit
- Birthday day off
- Work from anywhere August
- Volunteering day
- Personal development plans
- Annual training
- IPA membership
- Quarterly collaboration sessions
- EOT profit bonus after qualifying period
- Performance incentives and bonuses
Want to throw out the rule book and tackle challenges that require strategic, creative, or digital solutions? Fancy enlightening and emboldening generations to come by influencing behaviour and creating change for good? Email your CV and portfolio to change@c-21.co.uk and tell us about what change you’d like to create in the world.
Current vacancies
We don’t have any vacancies at present.
Internships
We offer work experience to students studying degrees and new graduates in graphic design, strategic, digital and communications marketing, social media and content writing, animation, and digital development. Please send a short portfolio as a pdf or link along with your CV to change@c-21.co.uk. We’re sorry but we don’t currently offer work placements to students of school age.
The C21 Spotted creative award
Supporting the next generation of young designers to find the cream of the creative crop. We actively scour the final degree show work in the Greater Manchester area and beyond to find a worthy winner. Click here to find out more.