Growth Hub powers a decade of wins for digital marketing agency

Background
Launched in 2011 by Cheryl Luzet, Wagada Digital is an award-winning digital marketing agency providing a full range of services including strategy, web design, branding, social media advertising, and search engine optimisation. Today, the company employs 25 people across offices in St Albans, Cheltenham and London.

The Challenge
Wagada has helped companies ranging from icecream makers and drinks brands, to tech firms and
hotel chains, grow their businesses through digital marketing. However in 2015, it was Wagada that was looking to grow.

At that time, Cheryl was new to running a business and trying to get to grips with laying the foundations for growth, particularly around recruitment and retention.

Unable to spend thousands on expensive consultancy, she turned to free advice and support from Hertfordshire Growth Hub. It was the start of a fruitful 10-year relationship that is still going strong today.

The Solution
Cheryl met with one of the Growth Hub’s expert Growth Account Managers who carried out a comprehensive review of her business, sense checked her business plan, identified priority areas, and provided match-funding to implement growth focused projects. One such funded project involved Cheryl working with a business development company to create a more structured sales plan and develop a proactive sales pipeline.

Over the years, Wagada has returned to the Growth Hub time and again for support. Discussions around how to grow the business further led to an office being opened in London to raise its profile amongst clients and potential new employees.

Cheryl was also put in touch with an expert at the Department for Business and Trade, who was able to provide invaluable advice for potentially working with a major new US client.

Wagada has also benefitted from Hertfordshire Growth Hub’s regular business support workshops, not only by gathering fresh insights but networking with other companies looking to grow - an ideal arena for a digital marketing agency to promote its service. The Wagada team has also partnered with the Growth Hub to deliver workshops, including at its annual All The Help You Can Get business support show.

Most recently, Wagada joined the Create Growth programme, which supports companies looking to become part of the supply chain for the county’s booming film and TV sector.

The Impact
For a decade, Wagada has benefitted from advice, support, workshops, signposting and grant funding from Hertfordshire Growth Hub.

In the early days, the company was able to build a strong foundation for growth and attract new employees. Since then, business development support has transformed Wagada’s approach to winning new clients - shifting from a passive, reactive model to a proactive strategy focused on targeting higher-value businesses.

This strategic shift has paid off significantly. Over the years, Wagada has grown from a team of 6 to 25 people. During the same period, turnover has risen by 350%, reflecting the tangible impact of the Growth Hub’s support.

Opening an office in London has also proved transformative, putting the company on the radar of
key clients while aiding the recruitment and retention of staff who might otherwise have left to pursue opportunities in the capital.

Attending - and now delivering - Growth Hub workshops and events has enabled Wagada to gain new knowledge and share its own expertise. This has helped position the company as a thought leader in its field, winning it new business.

Operationally, Wagada has also seen strong improvements in efficiency, reducing the number of administrative staff and senior managers required to run the business, and streamlining operations while continuing to scale up.

Today, Wagada is going from strength to strength and the Growth Hub looks forward to championing, and aiding, its future success.

Client Quote

“We’ve been transformed as a business since starting our relationship with Hertfordshire Growth Hub, and over the years it’s been so useful to just dip in and out whenever we need help. The support you’ve provided has definitely contributed towards us growing and running the business in a more professional, structured way.

My advice is to speak to the Growth Hub as early as you can – you don’t have to wait until you have a problem. You don’t know what you don’t know, and they’ll give you access to a whole world of support, grants and other organisations that you probably don’t even realise exists.”
Cheryl Luzet, CEO, Wagada Digital