Getting to Know Kinase From the Inside
Every agency boasts about its company culture. Jess Maunder recently joined Kinase and has put down her first impressions of what it’s actually like to work in the team, and how it compares to other agencies.
Impressions can be formed within the first 100 milliseconds. That split-second judgement can make or break a relationship between brand and customer. But what about first impressions of a digital marketing agency? When brands are searching for a long-term partnership, what should they look for beyond the polished RFP and pitch process?
Having spent time in different agency environments, one of which has gone through three iterations of ownership, I cast myself in the role as critic of first impressions at Kinase.
Discovering Kinase
Throughout my early agency years of attending award ceremonies and being pulled into last-minute pitches, I never came across the name ‘Kinase’. That’s because, until this year, Kinase has largely flown under the radar. Progressing at a quietly confident pace, Kinase has relied solely on ‘word of mouth’ growth. Considering that this is the most valuable form of marketing, my first impressions were piqued, and I decided to investigate job opportunities further.
I soon learned that Kinase’s unwavering devotion to client performance meant that they organically grew from a single client agency to one of the top independent agencies in the UK within ten years without the need for a business development team. Impressive!
Interviewing with Kinase
When considering moving companies in the wake of a global pandemic, I was naturally apprehensive about job security. The way UK businesses reacted to the March 2020 lockdown, and how they weathered the storm over the subsequent year and a half, speaks volumes towards the value they place in their staff and customers.
During my interview, I was impressed to hear that Kinase had not only survived the pandemic, but had flourished. As many agencies rolled out redundancies, pay cuts and hiring freezes, the Kinase team grew by 80%. Not only that, but they achieved 100% client retention throughout the period, even pivoting the strategic direction for some of their clients to enable continued strong performance (read about the Nisbets success story here).
From Start to Four Months
I was lucky enough to have my first day in the Kinase offices, meeting my new colleagues face-to-face after almost two years of remote working. What struck me first and foremost was the enthusiasm with which this group of people talked about the work they did and the clients they represented. I was also met with a rigorous onboarding plan, offering training and support as I settled into my new role. I felt valued and empowered – two emotions that have not always been front of mind after previous first day experiences.
Four months on, and those emotions of value and empowerment have only strengthened. I’m particularly proud to work for an agency that isn’t entrenched in the default best practices of the industry. I’ve observed internal discussions around finding alternative approaches, questioning new features, or pushing the boundaries of the technologies available. All in the pursuit of finding the perfect solution for a client. Having been a part of ‘big agencies’ for so long, shackled to the agenda of tech giants like Google and Facebook, it’s refreshing to break free. Read all about the honest opinions of the Secret Digital Veteran, if you are intrigued about our non-conventional opinions!
Leadership at Kinase
The leadership team at Kinase are far from the remote, disconnected figures that agency leaders can become as their companies grow. This starts with co-founder Richard Brooks - while steering the business through its decade of transformation, he has clearly remained hands on, and if anyone has a problem, a question or an opinion they can go and chat directly with him. This also works to keep Richard firmly in touch with the real challenges of of the agency, enabling him to understand problems and lead on the development of new strategies to overcome them.
It’s very rare to find a Managing Director who can give an opinion on the nuances and details of digital marketing as Richard can. For example, Richard got into discussing the real values of Smart Bidding and its recent evolution in a recent pitch meeting, and the effect was electric. But that’s exactly the kind of thing that happens at Kinase where knowledge develops from every part of the business and is quickly developed and pooled through quick and open communication.
The Future at Kinase
I get the impression that Kinase will be one to watch over the coming years. With ambitious plans for growth, diversification in service offerings, and a phenomenal portfolio of clients, I am excited to be part of such a dynamic and passionate team. As Consultancy Director, I look forward to supporting you along your digital journey, getting the chance to leave you with a great first impression of our specialists, helping you make the most out of your marketing strategy, and developing a long-standing and impactful relationship.
If you would like to know more about Kinase and how we can support your business, please get in touch with us via this form, or reach out to me via LinkedIn.
About Jess Maunder
Jess is Consultancy Director at Kinase. Her expertise in training and development is founded on her experiences in the classroom as a qualified teacher and her theoretical basis in teaching from her Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). She has worked with Deliveroo, Tesco Mobile and Danone on industry-leading training programmes. In her spare time, Jess enjoys mountain biking and getting away from it all on the high seas.
