MHP Communications has been re-appointed as the British Business Bank’s supplier for media, PR services and social media services, in an expanded brief that includes the Bank’s subsidiary, The Start Up Loans Company (SULCo). The re-appointment follows a competitive tender and pitch process.

MHP Communications will support SULCo’s and the Bank’s communications, and the work it does to make finance markets work better for smaller businesses up and down the country.

The British Business Bank is a government-owned economic development bank and was established in 2014. In the Autumn Budget 2017, the Chancellor committed £2.5 bn of additional funding for the Bank, to accelerate its leading role in programmes to increase patient capital in the UK.

SULCo, meanwhile, focuses on finance for microbusinesses by providing government-backed personal loans for business purposes. It has supplied more than £400m to innovative start ups since its inception in September 2012. The organisation was merged with the British Business Bank last year.

MHP was first appointed as the British Business Bank’s corporate communications agency in November 2016. The Bank expanded its relationship with the Engine Group earlier this year when customer engagement agency Partners Andrews Aldridge, supported by Engine’s central strategy team, were chosen to develop the Bank’s digital Information Hub. This will launch later this year, supported by a paid-media campaign by media agency, Carat.

Keith Gladdis, a director at MHP Communications, said, “We are proud of support that MHP has provided for the British Business Bank over the past 18 months. The addition of The Start Up Loans Company will allow us to build on the success of both organisations in what is proving to be an important year for smaller business finance in the UK. We are delighted to be bringing our expertise to help UK SMEs to grow and prosper.” 

Mary Whenman, director, communications and marketing at the British Business Bank said, “MHP demonstrated that they have an in-depth understanding of the Bank’s objectives and its role in supporting the delivery of the government’s Industrial Strategy and Patient Capital Review, combined with a strong understanding of the needs of smaller businesses. We are sure they will bring creativity and insight to support our teams’ work in what promises to be an exciting year for the Bank and The Start Up Loans Company.”