WE MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN
IF YOU WANT A KICK-A$$ BRAND & CAMPAIGN AGENCY, YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
Our purpose is to make a positive impact on the world through the power of brand and creative storytelling. We consider ourselves pretty exceptional (even if our parents have no idea what we do!) - obviously, we would. We’re biased. However…
Let’s face it - everyone says the same thing. We disrupt the status quo. We’re evolutionary. We’re revolutionary. We’re contortionists of creativity. Yada yada yada. You’ve seen it all before - and we’ve scoured the websites for just about every brand and campaign agency on this planet (of which there are thousands - you can thank us later!) to save you the job of having to do the same… and to establish just how much everyone says exactly the same thing.
The answer is - it’s hard to distinguish between agencies, apart from some really nice pictures and animations on some websites. There are some crap ones (like, SUPER DUPER crap… IYKYK), some pretty average ones (the kind we all know won’t be around in a year or two), some really good ones, and some exceptional ones. We are striving to be the latter.
It’s not just because we like the sound of hearing ourselves say that. It’s because we care deeply about our client’s successes. We’re very choosy about who we work with, and always ensure we are a compatible match (think ‘First Dates’ but for brands). We strive to ensure we’re always learning, always expanding our mindset, always bringing on board the most brilliant minds and most innovative ways of thinking - and we grow as a result.
Why use an agency FOR CAMPAIGNS?
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You might be fantastic at what you do — whether that’s designing the next must-have gadget or running a business that’s the talk of the town — but here’s the thing: campaign creation isn’t your 24/7. For us? It’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We’re so immersed in brand strategy and creative campaigns that we could probably do it in our sleep (in fact, our best ideas usually land on us at 4am when the baby is screaming and we want our beds). While you’re busy building your empire, we’re crafting killer campaigns that actually make people care.
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You’ve got a team, and they’re great. But they’re not us. We’re not saying that to be cocky (okay, maybe a little), but because it’s true. Our team is packed with creative geniuses who eat design trends for breakfast and wash them down with a tall glass of innovation. We’ve got writers who could sell ice to Eskimos and designers who make even the dullest brands look like a million bucks. We’re like the Avengers of branding — except our superpowers are way cooler (and involve fewer spandex suits).
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When you’re knee-deep in your own brand, it’s hard to see the wood for the trees (or the sales from the marketing BS). We bring fresh eyes, fresh ideas, and a healthy dose of reality to the table. We’re not afraid to tell you what’s working and what’s not — because, let’s face it, sugar-coating is for donuts, not successful campaigns. Plus, we’re outside your echo chamber, meaning we’re not swayed by your own hype (we’ve got our own, thanks very much).
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Let’s cut to the chase — at the end of the day, it’s all about results. We don’t hide behind jargon or baffle you with buzzwords. We’re here to get sh*t done. That means measurable outcomes, killer ROI, and campaigns that actually convert. We’re so committed to delivering the goods that we’ll stake our reputation on it — because we know that when you win, we win. It’s a beautiful, symbiotic relationship, really.
OUR FOCUS AREAS
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MENTAL HEALTH
At Aphra, mental health is a top priority. It should be for everyone—it's the health of our brain, for goodness sake - the essential cog within our body that keeps things working. Yet, for some reason, there's still a stigma around discussing and caring for it. Break a leg, and everyone understands, but mental health often gets overlooked.
We’re committed to changing that. Whether your goal is personal growth or building stronger communities, we want to work with you to promote healthier, more resilient, and empathetic lives globally.
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SOCIAL EQUITY
It’s not rocket science - although maybe if it was, more would’ve invested into it (!) — but we believe everyone deserves equal treatment. That means equal pay, healthcare, rights, and opportunities for all, regardless of gender or identity. It shouldn’t require campaigning, especially in this century.
Yet here we are. Committed to building a just society, we recognise that systemic inequalities persist, disproportionately affecting marginalised communities. We aim to amplify underrepresented voices, advocate for policy changes, and bridge gaps in opportunity and resources.
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Aphra (the agency, not the Renaissance author) was founded by a determined entrepreneur with vision, passion, and relentless drive. Some might call her a ‘hustler’. Our journey as an agency has inspired us to help others embark on theirs.
Entrepreneurship fuels innovation, economic growth, and job creation. By supporting entrepreneurs, especially those from underserved communities, we aim to build brands, remove barriers, and run impactful campaigns. Our goal is to dismantle barriers, provide essential resources and mentorship, and foster creativity and resilience.
Got ADHD? Easily distracted?
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But don’t forget why you’re scrolling…
You’re here to learn about us. We’ve done the tiresome job for you of reading more agency websites than we care to remember, and we know they all sound pretty similar. We’re amazing, we’re creative, we’re disruptive, we’re different - yada yada yada. Of course we think that too, otherwise why would we have existed since 2015?
Plus, why else would seriously cool names like McKinsey & Company, ACCA, Direct Line Group, Schneider Electric, and Colchester City Council have chosen to work with us over everyone else?
However, the reason we accidentally became an agency at the kitchen table of our founder, Grace Carter, all those years ago when she was just 26-years-old (and evidently very naive about what building a business would entail…) was because she believed she could do something different to all those other agencies that were already out there.
Grace was fed up of seeing clients getting palmed off with poor advice, costly solutions, mediocre results, and - more often than not - enough B-S to build a trifle. It doesn’t have to be expensive, laboursome, or stressful to build a brand and take it to market in order to generate enough revenue for those investing in it to head off on holiday to the Maldives or Mauritius.
Seeing what was happening, Grace often wondered how those agency owners slept at night knowing they were the new digital highway men (and women too, let’s not discriminate - although, did you know, random fact, that only 1% of creative agencies are owned by women)!
And with that, Aphra was born (the actual namesake for the brand was born back in 1640 - “Alexa, who was Aphra Behn?”). There’s a few other businesses who have been, inspired (shall we say?), by the Aphra name - but none have built the reputation or experience we now have.
ABOUT APHRA
We believe in the power of purpose-led storytelling. Our namesake, Aphra Behn (1640–1689), was a trailblazing English writer, poet, and playwright, celebrated as one of the first English women to make a living from writing. Defying societal norms in the 17th century, Behn wrote daring plays, poetry, and novels that explored themes of gender, power, and colonialism, with works like "The Rover" and "Oroonoko" becoming influential in literary history.
Despite facing criticism for her boldness and controversial subjects, Behn's refusal to conform to the restrictive norms of her time made her a feminist icon. As Virginia Woolf famously noted, "All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the grave of Aphra Behn… for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds." Behn's spirit of defiance and creativity continues to inspire those who challenge boundaries and champion free expression.
SHOW, NOT TELL
SHOW, NOT TELL
Alright, let’s talk straight — because we’re all about cutting the fluff and getting to the good stuff. You know the old saying, “The proof is in the pudding”? Well, in our case, it’s not just in the pudding; it’s in every brand we’ve whipped up under our parent company, The Metamorphose Group.
We don’t just talk a big game — we live it, breathe it, and prove it every day with brands that are out there crushing it in the real world. We have a tried-and-tested process, that we’ve used on our own brands over and over again, and by working with us - you too can gain access to this, and save yourself some serious headache!
So, if you’re wondering why we’re the real deal, let us break it down for you.
Awards & Recognitions
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The Metamorphose Group has been selected for the 'Culture 100' Award - Growth Edition. This award recognises the most loved and happiest B2B companies to work for in the UK. Honourees include industry giants like Rapyd, GWI, and ThoughtMachine, as well as innovative early-stage companies such as Pipe, Beem, and Spring. The Culture 100 Award is a 12-month certification celebrating companies passionate about fostering thriving workplaces.
Backed by world-renowned talent leaders and supported by deep research alongside Nielsen, Culture 100 is more than just an award. It represents a significant movement aimed at turbo-charging the adoption of thriving workplaces across the UK.
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The Metamorphose Group has been shortlisted for the Established Business of the Year category in the East of England at the 2024 Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Making the shortlist is an incredible achievement, considering the combined turnover of £2.9 billion and approximately 20,000 employees among the finalists.
This nomination highlights The Metamorphose Group's significant contribution to the UK economy and positions them among illustrious previous winners such as BrewDog, MyEnergi, Zilch, Grenade, and ClearScore. The winners will be announced in November.
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Grace Carter and The Metamorphose Group have been shortlisted for the ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ award at The Growing Business Awards. The winner will be announced on 26 November 2024.
https://growingbusinessawards.co.uk/growingbusinessawards2024/en/page/home
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Grace Carter, has been shortlisted as a finalist in the 2024 Best Businesswomen Awards for 'Best Business'. This nomination is a testament to her exceptional leadership and outstanding business acumen. Grace previously secured a Silver Award in 2022 and now stands a chance to clinch Gold at this year’s ceremony.
The Best Businesswomen Awards Gala will be held on October 11th 2024.
Want to join us on our journey?
