(Image: Supplied)
A specialist communications agency providing marketing support to some of Europe’s leading healthcare and pharmaceutical brands has opened a new head office in Sunderland.
IGNIFI, which was founded in Washington in 1982, has moved its 25-strong team of marketeers, content writers, and creatives to a new 1,650 sq ft office at Sunderland Software Centre.
The move will provide the company – which previously operated from a three-storey converted town house in West Sunniside – with the space required to continue growing its team.
Bringing all of its teams together on one floor, company chiefs are also confident it will help foster a more collaborative environment while improving the onboarding process for new recruits joining the business.
John Horn, Managing Director of IGNIFI, at Sunderland Software Centre
(Image: Supplied)
John Horn, managing director of IGNIFI, said: "We are thrilled to have joined the Sunderland Software Centre community, which is home to dozens of innovative tech and creative businesses.
"We have established a fantastic team in the North East whose incredible work over the years has seen us become a trusted partner for brands across the continent and hopefully this new office will help further build on that.
"Our Sunniside office has served us well over the past ten years, however, by bringing our teams together on one floor and providing us with the space required to grow, it will enable us to work more collaboratively as a business and ensure that those who join in the future receive the best possible welcome.
"It’s a great move for the company and a real show of faith in the business from our owners."
The council recently appointed the North East Business & Innovation Centre (BIC) as managing agent for its business centres, including the Software Centre.
IGNIFI explored numerous office developments across the region prior to the move, however, after engaging with the business investment team at Sunderland City Council and receiving a tour of the centre, John immediately knew it was "the perfect place for them."
"Being part of a community of fellow creative, tech, and healthcare businesses was a real draw for us as it provides our team with those invaluable touchpoints that spur conversations that would perhaps never happen when working in isolation," said John.
"The centre is also in a fantastic location with easy access to parking and public transport routes, which was the key motivator in our decision as we have staff from North Tyneside down to Teesside, so it just ticked all of the boxes."
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Councillor James Jackson, cabinet member for business, housing, and regeneration, said: "IGNIFI is a fantastic success story for the city, having created scores of high-quality jobs for local people, while flying the flag for the city’s creative industry across Europe and beyond.
"The company could have moved anywhere, however, the fact that it has continued to invest in Sunderland is testament to the wide range of fantastic office space and business support available to businesses at every stage of their journey.
"We are proud to have been able to support the company’s move to Sunderland Software Centre and are delighted that it is the latest in a string of growing creative and tech businesses to have chosen to do business here."