One of the UK’s biggest independent marketing services businesses has further strengthened its portfolio after adding highly respected events agency WRP Ltd to its group.

 

Birmingham-based WAA Group, which already operates strategic agency WAA Chosen, sector specialists Stir (food and drink), Open Road (automotive), Hi-Vis (building and construction) and direct marketing team Send, will now strengthen its offer further with heavyweight event management expertise.

 

The move follows WAA Group’s rapid and continued expansion into international markets, and will capitalise on WRP’s vast wealth of experience in developing worldwide programmes for blue chip brands, from press and product launches to retailer conferences, exhibitions, incentives and training events for business and consumer audiences.

 

WRP was founded in 1993 by David Westbrooke, and will now move to WAA Chosen’s newly built Collaboration Centre in Sutton Coldfield in order to power up its work for existing clients as well as providing additional expertise to the specialist hubs.

 

With Sunday Times Top 100 status, the hubs’ mission of getting clients’ brands chosen more often is yielding outstanding results for the likes of Diageo, Britvic, VW Group, Micheldever, Saint Gobain and Tarmac – and the WRP addition will now allow clients the same peace of mind for their events’ needs.

 

WAA Group chief executive Andy Wilson said: “Our success has come from being truly passionate about specific sectors and subjects and having genuine insight, experience and opinions which give our clients the best chance of success.

 

“That expertise is not just recognised in the UK, but across the globe with clients like Diageo and Britvic asking for support across Europe and as far afield as China.

 

“Although COVID19 has hit the events industry hard in terms of physical event attendance, many of our clients are asking for advice and support to ensure that the undoubted sales impact of events is not lost to them, and having WRP in the group will ensure that our service is industry-leading in that area as well.”

 

WRP also believes that the skill set within the WAA Chosen team will further cement their position as sector pioneers, and founder David Westbrooke is excited by the possibilities.

 

He said: “We are delighted to join forces with WAA Chosen, whom we have worked closely with for many years now. The combined strength of the two companies, especially with WAA Chosen’s digital team, adds a whole new dimension to the WRP offering, and the investment will now enable us to grow and flourish into 2021 and beyond”.