13 years of Truth Creative

Jo Scott was bowled over by the reaction to a recent LinkedIn post detailing the surprising start to the story of Truth Creative, the integrated branding, digital, motion and PR agency she runs with husband Darren.

It detailed how she’d returned from a “girls weekend away” in Madrid 13 years ago to be told by Darren that he was quitting his job at one of Manchester’s biggest most established agencies – where they both worked at the time and first met – to go it alone.

The LinkedIn memory ‘went viral’, with messages of goodwill from members of the creative community and clients alike toasting the success of a husband and wife team who’ve been able to prove that it’s possible to achieve your dream in Manchester’s burgeoning independent creative sector.

With an office a stone’s throw from Manchester town hall, Truth Creative recently achieved turnover of £1.7m – £1m of that within its Truth Design arm – and has produced work on behalf of clients who would be the envy of any consultancy.

They include UA92, the new university academy founded by Manchester United’s legendary Class of ‘92, Travel Counsellors, Shaws of Darwen, and Tom & Dick’s, a newly imagined ‘heritage’ brand trading on Manchester’s rich tradition as a centre of textile production. 

Another recent client gain is the Parklane Group. The Leeds-based property company has so far briefed Truth to support the introduction of a loyalty scheme for its Roomzzz aparthotels; create a new gym brand; and maximise occupancy at its IconInc, Parklane Properties and Rentinc student accommodation businesses.

Further work in the education space includes projects for the University of Salford Business School, Newcastle University’s London campus and Manchester High School For Girls.

Jo is managing partner at Truth, while Darren is creative director. The full Truth team numbers 20 people and includes an associated digital business, Truth Digital, and a PR agency, Truth PR.

The businesses run independently and yet collaboratively where appropriate, operating from the same offices in Kennedy Street. 

“I couldn’t believe the reaction on LinkedIn,” Jo says. “But the post came from the heart. Thirteen years ago, I’d returned from this trip away and Darren said he wanted us to establish our own agency. We both worked at McCann Erickson at the time, which is where we met. We had great jobs in a respected and established agency, part of a global network, but we wanted more.

“We’ve worked incredibly hard to make Truth Creative what it is today and we’re proud to have been able to prove that it is possible to pursue your dream and make a success of it. There are considerable challenges when working for yourself but also benefits in being able to commit more time and creative energy to projects and clients that you feel most passionate about. We’re lucky to work with many amazing brands and businesses, many based here in Manchester, but also further afield.”

With 13 years of client work to talk about, it’s impossible for the couple, who have two children, both boys, to pick favourite projects.

However, there are a number of truly iconic projects within the Truth Creative portfolio that will be very familiar to people in Greater Manchester and beyond.

Among them is the brand concept and creative work which brought to life Alberts Schloss, “Manchester’s first Bohemian bier palace, cook haus and bakery”.

Truth’s first client was The Authentic Food Company, while it has also worked with PZ Cussons, Stockport brewer and pub company, Robinson’s, and Rosewood Pet Products, which has been a client for more than eight years.

More recently, UA92 has been a massive success story, with Truth Creative in at the beginning of the vision when they were asked to create a brand identity the game-changing model of Higher Education inspired by Gary Neville and the Class of 92.

Demonstrating their versatility as a branding and design consultancy, Truth’s work for UA92 includes interior design of the academy, advertising, exhibitions, print and digital.

Darren Scott says the thing that defines Truth Creative’s approach to client work is a commitment to delivering outstanding brand experiences.

“Whoever we’re working for, our approach is to always produce work that stimulates engaging dialogue with the people a brand wants to reach, resulting in strategic interactions. We pride ourselves on producing creative content that grows our client’s brands and also delivers a great Return On Investment for them.

“We’ve come a long way in 13 years and it was definitely the right decision to work for ourselves and build towards the great team we have today.”