Company History

On June 22nd, 2010, the company was registered with Companies House. Back then we were called ’McTip IT’ and there was quite an interesting story as to how Dale and Chris met to star the business. A chance meeting during unfortunate circumstances at the height of the recession.

The DM Lab is a UKFAST (now ANS) Partner, offering premium hosting services. We are very pleased to announce that we have become UKFast (now ANS) Partners. As our existing clients will tell you our hosting is second to none. This has primarily been down the hardwork UKFast (now ANS) put in with our servers.

We were shortlisted for the Local Business Accelerator Award where we had an opportunity to progress to the National Finals and be mentored by Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden plus a cash injection of £10,000 among other perks. Unfortunately that was as far as we got but it was great to receive the recognition as one of only 10 businesses selected from Herefordshire.

What does it mean for you now we have been awarded Google Partner status? You can be sure that we have met Google’s standards for account management best practises. Google themselves ensure the certification is current. We will always be undertaking AdWords management to a high standard.

Time for change! By 2014, we realised that the marketing side of the business was turning out to be a more profitable area for us. As we saw a gap in the local market, we capitalised on this and focused solely on the digital marketing aspect. This change of direction resulted in an explosion in business. We became a Google Adwords certified company, learning new techniques in PPC and SEM. Utilising the latest tools by heavyweights in the industry such as Yoast and Moz.

This certification not only credits us for the organisational levels we are at but gives us the opportunity to improve them, refining and streamlining the service we offer, essentially giving you ‘more bang for your buck’! The certification we hope will attract larger companies to the services we offer.

Your website needed to be mobile friendly by April 21st 2016.

As our business grows then we strive to do what we can, where we can. Becoming a part of the Luctonians family is a pretty big step for us. We love rugby, play for Lucs and now sponsor a team that we have become really involved with over the past year.

Back in 2017, we won ’Growing Business of the Year’ at the Herefordshire Business Awards.

In 2017, we were first included as one of the Top 3 Marketing agencies in Hereford on Three Best Rated!

Much to our surprise, we were awarded the accolade of ‘Entrepreneur / Business of the Year’ at the Sunshine Pride Awards! Incredibly, we pipped both 2 brilliant local businesses: Merry-Go-Round Nursery and A Rule of Tum!

This status is a reflection of how we are continuing to work hard and grow our business. More clients and more print jobs has helped us achieve the Pink tier. You can see our design work on our Projects page and we keep an extensive portfolio of our work.

In 2018, we took a huge step with the development and growth of the business. Through The Development Manager (TDM) based in Worcester, we whittled down several promising digital marketing apprentice candidates to just two. The two we had to decide between were head and shoulders above the others - as good as they all were. Harvey Edwards was one of these two.

We were delighted to have been informed that our MD, Chris, was chosen as a winner in the Creative / Digital / Media category in the 2018 Spotlight Awards. This was for the countless hours he puts into running this business as well as his involvement in the community, especially with his club Belmont Wanderers FC. Doing all this while he juggles a busy family life and cares for his disabled father every day before work.

Press release by Love Energy Saving’s PR department - A Hereford design and digital marketing agency is challenging to win a major award after enjoying success by expanding its horizons. The DM Lab is one of 10 finalists in leading price comparison specialist Love Energy Savings’ annual Best of British Business Awards. Judges were impressed at how its team persevered to overcome both the recession and apathy among its initial target market.

Save the date - November 14th 2018! We, The DM Lab, a design and digital marketing agency specialises in online marketing, SEO, PPC, social media, web and graphic design, were selected as a trail-blazer in the official count-down to Small Business Saturday, which took place across the UK on 1 December 2018.

Being huge fans of XRP and Ripple, we decided to make a raw WordPress plugin for those that need to install the Coil payment system on their WordPress site.

As well as sponsoring the Herefordshire Business Awards 2018, we were also a finalist in the ’Creative Business of the Year’ category!

We retained our status as one of Hereford’s Three Best Rated Marketing agencies in 2018

Chris attended the UK House of Lords for afternoon tea with Lord Young of Graffham as part of the #SmallBiz100 2018. Also speaking was MP Greg Clark, Melinda from Square & Michelle, director of Small Business Saturday UK.

For our #SmallBiz100 day, we presented 2 talks on SEO for beginners and Micro Moments. This was for anyone who was interested. A crew from the University of Gloucester documented the day and the turnout was even better than we could have wanted. A brilliant day we’ll always remember!

We exhibited at the inaugral Marches Growth Hub #LoveDigital event at the Three Counties Hotel!

The DM Lab was 1 of 4 finalists in the ’Midlands Corporate Commitment to the Community’ category at the Midlands Business Awards at the Athena Leicester!

Chris was given an opportunity to become a member of the Board of Trustees at the stunning Canwood Gallery!

The DM Lab had been selected for inclusion in SME News’ SME 100 list. The SME 100 is a comprehensive round-up of the region’s leading SMEs from a wide range of sectors & industries & showcasing those businesses that have turned passion, innovation & drive into success. Their goal is to identify those who truly represent excellence across the UK & we emerged as a clear choice for inclusion!

We exhibited and Chris had the opportunity to be a speaker at the Herefordshire Means Business Expo. He spoke about Micro Moments and the Changing Landscape of Google.

We attended the Herefordshire Skills Show at Hereford Racecouse showcasing the company, what we do and the opportunities we had for those looking for a career in dthe digital world.

We retained our status as one of Hereford’s Three Best Rated Marketing agencies in 2019

We spent the summer preparing and personalising our new office in Penn House, Broad Street and in September we officially moved in.

The DM Lab was named as 1 of 8 finalists at the The Rural Business Awards in the ’Best Rural Digital, Communications or Media Business’ category! The ceremony was held at the University of Nottingham.

Chris was a finalist in the ’Most Influential Business Person of the Year’ after progressing to the finals through a public vote. The ceremony was held at Villa Park, home of Aston Villa FC.

Finalists in 2 categories! Chris was a finalist in the category ’Business Person of the Year’ and Harvey was a finalist in ’Apprentice of the Year’. The ceremony was held in the Sir Bobby Moore suite at Wembley Stadium.

We were officially announced as Westfields FC’s Digital Partner at the end of January. Originally scheduled to be announced at the turn of the year, the weather however had other odeas! We’ll be assisting the club as a whole with their digital presence and helping to promote the club however we can.

Most Outstanding Digital Marketing Agency, 2020 - Herefordshire Following on from the success of the 2019 program, SME News are looking to celebrate those enterprises who consistently provide the best services and products for their clients, allowing them to stand out within their representative fields. The Business Elite Awards 2020 are handpicked by SME News Magazine and are based purely on comprehensive analysis and research undertaken by the wider group. It provides us the chance to promote talent on a truly UK-wide platform. This proven approach ensures that they award on merit, not popularity and recognise the very best in business. They award those that are succeeding in their endeavours, innovating, growing and improving.

We were invited to present a short talk at Kinder Pocock’s inaugral Supercharge Your Cashflow event. We explained how to maximise your marketing budget to aid with cashflow within a small business. The full video of the talk is posted on our YouTube page

We were extremely pleased to learn that Harvey had passed his Digital Marketer Level 3 apprenticeship course & achieved a distinction - the highest grade possible! Harvey worked incredibly hard to maximise the opportunity we gave him. We hope that this will be a great advert for potential future apprentices looking for a serious future in our world with our company!

Using our digital marketing expertise, we co-founded Local e Sourced at the start of the pandemic. We did this to help the local independent suppliers continue trading while creating an online marketplace that celebrates all things Herefordshire.

Despite the somewhat turbulent times, we were delighted to have been named a finalist in the Digital Star category at The Small Awards This award recognises small businesses that operate only through digital channels. The business will not have a storefront, but use the internet to market, sell, and promote their product or service. The award will celebrate strong use of digital channels to engage customers, innovation in web design and functionality, and growth in audience over time. The business will demonstrate strong understanding of digital engagement and show how they have used this understanding to deliver for their customers.

Working with the awesome guys at Minerva, we are prepared for further business successes and growth. We designed this amazing little workstation for potential new staff which Minerva fabricated and fitted for us. We now have additional space to accommodate apprentices and those looking for work experience.

We’re pleased to announce our latest partnership with the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering. We will be supporting NMITE on their Digital #CPD offering. We look forward to developing on this exciting new partnership! #BeTheChange

Throughout the recent developments & partnership with NMITE, we have been given a further opportunity to help our country’s veterans. We are demonstrating our support for the Armed Forces Community & have formally signed the Armed Forces Covenant!

Originally due to start with us back in March, we had to postpone this due to COVID-19. However Joe officially started with us a couple of months later. After helping Harvey achieve a distinction on the same digital marketing apprenticeship, Harvey himself will be mentoring Joe initially, and throughout the apprenticeship we’ll be identifying and working with Joe ourselves to develop areas he is either excelling at or has a greater interest in.

It is our statement of intent to support defence personnel following our signing of the Armed Forces Covenant. The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) recognises commitment and support from UK employers for defence personnel. The scheme comprises bronze, silver and gold awards. This is for employers who support those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families.

The London Marathon - it was virtually the same! On the 4th October we took part in the postponed London Marathon from April 26th on behalf of the National Autistic Society. We raised a substantial amount for the charity and we have secured a place in the actual event however this isn’t until 2022.

The recent months have brought about significant challenges to businesses across the globe, therefore it brings us great pleasure to let you know that The DM Lab has been awarded: Most Innovative Digital Media Marketing Agency - West Midlands! Not a bad way to end a tough year with!

We’re pleased to end the year on a high by maintaining our Top 3 Marketing Agencies status by Three Best Rated threebestrated.co.uk/marketing-agencies-in-hereford Three Best Rated was created with a simple goal to find Top 3 local businesses, professionals, restaurants, health care providers, etc, in key cities. They display only businesses that are verified by their team since customers deserve only the best.

After taking part in the Virtual London Marathon last year after the cancellation of the actual event, we were recently made aware that by taking part in the event, we were part of a Guinness World Record! More than 37,000 people, from all corners of the world, completed the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 4 October 2020. The final finisher total of 37,966 means the event has been awarded an official Guinness World Records title for the ‘Most users to run a remote marathon in 24 hours’ - of which Chris & Dale were 2 of!

We are delighted to announce that we have been selected as winners at the Central England Prestige Awards 2020/21! We have won the accolade of ’Website Designers of the Year’ which is a great recognition of the quality of our work in website development. During the awards process, over 100,000 businesses and corporate professionals, magazine contributors and subscribers were invited to nominate companies & individuals based on factors such as service, innovation, experience, sustainability and other areas. Additionally, their research team has put forward a selection of firms which they felt were deserving of recognition The DM Lab being one of them!

Lawyer International’s - Legal 100 - 2021 - Awards provide the Global readership with a definitive guide to those firms, and individuals, that truly are the most able, within all areas, across all geographical locations that the monthly magazine reaches. We were awarded ’Best Multi-Award Winning Design & Digital Marketing Company of the Year - UK’

To celebrate our 11th birthday as best as we could we wanted to do something of significance. We had to postpone our decade in business in 2020, & we’ve been limited as to what we can do in 2021. So what we chose to do was join Ecologi. To celebrate our birthday we would love for you to gift us a tree to our forest which you can name as a lasting memento here. As a member of Ecologi we, as a business, will be working toward removing CO2e from the atmosphere, growing our own forest, seeing our impact brought to life, keeping track of progress on our profile & learning about & setting further low carbon goals.

We are 1 of 3 Midlands Regional Finalists for the ’Best Rural Small Business’ Category. Small and micro businesses make up 99% of all businesses in the UK. They have a significant role to play in our rural communities and economy, and this award is dedicated to celebrating the achievement of small businesses and those who work for them. The criteria for the award is as follows: the winning business will demonstrate a strong USP and will have laid the groundwork for sustainable long term growth. They will either have embraced a rural theme or overcome challenges as a result of their rural location. They will be small but mighty, punching above their weight as a small or micro business. The Midlands Region Online Presentation is on Friday 8th October 2021 - we’ll have to wait until then to see if we’ve done enough!

The UK Micro Business Awards is the leading celebration of the UK’s small businesses. Appreciate the nation’s best sole traders, micro businesses & small companies as well as the services providers & advisers that support them. We are 1 of 3 finalists in the ‘Giving Back - Business With Purpose’ category. Despite the enormous number of Micro Businesses, this vital sector does not get the recognition it deserves. Our mission is to honour & recognise the UK’s micro entities as well as those champions and advocates that support them. The finals will take place in November 2021 as a Virtual Event. We look forward to seeing you there!

TDM’s Apprentice of the Month Award for July was awarded to ​Joe! Joe, who is currently on his Digital Marketer Level 3 Apprenticeship, was nominated by Creative Director for The DM Lab, Dale, who wanted to praise Joe for his brilliant ability, dedication and commitment to his role and Apprenticeship.

We are 1 of 6 Midlands region finalists at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the ’Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year’ category. Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year is defined on the Great British Entrepreneur Awards website as: firms that hone talent that spurs new technologies, industries and jobs.In today’s climate, where user-experience and fast-flowing trends are key mobilisers, small businesses are all the more powerful for their youthful energy and agile stature.Leading a small business is a notoriously difficult, often thankless task that involves wearing many hats at once on the journey to securing a thriving operation.

17 Years of Research Since 2002 TopSEOs have helped businesses make the right decision with their rankings. Their rankings help you hire only the best digital marketing companies, ignoring the rest. Rigorous Evaluation Strategy TopSEOs research team dives deep to understand how companies stack up to one another. Get the inside scoop on which web marketing companies to hire for the best results. Independent and Transparent TopSEOs analysts and experts work diligently to identify the best online marketing companies. They are open and honest about their processes and the results of their research.

We’re delighted to have been named a finalist in 3 categories! Harv is a finalist in the ‘Rising Star of the Year’ category, Joe is a finalist in the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ category & The DM Lab is a finalist in the ‘Employer of the Year’ SME category & from this category a winner for the overall ‘Recruitment Excellence Award’ will be selected!

We were really grateful to Ange for giving us an opportunity to take part in the Virtual London Marathon 2021 for the ELY Memorial Fund. The virtual marathon was completed in under 5 hours & we even managed a new PB! We managed to raise £200 for this amazing local charity that helps with funeral costs for parents who have lost a child in a car accident..

We are delighted to announce that we have been selected as winners at the Central England Prestige Awards 2021/22! We have won the accolade of ‘Digital Marketing Agency of the Year - Herefordshire’ which is a great recognition of the quality of our work in digital marketing. During the awards process, over 100,000 businesses and corporate professionals, magazine contributors and subscribers were invited to nominate companies & individuals based on factors such as service, innovation, experience, sustainability and other areas. Additionally, their research team has put forward a selection of firms which they felt were deserving of recognition The DM Lab being one of them!

Chris is proud to have won the ‘Man of the Year’ award at the Women’s Business Awards. Chris says, “It has been another tough year for all small business owners. You either sink or you swim. Furthermore, earlier this year, The DM Lab celebrated its 11th birthday. That alone gives me reason to not give up despite everything that has been thrown at us the past 18 months or so. I try to remain as positive as I can. I’m pleased to have been able to support and inspire those around me - enough for me to have been nominated for this award in the first place. However, to have stood out enough and catch the judges’ eyes and be awarded ‘Man of the Year’ over two other inspirational leading males in Matthew Ford and Richard Moore is simply amazing. Finally, well done to Matthew and Richard, and many thanks to the judges for awarding me this fantastic accolade. Above all, thank you to the Women’s Business Awards - a special end to a turbulent year - thank you!”

We were named as finalists in the ‘Best Digital Biz’ category at the BizBubble 2022 Awards! Special guest Judge Natasha Francis (The Urban Vintage Affair & BBC’s The Bidding Room) announced the winners for each category on the 25th February. We didn’t win but as always we’re pleased to have caught the judges’ eyes enough to have made the finals!

On Sunday, 19th June 2022, we tweeted Theo about our business during ‘Small Business Sunday’ and was one of six weekly winners to gain a retweet by Theo to his near half a million Twitter followers. The weekly initiative, set up by Theo in 2010, now has over 3,000 #SBS winners and supports small businesses in the UK. Business and retail entrepreneur and self-confessed Shopkeeper, Theo, re‐tweeted The DM Lab’s message to his almost 500,000 followers!

It’s always humbling to be recognised without persuasion - and the title of ’Most Innovative Digital Marketing Agency - Herefordshire’ is one we’ll take! Shortlisted businesses are subjected to SME News’s internal vetting procedure. Their extensive research and judging process is driven by merit and centred around an in-depth evaluation of skills and services on offer. Awardees must demonstrate expertise within their field, dedication to customer service and a commitment to promoting excellence.

We are delighted to be named as a finalist at The Drum Agency Business Awards! We are in the ’Entrepreneur of the Year’ category and we will find out if we have done enough to catch the judges’ eyes on Wednesday September 28th. We are looking forward to it! Incredible to think we’ve made it to these prestigious global awards!

We are delighted to be named as a finalist at the Herefordshire Business Awards! We are in the ‘Business Leader of the Year’ category.

Finally, after receiving the news in 2019 that we would take part in the London Marathon in 2020 - on Sunday 2nd October 2022 - we did it! What an experience! We ran on behalf of the National Autistic Society and in doing so raised almost £1500. Very privileged to have been given the opportunity to take part. Thank you!

We are delighted to announce that we have been selected as winners at the Central England Prestige Awards 2022/23! We have been awarded the title of ‘SEO Agency of the Year’ which is a great recognition of the quality of our work in search engine optimisation. During the awards process, over 100,000 businesses and corporate professionals, magazine contributors and subscribers were invited to nominate companies & individuals based on factors such as service, innovation, experience, sustainability and other areas. Additionally, their research team has put forward a selection of firms which they felt were deserving of recognition The DM Lab being one of them!

Chris has been shortlisted for ’Most Inspiring Senior Leader of the Year’ at the Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards! The awards recognise the people and organisations who are helping to make a true difference to the lives of our nation’s working population. As a figurehead of the company and the strategy, Chris inspires and motivates his team to adopt a more focused importance on their wellbeing, leading by example at every turn. Now more than ever there is a focus on the importance of wellbeing in the workplace, and we’re seeing more and more businesses take steps to create environments that support their employee’s mental health and wellbeing.

We’ve been around since 2010 which gives us enormous credibility, however to get a blue tick on Twitter just adds to this! We’re quite well known locally but for those further afield potentially looking to work with us - you can rest assured it’s us!

We’re pleased to end the year on a high by maintaining our Top 3 Marketing Agencies status by Three Best Rated threebestrated.co.uk/marketing-agencies-in-hereford Three Best Rated was created with a simple goal to find Top 3 local businesses, professionals, restaurants, health care providers, etc, in key cities. They display only businesses that are verified by their team since customers deserve only the best.

Our efforts to make The DM Lab’s profile better for your potential clients and be above your competitors (in a very competitive market) paid off. It is very difficult to get one of TechBehemoths’ awards, but we did it. Moreover, on a few services!

The DM Lab has been named one of the top 100 SME businesses in the UK! We’re pleased to announce that we are ranked 70/100 in the Elite Business #EB100. Using Elite Business’s experiences of Britain’s SME community, the Elite Business 100 is judged on eight core criteria that helped gauge our entry on our growth, ambitions, innovation & contributions to our team & community based on information we supplied. Judges who read our application included former Dragon & Moblox founder Piers Linney & fellow winners include the excellent The Skinny Food Co who we’re very familiar with, so we’re in good company!

The AVA Digital Awards recognises outstanding achievement by creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design & production of media that is part of the evolution of digital communication. Joe’s work on The Great Collaboration website earned him a PLATINUM award - meaning the site was judges to have scored between 90 - 100 which is amazing! Joe’s work on the Herefordshire Mind website redevelopment earned him a GOLD award - scoring between 80-89 overall which is also excellent!

This year & this month have been pretty awesome so far - today both got even better! We’re ending the month on a mega high after being named a finalist at the BizBubble Awards! We are one of 5 finalists in the ‘Best Digital Biz’ category - recognising small businesses that operate only online through digital channels. That’s definitely us! We’re so pleased to have got this far & are proud to have caught the eye of the judging panel to have made the shortlist. Awe-some! Congratulation to the other finalists in the category too, Louise Cox PR, Aspire Shire, The Social Brain & Preloved Tech! We’ll know if we’ve done enough on 31st March! #BizBubble

We’re extremely pleased to have picked up a few acknowledgements and a Special Kudos Award from the CSS Design Awards! The CSS Design Awards are the international web awards for solo designers, studios & agencies. Founded in 2009 and launched in 2010, CSSDA is an international web design and development award platform that honors and showcases freelance designers, studios and agencies for work that pushes the boundaries of UI, UX and innovative development. Backed by an international panel of expert judges, winners are rewarded with official certificates, prestigious trophies and recognition from industry leaders along with tens of thousands of daily visitors to the CSSDA site.

We’re delighted to have made the cut & have been shortlisted for the first round of the UK Small Business Awards! Our application has passed the required standards to enter the competition & we’re in the mix to win a regional or even a national title! The UK Small Business Awards celebrate & support small businesses across the UK which is why we’re honoured to be named a finalist!

We may not have been a winner at the BizBubble Awards - but we did make it into the #BizBubble Top 100 Small Businesses 2023 which we’re pretty proud of!

Congratulations to Chris who has made the shortlist in ’Most Inspiring Senior Leader of the Year’ at This Can Happen Awards! #ThisCanHappen Awards has attracted entries from every sector and they were overwhelmed by the number of entries. Which is why we are pleased that we made the shortlist! There was obviously tough competition & by making the shortlist we have already made a great achievement that speaks for itself & we are very proud of this.

After conducting a thorough evaluation of our submission, the Vega Digital Awards’ judges have determined it to be the cream of the crop in the market, as our impeccable concepts and innovations are everlastingly outstanding in every aspect. Therefore, we are pleased to announce, in accordance with these professional evaluations, we have been crowned as a 2023 Vega Digital Awards Gold and Silver winner for the development of the Two Farmers website and The Lucullan Collection website respectively!

Pretty cool to be awarded the accolade of Design & Digital Marketing Agency of The Year - UK by International Elite 100! The International Elite 100 Award was established with the prime objective of honouring the achievements pertaining to global talent, across all areas of business. The awards are structured to showcase the extraordinary power to lead from the front and honour all those who strive harder to achieve quality. The merit-driven process, ensures that any successful candidates nominated for an award can be assured that their accolades are truly deserved whilst also offering the opportunity to expand on our achievement further via their global Magazine’s circulation. Nominees are shortlisted via a process of in-house scrutiny and assessment, which utilises a variety of methods to identify those firms and individuals demonstrating outstanding achievements. These methods include reviewing sector-specific market research, client nominations, referrals, press coverage and industry awards. In each award category a final five nominees are shortlisted who are then reviewed against our selection criteria using their own proprietary process. As their process is not industry-specific it is applicable to any firm, regardless of specialisation, market vertical or geographic region. Awesome!

Really pleased to announce that we’ve made the Midlands Regional shortlist for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the ’Creative Entrepreneur of the Year’ category! It’s a fantastic honour to be named in, to quote Steve Bartlett "the Grammys of entrepreneurship!"

We’ve been shortlisted in 2 categories at the SME National Awards! Service Excellence This category recognised the outstanding assistance and advice to those who buy or use The DM Lab’s services. We had to demonstrate this by providing customer testimonials to back up our submission plus details of how we deliver a high-quality service. It’s much harder for us as we deliver a digital service and not a tangible end product. Also, having to contend with lesser knowledgeable parties within businesses is always a struggle, especially those in ‘marketing’. Actually, it is the single most difficult aspect of our job! It’s a very two-faced world so we are pleased to be recognised for our efforts by the SME National Awards Despite being the last to be thanked but the first to be blamed (for anything on the line!) Sustainability Award Being “green” and “sustainable” in business terms means reducing or removing the harmful impact that the business may have on the environment. Something we actively pursue here at The DM Lab and our presentation at Christmas last year offered insights into how businesses need to incorporated sustainability into their digital marketing. Leading by example, we expanded on this with an in-depth presentation at Caplor Energy’s #CapFest last week. However, oddly, despite our insights and actions we’ve been completely ignored by a local ‘sustainability’ movement. Perhaps our insights into ‘greenwashing’ ruffled a few feathers! Either way, we know we’re doing what we can and are extremely proud to be recognised for these active efforts at a National awards ceremony. Clearly we’re yet to prove ourselves locally! We are buzzing with this news! Hard work pays off and we look forward to the ceremony in December at Wembley Stadium!

We’ve won the ‘Digital | Best Digital Only Business’ category at the The Local Awards! Every local business has a story to tell. Local businesses are more than just a business. They are the very fabric of our communities, when they succeed they are fundamental to the success of these communities. They bring personality and vibrance to the high street, create opportunities, employment and networks that are essential for building thriving local economies. By giving national recognition to the best local businesses in the UK we will create a local business revolution inspiring resilient, thriving local economies, opportunity for all and a sustainable future we can be proud of. We are incredibly proud to have been selected as the winner of the ‘Digital | Best Digital Only Business’ category. For us, it’s the acknowledgement that everything we’re doing as a small business is continuing to evolve in a positive direction not just for us, but for those around us. The Local Business Awards want to give national recognition to the best local businesses in the UK. By doing this we can inspire people to shop local and create thriving, resilient local economies. Every £1 spent with a local supplier is worth £1.76 to the local economy, and only 36 pence if it is spent out of the local area. That makes £1 spent locally worth almost 400% more to the local economy. This is how we will rebuild high-streets, communities, giving opportunity to all and building a better more sustainable economy. Supporting local means that you care about the community that you live in. You’ll be able to put money back into your community and the other people who call it home. We’re really, really proud of this achievement!

We’ve been shortlisted at the British Business Awards in the ’SME Marketing Agency of the Year’ category! The British Business Awards is a key date in the calendar for bringing together small companies, service providers and advisers. As well as celebrating achievement in a sector under-represented in awards ceremonies, it is a chance for networking and a strong marketing opportunity. The event will receive video, editorial and social media coverage across our host website www.smallbusiness.co.uk, which reaches over 2 million small business owners and has a community of over 50,000. We have been invited to the awards ceremony, set to take place at the prestigious British Museum on the 4th October 2023.

A New Chapter at The DM Lab - Bringing Enhanced Digital Solutions to More Clients! We’re excited to share some wonderful news from The DM Lab, a cornerstone in digital marketing with over 14 years of industry-leading experience, we reached a significant milestone in our journey of growth and service excellence. In a strategic move to broaden our reach and enhance our service offerings, we acquired Creative Box Solutions, a fellow local agency, in the Summer of 2023. This acquisition isn’t just about growth; it’s a testament to our commitment to providing unparalleled digital marketing solutions.

We’ve been awarded ’Website of the Day’ for the development of the Pure Concentrated Goodness (PCG) website by @webawardscom! This development project represents an extraordinary synergy of wellness, sustainability, and digital innovation. At its core, it’s more than just a website; it’s the embodiment of a wellness revolution. Our mission was twofold: to create an inclusive digital space for wellness enthusiasts and eco-conscious consumers and to educate them about the profound benefits of microgreens. The challenge lay in striking a balance between scientific credibility and accessible, engaging content.

We’re thrilled to announce that The DM Lab has clinched not 1, not 2, but 4 prestigious acknowledgements at the CSS Design Awards - for our work on the Pure Concentrated Goodness website development project - the ultimate celebration of creativity and innovation in web design and development! ✨ Best Innovation Best UI (User Interface) Best UX (User Experience) Special Kudos Award These accolades are a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of design, UI / UX and innovative development.

We are delighted to announce that our dedication to digital excellence has been recognised at the Vega Digital Awards, where the PCG website has achieved the esteemed Gold standard. This accolade is a testament to our commitment to striving for excellence.

We have been acknowledged for our WordPress services by the mighty TechBehemoths which is a fantastic achievement as we do pride ourselves on our web design service.

We’re extremely pleased to have been awarded the highest honour at the AVA Digital Awards for our previous efforts on the Pure Concentrated Goodness website! Hopefully we have given the new digital team a solid basis on which to build on our award-winning work to date. All the best going forward. AVA Digital Awards is an international competition that recognises outstanding work by creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design, and production of media that is part of the evolution of digital communication. Work ranges from audio and video productions, social media sites, animation, blogs, podcasts, and other forms of user-generated digital communication.

The DM Lab has once again been recognised in the prestigious Elite Business 100 list! Last year, we proudly held the 70th position, but this year, we’ve been fortunate to rise up the ranks to 63rd position! Thank you for including us!

Our partnerships with Hereford Rugby Football Club, Westfields Football Club and South Wye Police Boxing Academy in particular, exemplify our dedication to supporting local communities and fostering growth at grassroots levels. By providing these clubs with modern websites and promotional materials, we’re helping elevate their profiles and attract new opportunities for sponsorship and involvement. Our CSR initiatives have led to tangible economic benefits, including attracting top talent and fostering client loyalty. By investing our time and expertise into supporting others, we’re not only giving back to the community but also strengthening our business and driving positive change. From supporting Canwood Gallery to the Herefordshire Veteran Support Centre, our CSR journey is marked by originality, innovation, and a genuine desire to make a difference. We’re committed to expanding our CSR efforts in the future, continuing to create a better future for all.

We’re excited to announce our recent Platinum win at the Hermes Creative Awards for our work on Quote Detective’s rebranding. This prestigious international competition recognises excellence in creative achievement, and our rebrand stood out for its innovation and impact in the insurance market. Our goal was to redefine Quote Detective’s identity and enhance its brand presence, and we’re proud to have achieved this through meticulous market research and customer feedback. Key elements of the rebrand included a comprehensive redesign of the logo, website, and marketing materials, reflecting Quote Detective’s commitment to excellence and customer-centric values. MD Chris commented, ’This recognition is a testament to our team’s dedication and hard work. We’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation in the insurance industry.’ This Platinum win reaffirms our commitment to delivering exceptional results and innovative solutions for our clients.

We’re really pleased that we’ve been named a finalist in the ’Digital Star’ category at The Small Awards! This recognition is a testament to our team’s dedication, expertise and unwavering commitment to excellence in digital marketing. Being named a finalist in this category is a huge honour and it reaffirms our belief in the power of innovative digital solutions to drive success for our clients. At The DM Lab, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional results and providing tailored strategies that help businesses thrive in today’s competitive landscape. Our journey to becoming a finalist at The Small Awards has been marked by passion, hard work, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. From crafting bespoke websites to implementing cutting-edge SEO strategies, every member of our team has played a crucial role in our success and we couldn’t do it without them. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the trust and support of our incredible clients. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to partner with forward-thinking businesses and help them achieve their digital marketing goals. Your success is our success, and we’re honoured to be part of your journey! As we celebrate ‘A Decade of Digital Discovery’, 10 whole years since we rebranded to The DM Lab and focus on quality, focused digital marketing solutions, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of digital innovation and delivering exceptional results for our clients. Whether it’s designing captivating websites, optimising their digital presence in search engine rankings or crafting engaging content, we’re dedicated to helping businesses thrive in the digital age.

Harvey and Hazel have been shortlisted for prestigious accolades at the BCS IT & Digital Apprenticeship Awards 2024! Harvey’s Remarkable Journey: Harvey, our Digital Marketing Executive, has been shortlisted for the coveted ’Digital Degree Apprentice of the Year 2024’ award! Since joining us as our very first apprentice in 2018, Harvey’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring. From novice to virtuoso, Harvey’s dedication and innovation have set him apart. His transformative contributions, such as pioneering KPI dashboards, have elevated our operations and delighted clients. Hazel’s Trailblazing Achievements: Hazel, our trailblazing Digital Marketing Apprentice, has been named a finalist for the ’Digital Marketer Apprentice of the Year 2024’ award! Hazel’s relentless dedication and innovative spirit have been instrumental in pioneering our social media management services and enhancing client engagement through advanced analytics. Her commitment to continuous learning and community involvement truly sets her apart. At The DM Lab, we are deeply committed to nurturing talent and fostering personal development as a cornerstone of our Corporate Social Responsibility drive. Harvey and Hazel’s achievements underscore our dedication to empowering our team members to excel and innovate in their careers. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and the positive impact they continue to make.

The purpose of the Good Small Business Awards is to unite the small businesses across the nation with a common goal to be a force for good in a better world whilst developing a strong stable economy. The Good Small Business Awards provide a platform for small businesses to showcase and demonstrate how sustainability strategy, practice, and developments have transformed The DM Lab and brought opportunities to fulfil our people alongside inspiring our local economies to achieve a better environment.

The DM Lab has been selected as The Best Advertising Agencies in Hereford at the Quality Business Awards! We achieved an overall quality score of 95% or greater to earn the accolade. UK businesses that have won a Quality Business Award represent less than 1% of registered businesses in the UK. This is the seal of quality that a business has achieved an overall quality score of 95% or greater. Our dedication to providing a quality product and maintaining an overall fantastic customer experience is recognised. Businesses are contacted once a year to be notified they have qualified for a business award in their sector. Using an internal point scoring system, a business must have an exceptional overall quality rating to be considered for a Quality Business Award. The business must have outstanding customer reviews and reputation from more than 3 different platforms. Businesses that respond to customers questions and concerns with continued regularity will also be highly viewed upon. Businesses with exceptional records spanning over multiple years with zero to very low number of complaints will score highly. Businesses that conduct their day-to-day efforts with the highest integrity and have shown a continuous trend of giving back to their local community and reducing their carbon footprint will be rewarded with a Quality Business Award. Each year the process is started from scratch and each business in the UK is re-evaluated, so, it’s up to us to keep doing what we’re doing to earn the title next year!

Joining BIMA, the British Interactive Media Association, marks a significant step forward for The DM Lab. BIMA serves as the voice of the tech and creative industries, representing a diverse community of businesses, charities, and academia across the UK. As a member, we gain access to a wealth of resources, including knowledge sharing, best practice showcases, and talent development opportunities. This membership aligns perfectly with our values of innovation, collaboration, and nurturing the next generation of industry professionals. Being part of BIMA connects us to a vibrant network of like-minded individuals who are driving the future through the fusion of technology and creativity. It provides us with a platform to contribute to the leadership of various communities within BIMA, enabling us to shape the agenda for our region and areas of interest. Our decision to join BIMA underscores our commitment to growth, excellence, and adding value to the UK’s tech and creative sector. We are excited to leverage this membership to expand our horizons, elevate our team and business, and make a positive impact in the industry. Check out our profile here: bima.co.uk/organisations/the-dm-lab #JoinBIMA

We’ve been shortlisted at the British Business Awards hosted by SmallBusiness.co.uk in the ’SME Marketing Agency of the Year’ category! The British Business Awards is a key date in the calendar for bringing together small companies, service providers and advisers. We have been invited to the awards ceremony, set to take place in London on the 14th November!

We are pleased to share with you that we have been named a finalist in the Small Business Awards in the ‘Professional Services Small Business’ category. This recognition underscores our commitment to delivering specialised and expert professional services within the dynamic landscape of B2B solutions. The Small Business Awards celebrate the resilience, innovation and community impact that define small and micro businesses. For us at The DM Lab, being named a finalist is not just an accolade but a testament to our unwavering dedication to excellence in every aspect of our operations.

We rebranded to The DM Lab in 2014 after we set up the business in 2010 so although it’s officially our 14th birthday, we celebrated ’A Decade of Digital Discovery’, 10 years as The DM Lab by embarking on our biggest challenge to date - a 100 mile ultramarathon!

We have been named as a finalist in the prestigious Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2024, in the Services Industries Entrepreneur of the Year category!

Hazel, our talented digital marketing junior, has been named a finalist at the Women in Tech Awards 2024 in the Apprentice Award category. This prestigious recognition highlights her outstanding contributions and dedication in the early stages of her tech career.

Today marked a momentous occasion for The DM Lab as we proudly awarded a Silver accolade in the Media: Initiatives category at The International CSR Awards held at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Amidst industry giants like Audible and Sky, our micro-business stood tall, recognised for our steadfast commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The International CSR Excellence Awards celebrate organisations that exemplify excellence in CSR across various sectors. This accolade underscores our dedication to going beyond profit, emphasising initiatives that positively impact our community and environment. At The DM Lab, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword; it’s ingrained in our ethos. From reducing our carbon footprint to promoting ethical business practices, every decision we make is rooted in our commitment to creating a better world. Our efforts extend beyond business goals; they reflect our belief in responsible corporate citizenship. Receiving this award is a testament to the dedication of our team and the impact of our initiatives. Despite our size, we’ve shown that meaningful change can be driven by passion and purpose. Being recognised alongside global players reaffirms the importance of our mission and encourages us to continue innovating and leading by example in our industry. Our initiatives, detailed in our whitepaper ‘Beyond Profit’ highlights how businesses can integrate sustainability into their core operations. From eco-friendly practices in digital marketing to supporting local communities, we strive to set a standard for responsible business practices. As we reflect on this achievement, we extend our thanks to our team, clients, and community partners who support and inspire us every day. This award belongs to all of us, a testament to what can be achieved when values align with action. Looking ahead, we remain committed to advancing sustainability and CSR, leveraging our platform to drive positive change. With every project and partnership, we aim to leave a lasting legacy of integrity, innovation, and impact.

Really pleased with this! Fantastic to be recognised for our commitment in recruiting through apprenticeships - since 2018, every 2 years we’ve taken on an apprentice who has subsequently become a full-time member of the team after completing the apprenticeship. We’ve even supported our first apprentice achieve a higher education degree too which he has just recently completed!

The DM Lab has been officially accredited by the Good Business Charter (GBC)! This significant achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to responsible business practices and underscores our dedication to making a positive impact on people and the planet.

The DM Lab has been shortlisted for the prestigious Growing Business Awards 2024 in the ‘Growing Business of the Year: Turnover up to £2.5m’ category! This recognition underscores our commitment to excellence and innovation in the digital marketing arena, affirming our role as a driving force in the digital landscape. We have been growing the business since 2010 and it is a fantastic achievement to be recognised formally as a growing business especially as we celebrate ‘A Decade of Digital Discovery’ this year - 10 years as ‘The DM Lab’!

In our drive to become a better business besides just the balance sheet, we have been welcomed as a member of the Kind Currency Club! You can discover kind businesses, kind choices, kind opportunities, kind discounts, kind offers and a whole lot of kindness. Make choices that feel good and do good!

The DM Lab has been officially accepted as a member of the @orborguk )Organisation for Responsible Businesses - ORB). This esteemed recognition underscores our unwavering commitment to exemplary business practices that prioritise ethical conduct, sustainability, and social responsibility. As a member of ORB, we align with a distinguished network of organisations dedicated to advancing responsible business operations across various sectors.

The DM Lab was awarded ‘Best Digital Marketing Business’ at the UK Small Business Awards! This prestigious recognition is a testament to our dedication, innovation, and the exceptional results we deliver. It’s a real validation of excellence for us, that our unique blend of creativity, data-driven strategies, and cutting-edge technology has been officially recognised! It’s a huge milestone achievement,highlighting our growth, expertise, and the outstanding work of our talented team.

The DM Lab has once again been recognised as one of Hereford’s top three marketing agencies by Three Best Rated! Since first earning this accolade in 2017, we’ve consistently demonstrated our commitment to excellence, and this latest recognition reaffirms our dedication to delivering outstanding digital marketing solutions.

Hazel graduated - Digital Marketer Level 3! This milestone not only marks a significant achievement in her personal journey but also reflects the core values and commitment of The DM Lab to nurture talent and support the next generation of digital marketing professionals.

The DM Lab won big at the TechBehemoths 2024 Awards! We’ve been recognised for our outstanding Pay Per Click (PPC), SEO, and WordPress services-securing wins in all three categories across the entire United Kingdom, beating out over 141 competitors.

The DM Lab won the Professional Services Small Business award! Being awarded this prestigious title isn’t just about the trophy - it’s a reflection of our team’s dedication to providing exceptional, tailored services and solutions in a constantly evolving industry. From the outset, we set out to break the mold and challenge the traditional digital marketing agency framework. We wanted to create an agency that doesn’t just “sell” services, but one that empowers businesses to thrive and grow by offering bespoke, strategic digital marketing initiatives that make a tangible difference. This win underscores the core of what we do.

The DM Lab was awarded a 2025 Global Leaders and Business Award which is held under the theme: “Leading the Future: Innovation, Leadership, and Global Impact in Emerging Markets." We were judged as the winner of the Marketing & Management Category and we’ll receive this honour under the award title of: Global Design in Marketing Award. The Global Leaders and Business Awards exists to highlight and celebrate the extraordinary contributions of leaders and businesses that are championing innovations and positive change in various fields of human endeavour on the local and global stage. It is the goal of Global Leaders and Business Awards to put the spotlight on such businesses that deserve recognition for all they are doing to make our world a better place.

We’re so pleased to announce that The DM Lab has won a Green World Award in the global campaign to find the world’s greenest countries, companies and communities for our project: Beyond Profit: The DM Lab’s Decade of Dedicated CSR Impact!

For the third consecutive year, The DM Lab has secured a place in the prestigious Elite Business #EB100, ranking 49th out of the top 100 UK businesses! From a debut position of 70th in 2023 climbing to 63rd in 2024, we’ve now reached the coveted Top 50 - proof of our unwavering dedication to excellence in digital marketing and business development.

We are delighted to learn that after being identified by the awards team as a finalist on merit and achievement in the IE100 2025 global awards, the results have been finalised for the first quarter and congratulations are in order as you we once again won the International Elite 100 global award of ’Design & Digital Marketing Agency of The Year - UK’.

We were Shortlisted for the ’Customer Service of the Year’ Award at the Elite Business 100 Ceremony! We were incredibly excited to announce that, in addition to being named one of the UK’s top 100 businesses in the EB100 list, The DM Lab has been shortlisted for the ’Customer Service of the Year’ award at the upcoming celebratory night, sponsored by Moneypenny!

The DM Lab was a winner in the M&A Today - 2025 Awards! Based on our exceptional achievements, we have earned you a place among the industry’s elite in the category ’Best Multi-Award Winning Design & Digital Marketing Company of the Year - UK’.

Global 100 - 2025 Top 100 - The DM Lab been named one of the Top 100 globally! This recognition honours exceptional leadership, innovation, and meaningful impact on global markets. It’s a significant milestone in our journey, reflecting our commitment to driving progress and shaping the future of the digital world.

After careful review, The DM Lab has been selected for ’The Strategist - Top 100 - 2025′ This prestigious recognition celebrates the world’s most influential thinkers, leaders, and innovators across strategy, consulting, private equity, and executive management.

The DM Lab was shortlisted for the ‘Professional Services Small Business’ category at the National Small Business Awards! Out of hundreds of entries, we’ve made it to the final, and we couldn’t be more excited! We were fortunate to walk away with the regional (West Midlands) Professional Services Small Business award last year - let’s hope we’ve kept the momentum going in the services we offer to be as successful in the nationals!