442 adds Balfour Beatty and Tesco to client list

DESIGN agency 442 has continued to extend its recent run of contract wins, adding two more new clients in the shape of supermarket giant Tesco and construction colossus Balfour Beatty to its growing portfolio.

The deals come as the group, based in Leith, sets out on a three-year strategy that it believes could propel it into the top five of Scottish design agencies.

Director David Dunn did not disclose what each of the contracts was worth to 442, but he said a run of business wins over the first half of 2007 would have a "substantial" impact on revenues.

The group beat off two London-based agencies to scoop a contract to design and install an in-store finance centre for Tesco, which is being trialled at the new Tesco Extra outlet in Silverburn, near Glasgow, the group's largest outlet in Scotland. "It's our first contract with Tesco, so from our point of view it's a great one to have won," said Mr Dunn. "It's a trial initially, but if it proves successful there could be some degree of rollout from it."

The company also won a three-way pitch for a contract to give Balfour Beatty's quarterly magazine Insight - which acts as an in-house magazine but is also sent externally to UK clients - a fresh new look.

"We're just looking at what we can do with that now. The first edition we'll be working on will be for September," explained Mr Dunn.

"We've had a good run of late with contracts in retail, leisure and property and to get a couple of the biggest names is great for us."

The contracts are the latest in a series of design briefs 442 has scooped since the start of the year. Among them was an office interior revamp for Mediacom and an exhibition stand for Scottish Enterprise's textiles team to use at an international conference.

442 has a been building up a strong reputation for graphic and commercial interior design after carrying out work for a list of blue chip names, including Cairn Energy, Glenmorangie and Land Securities.

And more recently, 442 was also behind interior design work for The Clubhouse, the virtual golf centre newly opened at Edinburgh Quay.

But it has also been heavily involved in the sports sector, creating a new superstore for Sheffield United and completing design work for a range of other organisations including Hearts, Rangers, Ayr racecourse, the Scottish Rugby Union and the West Indies Cricket Board.

"We've set out a three-year strategy and by the end of it we want to be in the top five agencies in Scotland and treble the present turnover," said Mr Dunn.

"We're already ahead of schedule for 2007 and hopeful we'll get a good percentage of the turnover target this year.

"In terms of staff, we'd be looking to have around 22 staff next year from 14 just now."