The Hand understands the realities of running and growing a creative agency. We partner with you to refine the strategic foundations that sit behind effective business development, helping you focus on the right opportunities and build momentum in a considered, sustainable way.
Business development is not about doing more. It is about making clearer decisions about where to focus, how to position your offer and how to create a structured approach to growth that supports your long-term ambitions.
We begin by taking the time to understand your agency’s goals, strengths and challenges. From there, we assess your current approach to business development and identify where greater clarity, focus or structure is needed.
Our work typically includes:
The result is a bespoke plan that reflects your agency’s reality and gives you a clear framework for decision-making and action.
Business development does not sit in isolation. A strategy is only valuable if it translates into action.
We work closely with you to ensure that the roadmap we create informs what happens next, whether that is targeted lead generation, thought leadership campaigns, events or wider new business initiatives. Our role is to help maintain focus, momentum and consistency as your agency evolves.
Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, we act as a strategic partner – providing perspective, challenge and guidance as your business and market change.
Our business development support is designed to adapt to where your agency is right now.
Whether you are refining your positioning, entering new markets, strengthening your pipeline or preparing for the next stage of growth, we bring structure and clarity to your thinking so you can move forward with confidence.
A specialist industrial design agency approached The Hand to help it engage senior product, engineering and innovation leaders. Despite a strong body of work, the agency needed support articulating its strategic value and turning technical expertise into commercial conversations.
The Hand created a compelling narrative centred on designing for real world performance and used it to anchor a multi stage communications campaign. We targeted heads of product, R and D leaders and innovation directors with insight led messaging that demonstrated genuine expertise and commercial understanding.
The campaign ended with an invitation only virtual innovation showcase featuring behind the scenes design intelligence and prototyping insights. A structured follow up sequence converted interest into substantive briefs.
Engagement with 180 innovation and product leaders
24 high value attendees at the showcase
9 active briefs opened within three months
Pipeline value of over 500000 pounds
Reinforced the agency’s position as a strategic partner for complex design challenges
The Hand helped elevate the agency’s expertise and translate technical excellence into strategic commercial impact.
A highly respected international brand design agency engaged The Hand to strengthen visibility and pipeline quality across key global markets. The agency had a powerful reputation but needed a disciplined programme to sustain momentum and open new high value conversations.
We developed a thought leadership platform focused on culturally intelligent brand design. This evolved into a multi market communications programme targeting CMOs, brand VPs and global design leaders across Europe, North America and APAC.
A flagship global webinar acted as the core of the programme, supported by regional follow up sessions that deepened engagement and opened market specific conversations. We managed structured outreach, sequenced messaging and one to one introductions to maintain momentum.
Engagement with more than 400 global design and brand leaders
30 registrations for the global webinar
20 strategic follow up conversations booked
3 live briefs opened within ten weeks and 4 further within 6 months
Pipeline value exceeding 1 million pounds
The Hand provided the strategic discipline and narrative clarity needed to maintain a high performing global pipeline and deepen the agency’s reputation as a culturally intelligent brand partner.
Client Services Director, Brand Design Agency, Remote
Partner with The Hand to strengthen your business development foundations and create a clearer path to sustainable growth.
Get in touch with us today to arrange a conversation and explore how we can support your agency.
For us, business development is about creating clarity and structure around how your agency grows. It focuses on positioning, targeting, prioritisation and planning – ensuring that new business activity is aligned with your strengths and long-term goals.
Business development sets the strategic foundations. Lead generation is one of the execution tools that can sit beneath it. We help you define where to focus and why, before supporting delivery through lead generation, campaigns or events if needed.
We work with creative agencies at different stages, from established independents to growing studios and networks. What matters most is a desire to build sustainable growth through focus and clarity, rather than volume-led activity.
Yes, where appropriate. We can support delivery across lead generation, campaigns and events, or work alongside your team to ensure strategy is translated into action and maintained over time.
This depends on your needs. Some agencies engage us for a defined strategic phase, while others value ongoing partnership as their business evolves. We tailor our involvement to suit your goals and internal resources.
Absolutely. Many agencies come to us with activity already underway. Our role is often to refine, focus and strengthen what you are already doing, ensuring it is aligned, effective and sustainable.
Our services are designed to work together, supporting different stages of your agency’s growth. Business development sets the strategic foundations. Lead generation, campaigns and events sit beneath that strategy, helping you turn focus into action and conversations into opportunities. If you’re unsure where to start, we’ll help you identify the right entry point based on your goals, priorities and current challenges.