HIGHBEAM is an independent brand & product strategy agency that tackles tough marketing problems.

We specialise in 3 areas:

 

BRAND & COMMS

We work with existing brands to help clarify their purpose, positioning, comms proposition and brand experience. 

 

BRAND CREATION

We create new brands - from positioning, to naming, to visual identity.

INNOVATION

We help develop propositions for amazing new products and services.

We work with big blue chips, lean start-ups and every size of company in between.

The agency's founder, Ben Southgate, has been helping major brands to grow for 20 years. His experience covers a range of sectors including FMCG, finance, retail, utilities, telco, media & tech. 

We are currently working with Danone to develop an exciting new health product.

 

"Ben is a strong strategic thinker who is fast, flexible and has a ‘can-do’ approach to any problem. His help in developing and articulating new product propositions has been invaluable for Danone." 

Alastair Strang, Innovation Lead, Danone Waters

 

 

HIGHBEAM is currently working with MTV on a new product launch.  

 

Project under NDA until its launch at the European Music Awards in November 2016.

 

We have been working with B&Q's owner Kingfisher Plc for the past 2 years. Projects include creating a new brand in the electricals category and helping the company develop a future-facing customer service model.

 

"The strategists and designers at HIGHBEAM were a breath of fresh air.
They worked quickly and collaboratively to help us create a new brand to roll out across Europe. They were undaunted by hurdles along the way and developed something we're all very proud of."

Mike Foulds, Group Commercial Director, Kingfisher Plc (B&Q/Castorama).

 

 

HIGHBEAM recently worked with NBC to reposition several of their digital TV channels in markets across Europe. The work helped their internal creative teams develop more compelling and effective marketing.

 

"If you are blinded by too much data and too many insights then call Ben. He develops clear answers that are the perfect blend of logic and creativity."

Sarah Lloyd-Baker, Vice President Marketing, NBC Universal.

 

 

Cancer research needed to unlock new fundraising opportunities. HIGHBEAM developed a variety of new giving platforms for the charity to test.

 

"Ben is someone that if you worked with him once, you try and find every opportunity to work with him again. He is constantly curious and inspiringly insightful and is always finding creative solutions that you just wish you had thought of first."

Janine Chandler, Head of Innovation Development, Cancer Research.

 

 

We are an angel investor in the award-winning kids frozen yoghurt brand Claudi & Fin (now available in Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Ocado). The brand is growing fast and will soon launch a host of new products that we are helping to develop. 

 

In 2015 Claudi & Fin was one of just 15 brands shortlisted from 25,000 by Start Up Loans and invited to No. 10 Downing Street for a roundtable discussion on British entrepreneurship led by former Dragon and Start Up Loans Chairman James Caan.

 

 

 

Ben Southgate has worked with The Times for many years and continues to advise the News UK marketing team on various projects.

 

"Ben's valuable experience across a wide spread of categories and commercial models enables him to bring in context from the outside and encourage those he works with to look for answers from beyond the business they are in.”

Nick Stringer, Chief Creative Officer, News UK (The Sun / The Times)

“Ben has been a trusted advisor to the Times brand for many years. He has given us insightful and actionable strategic thinking at significant points in the brand’s development, including the launch of our successful digital subscriptions business.” 

Katie Vanneck-Smith, Global Managing Director, Dow Jones

 

 

HIGHBEAM worked with B2B brand TRX.tv to help clarify their positioning. TRX is an innovative online deal-making tool that enables TV rights buyers and sellers to connect and close more deals, more efficiently. The brand has now come out of beta stage and recently attracted high profile investment from Sky and Channel 4 to speed TRX's global roll out.

 

"Ben worked with the senior team and our investors to help get us to a crystal clear brand proposition for launch. We all enjoyed the process and I'm delighted with the result." David Frank, Executive Chairman.

HIGHBEAM recently developed a new challenger brand in the taxi space. We worked closely (and quickly) with the Cordic team to create a brand name, differentiated positioning and high-impact design for Cab Guru. 

 

Cab Guru is now in beta - visit the app store to try it out.

 

 

 

HIGHBEAM worked with the Lions team to improve the clarity of the customer proposition and experience for the Cannes Lions Archive and the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. 

“Ben makes incisive observations and can solve those lurking creative or strategic problems that you never quite have time to figure out. And he’ll only make recommendations that are doable, clear and credible.”

Liz Moseley, Marketing Director, Cannes Lions

DishNextDoor lets you discover, buy and enjoy meals, lovingly prepared by amazing home cooks in your area. HIGHBEAM helped the founders name this exciting new peer-to-peer dining brand.

 

"Ben was a vital guide during our naming phase, he helped us develop a simple and memorable name that really communicates our unique product proposition."  

Joel Ng, Co-Founder, DishNextDoor