In the modern UK business environment, public recognition has evolved into more than just a badge of honour—it has become a benchmark of sustainable success. Awards and media attention, once centred primarily around financial achievements or headcount growth, now also highlight intangible qualities such as ethical leadership, workplace wellbeing, and company culture. According to a 2023 report by CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), nearly 75 per cent of UK employees consider workplace culture a top factor when evaluating employers. This shift reflects a growing demand for workplaces that value transparency and people-first leadership.

This change has elevated the status of awards focused on mental health advocacy, workplace transparency, and employee engagement. For some organisations, these values are built into the company’s foundation rather than added as an afterthought. PPC Geeks, a digital advertising agency co-founded by Dan Trotter and Chris Stott in 2017, stands as an example of a business gaining national attention through a blend of professional performance and a strong internal culture.

Starting as a two-person team operating out of the Lake District in the UK, PPC Geeks grew methodically, eventually opening offices in locations such as Liverpool, Chelsea, Knutsford, and Kendal. Their primary focus has remained on PPC (pay-per-click) management, but their increased visibility in recent years is tied more closely to their workplace values than just campaign results. Recognition from established institutions and media outlets has positioned them within the broader narrative of evolving business culture.

In 2023, the company was named “Marketing Agency of the Year” at the British Business Awards. This honour reflected achievements in client delivery, leadership, innovation, and workplace satisfaction. Around the same time, media outlets including the North West Evening Mail and The Westmorland Gazette ran feature stories on PPC Geeks, focusing on its unique path to success and growing regional and national influence.

The following year, in 2024, Great Place to Work officially recognised PPC Geeks as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces. This certification involved an independent audit of company practices and employee sentiment, which included data from internal surveys and culture assessments. According to Great Place to Work, over 90 per cent of PPC Geeks employees reported trust in leadership and satisfaction with work-life balance. The report highlighted initiatives supporting mental health, open communication, and flexible scheduling.

This kind of recognition is significant given the growing competition in digital services. Many small and mid-sized companies struggle to attract or retain talent against larger corporations. PPC Geeks’ approach shows how a focused internal strategy can have an external impact. A 2022 Deloitte survey found that companies prioritising employee wellbeing outperform peers in customer satisfaction by 11 per cent on average. PPC Geeks seems to fit that trend, earning industry awards and favourable coverage from outlets that don’t typically spotlight marketing firms.

One point of interest in PPC Geeks’ story is their consistent presence in shortlists and honours that typically feature larger, more established businesses. In 2023, their placement in the British Business Awards stood out, not just for the win itself, but for the context—they were competing with agencies with decades of history and far larger teams. Their recognition suggested a shift in what evaluators seek: not just reach, but resonance.

Trotter and Stott have emphasised transparency as one of the agency’s core values. Internal policies reportedly include real-time client dashboards, open meetings, and mental health first-aiders on staff. While not revolutionary, these systems appear to be executed in ways that staff and evaluators find meaningful. It’s not just what the company claims, but how it shows up in practice.

Another key moment came in 2023, when PPC Geeks earned Premier Partner status from Google Ads. This distinction is awarded to agencies that meet Google’s criteria across client retention, ad spend management, and campaign performance. The 2023 designation serves as a benchmark of its technical competence and standing within the paid media industry at the time.

This dual focus may be what helps PPC Geeks stand out. In a noisy market, awards and certifications can start to blur together. But it tends to stick when multiple, unrelated entities—including industry bodies, media outlets, and workplace evaluators—begin to tell the same story. It also suggests a level of consistency that transcends campaigns or news cycles.

As of 2025, PPC Geeks maintains its original service focus while navigating a reputation that now includes workplace culture leadership. The agency does not appear to be chasing growth for its own sake, but rather aligning its expansion with the same values that earned it recognition. Whether its visibility continues to grow will likely depend on its ability to keep that alignment intact.

Dan Trotter and Chris Stott, whose founding vision shaped the direction of PPC Geeks from the beginning, remain actively involved in the company. With ongoing recognition from institutions like Great Place to Work and consistent coverage from regional and national media outlets, the agency’s current trajectory reflects what’s possible when business goals and cultural integrity move in tandem.