Creative and digital agency Matchstick Creative has grown its Liverpool team by 50%, welcoming four new people. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool-based creative and marketing agency Matchstick Creative has welcomed four new people to its team – taking its headcount to 12.

Founded by Ruth Hartnoll as J&R in 2018, the business rebranded as Matchstick Creative in 2020. Best known for content marketing and website design for SMEs, the venture refocused to work with organisations who want to “make a difference” in the world.

That spurred a new period of growth for the agency which has secured a number of contract wins. Its four new hires are marketing manager Danielle Wynne, content and social media executive Shannon Byrne, junior web developer Nicola Denton, and graphic designer Tori Dennett.

Matchstick’s latest period of growth follows on from a successful hiring process in 2021 via the Government’s Kickstart Scheme. The talent being brought through the Matchstick Creative doors is allowing the digital agency to ramp up its ‘marketing for good’ strategy.

Led by Ruth, and business lead Aaron Fontenot, the Baltic Triangle firm recently joined the Good Business Festival as a partner. It was also shortlisted for the Best Team Culture awards at the UK Company Culture Awards.

New projects include Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) to work on its zero carbon plans and Everyman and Playhouse to work on their brand tone of voice.

“Growing Matchstick Creative from just myself to a team of 12 in five years has taken a lot of work, but we’ve found ourselves in a great position with our values and stance on business practices,” said Ruth.

“We prioritise our employees and their wellbeing so they feel able to be themselves, which in turn makes them more productive, happier and fulfilled.”