A PR company which prides itself on its "no-nonsense" approach to business has had its most successful year since trading began in 1994.

Wildwood PR, in Horsham, West Sussex, said turnover was up 13 per cent in 2005 to £700,000. In the same period the firm almost doubled in size.

The agency, founded and run by businesswoman Tanya Houston, has carved a niche for itself in the construction and home technology industries.

Its clients include companies at the cutting-edge of home design, such as movie entertainment servers Kaleidescape and home control systems firm Creston.

Wildwood also handles PR for Westbury, the country's sixth biggest housebuilder, promoting the developer's activities in southern England.

One of the company's recent successes was launching the i-deck stereo system for the iPod, for London-based loudspeaker company Monitor Audio.

Wildwood's celebrity-driven campaign included Jonathan Ross, Rio Ferdinand, Sir Terence Conran, Jodie Kidd, Sadie Frost and West Ham United FC.

Wildwood's success in 2005 resulted in the firm employing four new staff at its converted-barn headquarters in Mannings Heath, near Horsham. It now employs ten people.

Mrs Houston, 41, puts the company's success down to a no-nonsense approach which means delivering campaigns which work "quickly, efficiently and professionally".

She said: "It was an exceptional year for us thanks to the organic growth of existing clients and the winning of new business, which we attribute to our hardworking, down-to-earth approach. We're proof that you don't need to be a flashy city-based consultancy in order to win over clients and to attract great staff. Indeed, we're proud of Wildwood's family atmosphere, which makes going to work a real pleasure not a chore."

Mrs Houston said the company's "strong emphasis" on work-life balance had attracted an exceptionally high-calibre of staff, many poached from London consultancies.

Tuesday, February 28, 2006