It’s that time of year when LinkedIn feels like a highlight reel: wins, achievements, and everything wrapped up in a shiny bow. But let’s be real—every success comes with a healthy dose of chaos, challenges, and sleepless nights. So, instead of adding to the noise, I thought I’d share a little honesty about the challenges we faced this year, how we tackled them, and what we’re looking forward to in 2024.
Challenge #1: The volatile global climate
The UK elections, EU elections, and US elections—throw in inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, and it’s a recipe for unpredictability. For a global agency like Bray St, where clients span continents and cultures, staying on top of it all has been… fun?
But we’ve made it work. We’ve become borderline obsessed with trends, and thanks to our brilliant specialists who keep us updated on every market, we’ve managed to stay ahead. The lesson? Adaptability isn’t a buzzword; it’s a survival tactic.
Challenge #2: Resourcing for success
This year has been one of our best yet, but with growth comes the challenge of finding the right people. At Bray St, we’re picky—not just about talent but about fit. Everyone on the team, from full-time team members to associates, is either handpicked or comes highly recommended.
We’ve ramped up our recruitment game, with team members interviewing up to five associates each month. The result? We’ve grown our associate network by a staggering 167%. A big win, but one that required focus and tenacity.
Challenge #3: Marketing ourselves
Most of our clients come through referrals (thank you, word-of-mouth gods), but when you’re busy delivering for them, it’s easy to forget about future-proofing the agency. We realised this early on and made some changes:
- A dedicated agency marketing team.
- Full-team strategy days (brainstorming with snacks—lots of snacks).
- Implementing HubSpot to keep us on track.
Because if we can market the hell out of other brands, surely we can do it for ourselves too, right?
What we’re proud of
Challenges aside, 2024 wasn’t all doom and gloom the news made it out to be. Here’s what we’re celebrating:
- Welcoming new clients: Calibrate, Datamars, and NordHealth!
- Partnering with Architectural Recovery Team as part of our pro-bono work
- New brands launched: Shipnet Helix, BTV Impact, and DEI work at BAT, among others.
- Supporting BTV for a second year running at Pride in London
- We’re officially in the preliminary review phase for our B Corp status—our commitment to positive impact is stronger than ever.
Looking ahead
2025 is shaping up to be another wild ride. Here’s what’s on the horizon:
- Launching two new brands (watch this space).
- Welcoming three new clients to the Bray St family.
- Expanding our expertise in internal communications, culture, and employer branding.
And yes, we’ll continue to pick the work we love and the people we love working with—because life’s too short for anything less.
So, as we wrap up the year, here’s to the highs, the lows, and everything in between. A problem shared really is a problem halved—and if nothing else, at least we’ve got some good stories to tell.
See you in 2025,
Danny
Managing Director, Bray St