The Herd specialises in data-driven marketing campaigns designed to deliver measurable return on investment. Its approach combines creative marketing with analytics through a distinctive methodology the team calls “Marketing with Maths.”
After receiving support from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, through the Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM) Exporting Starts Here programme, the agency has successfully begun exporting its services to organisations around the world.
Following the company’s rapid growth, The Herd has moved from being a home-based business to having offices at The Quadrant in Coventry city center. It now employs eight people, one directly as a result of the programmes success, with further growth expected as its international client base expands.
Today, about 25% of the Coventry firm’s turnover is generated from international clients, with new orders and active engagement across 12 global markets including UAE (Dubai), Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Egypt, the USA, Thailand and Spain, on top of a range of clients in the UK.
The agency was supported by Tim Cooper-Cocks, an international trade adviser with the Chamber, who advised the firm on target markets and, particularly, gave advice on overseas schools that wanted to attract UK students through advertising.
With Tim’s guidance, the company developed structured marketing pilots and repeatable campaign frameworks, allowing the business to package its services more effectively for overseas organisations, particularly in the international education sector.
To support this growth, The Herd has also adopted new technologies and processes, including the implementation of a CRM platform (GoHighLevel) to manage international lead generation, campaign delivery, reporting and automation. This has improved productivity, strengthened cross-border campaign management and enhanced transparency for clients.
It has already led to commissions from new international clients and further proposals being issued.
Paul said: “I’d worked in media and advertising for around 15 years but decided to set up my own business and it was only at the start of 2025 that we really got going, even though we established the firm a couple of years earlier.
“We’ve won quite a lot of domestic work, but we have also seen that while we might not be selling a physical product, there is a still a strong overseas market for the services we offer.
“We got in touch with the Chamber to ask for support and Tim has been absolutely brilliant at helping us to identify the right markets and getting the messaging right to sell what we do.
“He told us there had been a real surge in UK families looking to send their children to overseas schools and advised that this could be a target market for us. He then supported us in targeting the right organisations.
“It has worked and has already led to new business in Germany, Switzerland, Australia and Spain. So, we are effectively exporting digital advertising services, and thanks to Tim’s help, it is growing all the time.”
Thanks to the targeted export support, The Herd has been able to scale its services globally and secure new international work across education and a range of specialist sectors. Early overseas wins include projects with four international schools as well as organisations such as a football academy, a paddle equipment e‑commerce brand, a tourist attraction, a men’s health group in Thailand and a military memorabilia business.
The international expansion has helped strengthen the company’s financial position and improve profitability, while also creating new employment locally.
Tim said: “Paul, Keiran and the team at The Herd are brilliant at what they do, and overseas schools and businesses want to tap into their creativity but also their knowledge of what works here in the UK.
“I am thrilled that the support is having such tangible benefits already and it just goes to prove that there is a really strong exporting market for service-based businesses as well as our manufacturers.
“So, I’d urge businesses to get in touch with us as soon as possible because exporting your goods or services is sure-fire way of growing and making your business more resilient.”
David Zell, Assistant Delivery Manager for Business Programmes at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), said: “The Export Support Programme, run by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of BGWM and WMCA, is a fantastic programme offering free, in-depth, subject-specific expertise support to businesses within the West Midlands, enabling them to grow their potential through international exporting channels.
“The team are incredibly supportive, knowledgeable and driven to ensure that businesses can thrive and grow off the support that is on offer. The programme is 100 per cent committed to achieving success – and is one not to be missed.”
Ready to take your business global? For more information go to https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/international-trade/exporting-starts-here/
Contact the Chamber today and one of its advisers will be in touch to support your export journey.
*Provided by Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM), the project is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and delivered by Coventry & Warwickshire, Black Country, and Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.
