Young Shropshire entrepreneur launches new co-working space

A young entrepreneur has expanded his marketing business, doubled its turnover and opened a new co-working space in Shropshire since launching.

Sam Deakin, 24, founded Coalport-based marketing agency Dash in 2023 after leaving a previous company he had co-founded with a business partner.

Less than three years on, it has grown from a one-person business into a group of three companies, a team of four and is working with national clients.

The business, which specialises in providing digital marketing support to SMEs, has doubled its turnover in the last three years and is expected to achieve its highest turnover to date this financial year.

It recently moved into larger premises in the John Rose Building in Coalport High Street and has launched Dash Spaces, a co-working and meeting space there.

Its aim is to support freelancers, remote workers and small business owners in Shropshire by offering hot-desking and meeting rooms.

The company has also begun developing its own software platforms, including project management and social media scheduling tools designed to reduce costs for both the agency and its clients.

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Mr Deakin, who started his first web design company at 16 while studying for his A-levels, said: "I wanted to create an agency that gave smaller businesses access to the same strategic marketing thinking that larger organisations receive.

"Many business owners know they need help with their marketing but worry they can't afford strategic support. We've worked hard to change that thinking and make high-quality marketing more accessible.

"The fact that we've been able to grow so quickly by word of mouth and clients recommending us to other companies is something I'm incredibly proud of.

"We're still at the beginning of our journey and opening a co-working space is an important part of that as we're helping support the business community."