Penny Gibbs launched the business in October 2023.
Staffordshire digital marketing business Red Rose Media & Marketing has been named a finalist in the Best Digital Marketing Agency category at The UK Small Business Awards.
The company, founded by Penny Gibbs, has been recognised for the work it does to help small businesses, charities and health-related organisations become more confident, visible and effective online.
The UK Small Business Awards are designed to celebrate the remarkable achievements of businesses and entrepreneurs across the UK.
Penny, who is based in Staffordshire, launched the business in October 2023 alongside her role in NHS communications. Within 12 months, she had made the decision to leave the corporate world and become a full-time freelancer.
Nearly 20 years of experience across broadcast journalism, NHS communications and digital marketing underpin the business, which provides support including digital marketing strategy, social media management, website development, SEO, content creation, video content and wider online visibility.
For Penny, the recognition reflects an approach to digital marketing that goes beyond simply posting more content or chasing the latest online trend.
She says that “my approach to digital marketing starts with understanding the business, the audience, the message and the action we want people to take”.
From there, I look at how everything connects from websites and SEO to social media and content to create a clear and joined-up strategy that delivers real value for the business.
The business works with a diverse range of mainly local clients, from health and support-based businesses to charities, new businesses and organisations looking to strengthen their online profile.
Penny helps businesses get found, trusted and chosen online by bringing all the different elements of digital marketing together. From improving search visibility and creating engaging content to strengthening websites, social media and content. She makes sure businesses are not simply visible but are communicating clearly and authentically with the people they want to reach.
Penny’s background in communications also means storytelling and building trust are central to her work. She has supported clients with everything from launching their online profile and improving local SEO to strengthening media profiles, developing social content and translating technical products and services into accessible, engaging marketing.
A key part of Red Rose Media & Marketing’s work is making digital marketing feel less overwhelming.
“Many of my clients come to me feeling completely overwhelmed by digital marketing,” Penny explains. “I want them to understand what they are doing, why it matters and how it supports their goals. The strategy needs to be realistic and manageable, as well as effective.”
The business has also continued to evolve and since running the business full-time Penny has continued to find ways to enhance her clients’ experience such as developing a broader range of services including Power Hours, masterclasses, training and group offers.
Ultimately, she says the motivation behind Red Rose Media & Marketing remains simple: helping people doing meaningful work to communicate it effectively.
My values are fairness, honesty, trust and authenticity and I wanted to create a business that was strategic but approachable, professional but human, and helped people show up online in a way that feels true to them.
Red Rose Media & Marketing will now be put forward to the final with the overall winner being announced at an awards event later this year.
For Penny, being named a finalist is an important milestone for a business that began with a few requests from people asking for help with their social media and has grown into a full-time digital marketing business supporting organisations across a range of sectors.
To find out more about Penny’s work visit Red Rose Media & Marketing | Marketing for small businesses.