Author: Eighty3Dan

There’s something genuinely brilliant about putting on your best clobber, heading to The Halls in Wolverhampton, and spending an evening surrounded by the people who make the Black Country tick. That’s exactly what we did at the recent Black Country Chamber Awards, and honestly, we wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

Did we come home with a gong? No. Did we have an absolute belter of a night? Absolutely. The awards bring together some of the most ambitious, hardworking businesses this region has to offer, and being in that room, properly dressed up, rubbing shoulders with the great and good of Black Country business, reminded us why we love working right here in the heart of it all.

It’s easy to get heads-down in the day-to-day. Client briefs, deadlines, the next project on the boards. Nights like this are a proper reminder that Brierley Hill sits in the middle of a genuinely thriving business community, one that’s been gritty, creative, and quietly brilliant for centuries. We’re proud to be part of it.

No trophy on the shelf this time, but we came back buzzing. The conversations, the connections, the canapés and the crack. That’s the real return on a night like this. The Black Country Chamber Awards celebrate the businesses making this region worth celebrating, and we’ll be back next year with our glad rags on and fingers firmly crossed.

Here’s to the whole community. Black Country forever.

Eighty3 Design’s Dan and Rebecca Cottingham were among the guests at the Wolves Foundation Gala Dinner 2025, an evening celebrating the extraordinary work the Foundation carries out across the Black Country and the lives it continues to change.

The Brierley Hill agency was invited to attend through their work on the Wolves Foundation Sleepout campaign and their connections via the Black Country Chamber of Commerce. The event brought together businesses, community figures, and supporters of the Foundation for a night of inspiring stories and well-deserved recognition.

Guests had the opportunity to meet players from both the Wolves men’s and women’s first teams, but one moment in particular stood out. Dan and Rebecca had the chance to meet John Richards, the Wolves legend and club icon, who happens to hold a very special place in the Eighty3 story. It was John who gave Rebecca her very first graphic design job, making the evening something of a full circle moment for the agency’s director.

The Wolves Foundation does vital work across Wolverhampton and the wider Black Country, using the power of football to support people facing a range of challenges, from mental health and unemployment to education and community cohesion. For Eighty3, being part of that story through their design work is a source of real pride. The agency’s involvement with the Sleepout campaign reflects a wider commitment to working with organisations that make a genuine difference in the communities they serve. A special thank you goes to Laura Cahill for the invitation to attend what was a truly memorable evening.

We’re absolutely made up to announce that our very own Emily has been nominated for Employee of the Year 2025 by the Black Country Chamber. It’s the kind of news that makes you stop, smile, and feel genuinely proud of the people around you.

Emily joined Eighty3 back in 2020 and has been a constant presence ever since. Five years. Five years of showing up, getting stuck in, and quietly making everything work. If you’ve ever wondered how a small creative agency keeps all its plates spinning, the honest answer is people like Emily.

She was nominated by Rebecca and Dan, which tells you everything you need to know. This wasn’t a formal process or a box to tick. It came from the people who work alongside her every single day and know first hand what she brings to the table. Her hard work, her reliability, and the kind of steady support that you only truly appreciate when you imagine what life without it would look like. Rebecca and Dan are very clear on that point. Without Emily, Eighty3 Design simply would not run the way it does.

The Black Country Chamber Employee of the Year award recognises individuals who go above and beyond for their organisations, and Emily fits that description perfectly. She’s not someone who chases the spotlight. She just gets on with it, does it brilliantly, and makes everyone around her better in the process. That’s rarer than you’d think.

We are so proud of her for this nomination and we’ll be cheering her on loudly every step of the way. Watch this space.