Category: News

Rebecca Cottingham joined a Bank of England roundtable in Birmingham on Wednesday, invited by Nicola Dolman at Freeths and held at the Colmore Building. The room brought together voices from across construction, manufacturing, infrastructure and beyond, including Graeme Chaplin from the Bank of England, for an honest conversation about where the economy is heading.

On the surface, Birmingham looks busy. Cranes on the skyline, new developments taking shape, the city in motion. But the conversations inside the room told a more cautious story. Projects slowing. Decisions taking longer. A hesitancy creeping into sectors that usually move with confidence.

For a design and web agency, it might not seem like an obvious fit. But Rebecca would tell you it’s exactly where Eighty3 needs to be. When businesses can’t control external pressures like rising costs, supply chain disruption or shifting tax burdens, the focus turns inward. How they operate. How efficiently they communicate. How clearly they present what they do and who they do it for. That’s where design and digital thinking genuinely make a difference, not just making things look better, but helping businesses adapt and stay visible when it matters most.

Working with a lot of manufacturers and businesses across the Black Country, those pressures aren’t abstract. They’re conversations Eighty3 has regularly. Being in a room where those same pressures are being discussed at a regional and national level is valuable, and it keeps the agency close to the realities its clients are navigating every day.

The event also gave Rebecca the chance to catch up with Michael Hoskins to talk through IP and trademarking, one of those areas that’s easy to overlook until you actually need it, as well as a familiar face in Lauren Harris. The kind of morning that reminds you why showing up to these things is always worth it.

Dan and Rebecca Cottingham joined friends, partners, and supporters at West Midlands Safari Park on Saturday 21st March to celebrate a very special milestone. Sponsored Breaks, the organisation founded and run by Simon and Harriet Love, marked five years of giving the gift of respite to unpaid carers across the region, and what a five years it has been.

Sponsored Breaks exists to do something quietly extraordinary. It partners with businesses to fund short breaks for those who dedicate their lives to caring for others, whether that’s a parent caring for a disabled child, or a family member supporting a loved one with complex needs. These are people who rarely get a moment to breathe, let alone a proper break. Simon and Harriet have spent five years changing that, one sponsored trip at a time.

Eighty3 has been proud to walk alongside them as part of that journey. Through their involvement in the Black Country Chamber of Commerce Platinum Group, Dan and Rebecca have built a genuine relationship with Simon and Harriet, collaborating on projects and championing the cause whenever they can. Events like Saturday’s anniversary celebration are a reminder of why those connections matter so much, not just for business, but for the communities they serve.

The evening was a brilliant one. Held against the stunning backdrop of West Midlands Safari Park, the event brought together the businesses and individuals who have helped make Sponsored Breaks what it is today. And the numbers speak for themselves: an incredible £8,000 was raised on the night, money that will go directly towards funding respite breaks for unpaid carers who need them most. Proud doesn’t quite cover it.

Five years. Countless breaks given. Thousands of lives touched. Here’s to the next five.

Some people run a 5k for charity. Manny Kang walks 156 miles from Wolverhampton to London without sleeping. We know which one we’d rather write about.

Manny is one of those rare human beings who makes you feel quietly ashamed of how little you’ve done with your weekend. Over seven years of extraordinary fundraising, he’s completed five London Marathons, walked nearly 200 miles from Wolves to Newcastle with his son, cycled non-stop for 24 hours, and helped raise over £345,000 for Dementia UK. He carries names of loved ones lost to dementia on his trainers. He runs his 23rd Samosa Saturday fundraiser like it’s nothing. He just keeps going.

This April, Manny is back with what he’s calling Manny’s Marathon Madness 2026. Starting on 24th April, he’ll walk 156 miles from Wolverhampton to the start line of the London Marathon, arriving just in time to run his sixth. All without a single minute of sleep. Three days. No rest. Just grit, heart, and a cause worth every blister.

Here at Eighty3, we were delighted to play a small part. We printed the event t-shirts and made a donation to his JustGiving page, because honestly, how could we not? Manny came into The Warehouse in Brierley Hill and the whole team was genuinely moved by his story. He’s warm, he’s funny, he’s utterly determined, and he’s doing all of this to support families affected by dementia through Dementia UK’s incredible Admiral Nurses. These are specialist nurses who provide real, hands-on support to families at some of the hardest moments of their lives, and they rely entirely on donations to keep going.

If you want to back one of the most inspiring people the Black Country has ever produced, scan the QR code on the shirt, or head straight to his JustGiving page. Every pound counts. We’ll be following Manny’s every step on 24th to 26th April and cheering him on from Brierley Hill. Come on Manny. Up the Wolves.

👉 Donate here: justgiving.com/fundraising/mkang

You know something’s a big deal when nearly 2,800 people vote on it. And we’re absolutely made up to say that Eighty3 has been named one of the latest Bostin’ Black Country Businesses by the Black Country Chamber of Commerce.

Eighty3 was one of three businesses chosen to headline the Dynamic Dozen. The latest cohort of companies handpicked to fly the flag for the Black Country alongside us were Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and Walsh Funerals and Memorials. Votes from the public were combined with feedback from the Chamber’s board of directors to whittle eighteen fantastic nominations down to the final twelve.

The Bostin’ campaign was created to champion the most innovative, creative, and resilient businesses in the region, changing perceptions and raising the profile of the Black Country on a national stage. To be included in that conversation genuinely means a lot to us.

As a Brierley Hill design agency that’s been proudly rooted in the Black Country for ten years, this recognition feels particularly special. We’ve always believed this region is full of brilliant businesses doing brilliant things and it’s great to see that story being told properly.

We’re now part of a growing community of 30 Bostin’ businesses, with the Chamber working towards a 50-strong alumni by September 2026. We’ll be flying the flag, getting involved in events, and doing what we do best: making the Black Country look good.

Bostin’, if we do say so ourselves.

Read the full article here.

Good things happen when you build good relationships. We are thrilled to announce that Tobi has joined the Eighty3 team as our new junior designer, and we could not be more pleased to welcome them through the door. This is what growing a team the right way looks like.

Tobi comes to us directly through our long-standing link with the University of Wolverhampton, a connection we are genuinely proud of. The university has a strong creative programme, and it has been brilliant to see that talent filtering through into the Black Country’s design community. Having that pipeline on our doorstep, here in Brierley Hill, feels like exactly what the region deserves.

A special mention has to go to Marc Austin, whose support in making this happen was invaluable. These things rarely come together without someone going the extra mile behind the scenes, and Marc did exactly that. We are grateful, and we will not forget it.

For Tobi, this is the beginning of something exciting. Joining a close-knit agency like Eighty3 means getting stuck in from day one, working on real projects for real clients, and developing a design instinct that no classroom can fully teach. We love seeing fresh perspectives arrive at The Warehouse, and Tobi is already bringing energy and enthusiasm that fits right in with how we work.

We have always believed that nurturing local talent is one of the most important things a Black Country business can do. Investing in people from the region, giving them somewhere brilliant to grow, and building a team that genuinely reflects the community around us. That is what Eighty3 is about. Welcome to the team, Tobi. Proper made up to have you here.

Some projects are just jobs. And then there are the ones that remind you why partnerships matter. When MoRServ launched its brand new Risk Division, they knew the digital side of things had to do more than just look the part. It needed to communicate clearly, build confidence quickly, and help businesses understand exactly how MoRServ could save them time, worry and money. That’s quite a brief to land.

They brought it to us here at Eighty3, and honestly, it’s the kind of work we love. MoRServ’s Risk Division offers support packages that take real pressure off businesses, and it was our job to make sure that value came through the moment someone landed on the site. No jargon, no faff. Just a clean, intuitive experience that lets the services speak for themselves.

What came out the other side is a website we’re genuinely proud of. Clear layouts, engaging content, and a user journey that guides visitors naturally from curiosity to confidence. The kind of thing that looks effortless but takes proper craft to get right.

There’s something worth celebrating here beyond the work itself, though. Both Eighty3 and MoRServ are members of The Platinum Group, part of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, and this project is a brilliant example of what that community can produce. Two local businesses, a shared vision, and a result that’s better for both. That’s not networking. That’s a Black Country design agency doing what it does best.

Read the article here.

The Black Country Chamber of Commerce Expo came back with a bang in February, and Eighty3 was right in the thick of it. Held at Wolverhampton Racecourse and Conference Centre, the event pulled in over 650 visitors from across the Midlands for a day of proper networking, great conversations, and businesses doing what businesses do best: connecting with each other.

We had an absolute belter of a day. From the moment we set up, it was non-stop. Hundreds of conversations with business owners, chamber members, new faces and familiar ones. We met the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Craig Collingswood, and even crossed paths with Wolves legend Steve Bull, who was there in his role as a business ambassador. Not a bad Tuesday, all things considered.

The atmosphere was exactly what you want from an event like this. Warm, buzzy, and full of people who genuinely care about what they do and where they do it. The Black Country has always had that community spirit, and the expo had it in abundance.

But here is where we have to be honest with you. The real headline act was not us. It was our giant inflatable cat. It caused an absolute sensation. People stopped, stared, laughed, and immediately wanted to talk to us. Whether it was a stroke of marketing genius or just a very good idea that got out of hand, we will leave that for you to decide. Either way, the cat delivered.

Events like the Black Country Chamber Expo are a reminder of why showing up in person still matters. You cannot replicate that kind of energy behind a screen. The connections made, the conversations started, the leads sparked, all of it comes from being in the room. We are already looking forward to the next one. And yes, the cat will almost certainly be making a return appearance.

8000 birthday cards. That was Amelia’s wish. And honestly, it’s one of the most brilliant things we’ve ever heard.

Amelia Kolpa has been fighting neuroblastoma since she was two years old. For her eighth birthday on the 3rd of March, she had one wish: 8000 birthday cards. Not toys. Not a party. Just cards. Thousands of them. Something to make a birthday that might have to be spent in hospital feel truly extraordinary. When we saw Matt’s Facebook video shared by a couple of our clients, we didn’t think twice. We reached out straight away.

Within hours, we’d designed and delivered three roller banners for Matt at Lockside Steakhouse in Wollaston. Design done Wednesday night. Banners delivered Thursday morning. That’s the bit we love about what we do here in Brierley Hill. When something matters, you find a way to make it happen quickly and you make it good. It’s a small contribution in the grand scheme of things, but small contributions add up. And the response to Amelia’s campaign has been nothing short of incredible. The target looks set to be well and truly smashed.

If you’d like to be part of it, you can drop a birthday card off at Lockside Steakhouse, Enville Street, Wollaston, Stourbridge. Matt and the team are collecting them now ahead of the big delivery to Amelia. Every single card counts.

Here at Eighty3, we’re proud of where we come from and we’re proud of the community around us. The Black Country looks after its own. Days like this remind us exactly why we love what we do.

Happy birthday, Amelia. You are, quite frankly, an inspiration. 🧡

This morning, Dan had the privilege of speaking at the Molineux. Not just his beloved stadium, but the home of some brilliant Black Country business connections. Maria Scuillion had invited him to share the Eighty3 story at Molineux Meets, and it turned out to be one of those mornings that reminds you exactly why getting out from behind the desk and into the room matters.

He was in good company too. Joining him on the speaker lineup were Sarah Cowell from Kindridge Bid Solutions, Charlotte Davies (Charlotte The Copywriter), Bill Etheridge from Acton Jennings, and Tim Hubbard from Your Digital Hub. Five businesses, five stories, and one room full of people genuinely interested in hearing them. Proper Black Country networking done right.

Dan’s presentation covered the journey behind Eighty3, from the early days through to where the agency sits today, complete with some throwback photos of Dan and Rebecca that clearly struck a chord with the audience. After the session, people kept coming over to chat. “We’ve always wondered where the name Eighty3 came from, now we know!” That kind of reaction says everything. People are curious about the story behind a business. They want to understand the journey, see the faces behind the brand, and know what makes you tick. It’s what turns you from a company they’ve heard of into people they actually connect with.

It got us thinking about how many businesses sit on a brilliant story and never tell it properly. Not because it isn’t interesting, but because it feels a bit awkward to talk about yourself. The corporate waffle kicks in, the personality disappears, and what could have been something genuinely compelling ends up sounding like every other About page on the internet. Sound familiar?

We’ve written more about this in our latest blog, looking at why your business story matters and how to tell it in a way that actually lands. If you’ve ever struggled to explain what you do, why you started, or what makes you different, it’s worth a read. Sometimes all it takes is someone asking the right questions and giving you the space to answer them honestly.

In the meantime, a massive thanks to Maria Scuillion for organising such a spot-on event and for continuing to build the kind of community that makes the Black Country business scene something genuinely special. If you haven’t been to a Molineux Meets event yet, put it on your list.

When Marc Austin from the University of Wolverhampton asked us to judge a national poster design competition, we didn’t need to think twice. The ‘Be Who You Want to Be’ brief had drawn over 200 entries from Level 3 creative students right across the UK. That’s 200 young designers putting themselves out there, taking a risk, showing what they can do. Marc and his team at the School of Creative Industries had the unenviable job of narrowing it down to a shortlist of 30 for us to judge. Even at that stage, every single piece had something that made us pause and take proper notice.

This afternoon, Dan, Rebecca, and Emily headed back to the George Wallis building in Wolverhampton to present the first prize to a brilliant student from Shrewsbury College whose work genuinely stopped us in our tracks. Choosing just one winner from that shortlist? Tougher than we’d bargained for.

Judging poster design competitions like this isn’t just about picking our favourite. It’s about giving students that first proper taste of industry recognition – the moment when their work stops being just another graded assignment and becomes something genuinely celebrated by working professionals. That shift matters more than you might think. It’s the difference between “I’m studying design” and “I’m a designer.” Every entry we reviewed deserved recognition. A bold colour choice here, a clever conceptual twist there, a confidence in execution that made us lean in and look closer. The standard was genuinely impressive.

Walking back into the George Wallis building always feels like coming home for us. The energy in those studios, the creative chaos pinned to every wall, the next generation of designers figuring out their voice and finding their feet – it reminds us exactly why we got into this industry in the first place. Supporting young creatives isn’t just a nice thing to do. It’s essential. These students are the future of design, and competitions like this give them a platform to shine long before they’ve even graduated or built their first portfolio.

To everyone who entered: you’re already designers. The fact that you put your work forward, that you took the brief and ran with it, that you created something from nothing – that’s what makes you a designer, not a qualification or a piece of paper. Keep pushing, keep questioning, keep making work that genuinely matters.

To Marc and the brilliant team at the School of Creative Industries: thank you for including us in something this special. Initiatives like this are exactly what the creative community needs more of.

And to our winner from Shrewsbury College: huge congratulations. Your poster wowed us. We genuinely can’t wait to see what you create next!

We took our lucky cat mascot to the Business Funding Summit yesterday. What started as a bit of fun turned into dozens of proper conversations with business owners at completely different stages of their journey.

The sheer range of talent in one room was brilliant. Every stall we visited, every conversation we had, felt completely different from the last. One minute we’re talking scaling strategies with someone who’s already conquered their market, the next we’re hearing about a brand-new venture that’s just finding its feet. The common thread running through it all? Everyone’s trying to figure out the next right move for their business. We get that. It’s what keeps our work interesting.

West Midlands business networking events like this remind you just how packed the region is with people doing genuinely interesting things. The unexpected connections are what make it worth showing up. Those “oh, you do THAT?” moments when you realise the person at the next table has solved the exact problem you’ve been wrestling with. Or when you discover a local manufacturer who’s been quietly innovating for decades. These aren’t the conversations you have scrolling LinkedIn at your desk.

Our lucky cat became an accidental icebreaker. Turns out, a bright orange mascot is excellent for starting conversations you might not otherwise have. Business funding summits can feel a bit formal, but when you’ve got a grinning cat photobombing serious discussions about investment readiness, the whole atmosphere shifts. People relax. Real conversations happen. That’s when the good stuff comes out.

Thanks to Business Growth West Midlands for putting the event together. If you’re a West Midlands business owner wondering whether these networking events are worth your time, here’s our take: show up. Bring business cards. Bring curiosity. Bring your lucky cat if you’ve got one. The connections you make might surprise you. The businesses you meet will definitely inspire you. And you’ll leave with a reminder that the Black Country and broader West Midlands region is absolutely buzzing with ambitious people building brilliant things. Good to connect with so many of you.