Category: News

We are absolutely thrilled to share that Eighty3 has been named a finalist for the Catalyst for Creativity category at the 2026 Black Country Chamber Business Awards. Standing out in a region built on grit, craft, and serious talent is no small task. Getting recognised alongside some of the best businesses in the region means a great deal to every single one of us. We love what we do, and having that passion acknowledged on home turf feels brilliant.

This particular category is all about celebrating the creative businesses that bring original thinking to life and deliver genuine impact. For a long time, the creative sector has had to fight for the credit it truly deserves. We firmly believe that creative agencies do remarkable work every day, and that effort deserves to be highlighted and celebrated properly. Being shortlisted proves that pushing creative boundaries and trying new things is always worth the effort. It shows that taking risks with bold ideas leads to standout work.

Our growth over the years comes down to our incredible team and the visionary clients who trust us with their brands. Design is never a solo effort. It takes open conversations, honest collaboration, and a mutual willingness to try something fresh. Whether we are working on a brand identity, building a website, or planning a campaign, we throw everything into it. The Black Country has always been a place where people make things happen, and we are proud to keep that spirit alive in everything we design.

Win or lose at the ceremony later this year, making the final cut is a huge win for us. We are raising a glass to our amazing team, our brilliant clients, and every other local business making waves right now. We cannot wait to put on our best outfits, head to the awards night, and celebrate everything that makes this region so special. Wish us luck!

We love a good chat about branding, but we love it even more when we get to roll up our sleeves with fellow Black Country businesses. This morning, the Eighty3 team packed up our ideas and headed over to Molineux for the latest Platinum Group Sharing Best Practice Forum. Hosted by the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, these sessions are all about swapping real-world knowledge to help local companies look more strategically at their business growth. For us, it was the perfect opportunity to dive into a subject we live and breathe every single day: finding, refining, and amplifying your authentic identity.

The session was split into two practical halves to give everyone a complete toolkit. Dan kicked things off by guiding attendees through tasks designed to pinpoint their core brand values and uncover a distinct brand voice, helping businesses truly connect and talk with their customers. Bec then took the baton to focus on knowing exactly who you are talking to and making sure your outreach actually works together. She walked everyone through setting up a self-feeding “marketing engine”, where every activity feeds the next in a seamless, ongoing process.

We didn’t want to just stand at the front and lecture the room, so we got everyone collaborating, testing out ideas, and tackling real-world challenges. With Emily and Tobi capturing the action on camera while actively stepping in to lend a hand whenever delegates needed a bit of guidance, the energy in the room was brilliant. It turns out that when you get a group of passionate Black Country leaders together, the ideas flow fast.

The absolute icing on the cake came at the end of the morning. We were incredibly proud to be presented with the official Bostin’ Black Country Business Hall of Fame badge by Gail Arnold. Being called a ‘Bostin’ Business means the world to us. We’re proud of our and helping people unlock their potential is exactly why we do what we do. A huge thank you to Kieron Ansell at the Wolves Foundation for being the perfect host, and to everyone who brought their energy and insights to the table.

We’re proud to share that our very own Bec was recently invited to take part in a thought-provoking discussion hosted by the Invictus Trust, exploring how education must evolve to meet the demands of an AI-driven world.

The session, titled From Classroom to Career: Reimagining Education for an AI-Driven Economy, brought together voices from business and beyond to tackle one of the most important questions facing employers and educators right now. How do we prepare people for roles that don’t yet exist? It’s a big question, and one that doesn’t have a simple answer.

Bec was invited to contribute as a business leader with genuine, hands-on experience of developing talent. At Eighty3, that’s something we take seriously. From welcoming work experience students to bringing junior creatives into the fold and watching them grow, we’ve always believed that opportunity is something you create, not wait for. That belief sits right at the core of what we do: creating opportunities that fulfil potential.

The AI and education discussion covered everything from curriculum design to the real-world experience gap, with a focus on building a talent pipeline that’s genuinely ready for what’s coming. For Bec, it was an opportunity to speak honestly about what actually works when you’re running a creative business and investing in the people around you every single day.

The Invictus Trust has promised more to follow from the series. If this discussion is anything to go by, it’s one worth watching.

Brierley Hill doesn’t do things by halves. When the Brierley Hill Community Enterprise Guild (BHCEG) decided to host a free networking event at The Dockworks Waterfront, they didn’t just fill a room. They brought together local business people, community representatives, councillors, and even the Mayor of Dudley himself for an evening that celebrated everything the BHCEG stands for and where it’s heading next.

Dan and Rebecca from Eighty3 were proud to play their part in making the event happen. Alongside helping to organise the evening, the pair put together the goody bags that greeted guests on arrival. Elijah was also on hand, camera in tow, documenting the night as it unfolded. It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes contribution that might not always make the headlines, but it matters. Getting the details right sets the tone, and the tone on the night was brilliant.

The turnout spoke for itself. Local business owners rubbed shoulders with council representatives from across the area, all gathered in one of Brierley Hill’s most striking settings. The Mayor of Dudley and his wife joined the evening too, a gesture that underlined just how significant the BHCEG‘s work is to the wider community. This wasn’t a room full of strangers exchanging business cards. It was a genuine coming-together of people who care about Brierley Hill and what it can become.

The Brierley Hill Community Enterprise Guild exists to support and celebrate community enterprise in the area, and events like this are exactly why that mission matters. Connections were made, conversations were had, and the energy in the room was a reminder of what happens when a community gets behind itself. Eighty3 is rooted in Brierley Hill, and being part of something like this isn’t just good business. It’s what good neighbours do.

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.