The Early Years
Ben Duhig and Steve Tricker met while working at advertising firm Artavia. At the time, something in the industry didn’t feel quite right.
Big agencies had buckets of resources but not enough personal touch.
Small agencies had passion but often lacked experience.
Ben - then a media director - was ready to swap spreadsheets for real client relationships.
Steve - then a creative director - wanted the freedom to push bold ideas that made people feel something.
Bluesoup became their answer: an agency built to deliver creative bravery and proper, human care.
Their first home? A humble top-floor office in Northam.
Today? A thriving 22-strong team in the centre of Bideford.
The Teen Years
Like most teenage years, there have been highs, lows, and some serious growth spurts.
COVID brought huge uncertainty for many small businesses, but the team weathered the storm, and today Bluesoup has grown far beyond its pre-COVID position.
There have been countless highs along the way, including:
- Working with brilliant clients and partners
- Building a diverse, talented internal team
- Being named one of Campaign’s Best Places to Work in 2025
- Becoming finalists in the 2024 UK Search Awards
- Achieving B Corp certification, solidifying Bluesoup’s commitment to doing good
- Continuing their meaningful relationship with Edukid
As Steve puts it: “Along the way, we’ve found ourselves doing things no reasonable agency should ever be asked to do - including being forced into not one but two marathon-level ordeals! We’ve also learnt many valuable lessons, like never, ever, playing Revel Roulette or Jelly Baby Snooker before a meeting. Some knowledge comes from textbooks; some comes from fun chaos.”
Coming of Age
So, what does turning 18 mean to Bluesoup?
Ben reflects: “We’re at a sweet spot at the moment: we’re doing great work and have a strong team. We want to continue being true to our principles while still growing. The human factor was - and still is - hugely important to us. We’ve had some fabulous client wins over the years that have meant an awful lot to me personally, and to the business as a whole.”
With a fantastic BLT (Bluesoup Leadership Team) at the helm, there’s no holding back!
The vision for the future is clear: To work alongside like-minded people. Not to do business with anybody - only those with the same ethos and shared values.
