We're delighted to have been included in the 'The Drum Indie 100', the publication's 2026 ranking of leading independent agencies from around the world. Even better, Think! was ranked joint 70th globally. For a small independent agency based in Whitefield, Greater Manchester, that's something we're incredibly proud of.
The Indie 100 brings together independent agencies from across the globe, with rankings based on a combination of performance in The Drum World Creative Rankings, achievements at The Drum Awards, and verified client feedback through The Drum Recommends.
The inclusion of client feedback is particularly meaningful to us.
Industry recognition is always appreciated, but we've never believed great creative work exists in isolation. The best outcomes come from understanding challenges properly, building strong client relationships and delivering work that makes a measurable difference.
Proudly independent
Think! has been independent since day one, and that continues to influence the way we work today.
We're not part of a global network or holding company. We don't have offices around the world or a workforce numbering in the hundreds. Instead, we're a focused team in Greater Manchester, working closely with organisations across the UK on branding, design, websites and marketing.
And that's exactly how we like it.
Being independent allows us to make decisions based on what's right for our clients, our team and the future of the business, rather than answering to external stakeholders. It means staying close to projects, building long-term relationships and taking ownership of how we operate as an agency.
We're proud to be a Carbon Balanced agency, with emissions independently measured through Alectro.io, and we're working towards Net Zero by 2030. We're also a supporter of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter and continue to develop our commitment to being a responsible employer.
Longer term, we're working towards B Corp certification to formalise many of the social and environmental commitments already embedded within the business.
We're certainly not claiming to have all the answers, but independence gives us the freedom, and responsibility, to shape the kind of agency we want Think! to be.
Seeing Think! included alongside many significantly larger agencies in a global ranking is both rewarding and a credit to everyone involved.
A proud moment for the agency
As Paul Grogan, Founder and Creative Director at Think!, explains:
"Being included in The Drum Indie 100 is a major milestone for us. We're a relatively small independent agency based in Whitefield, so seeing Think! recognised alongside agencies from around the world is something I'm incredibly proud of.
We've always wanted to stay close to our clients, remain involved in the work and build the agency in a way that reflects our values.
Awards are always welcome, but what makes this recognition especially meaningful is the fact that client feedback forms part of the ranking. We've built Think! around long-term relationships and delivering great work for organisations we genuinely enjoy working with, so that's particularly important to us.
Ultimately, this recognition belongs to the team, our clients and everything we've achieved together."
More recognition for the team
The Indie 100 recognition comes during an already successful year for Think!. Our work has also been recognised by the Creativepool Annual Awards, Indigo Design Awards and Prolific North Creative Awards across branding, digital, design and projects delivering positive social impact.
We've always wanted Think! to be a place that produces excellent work, treats people properly, takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and contributes positively to the communities around it.
None of that would be possible without clients willing to trust us, challenge our thinking and give us the opportunity to do meaningful work.
What's next?
We'll continue helping clients improve their brands, communications and digital experiences. We'll keep challenging briefs when needed, asking difficult questions and focusing on work that delivers meaningful results.
Alongside that, we'll continue working towards Net Zero by 2030, developing our commitments as a Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter supporter and progressing our journey towards B Corp certification.
Because being a good independent agency isn't only about the work you produce. It's also about how you run the business behind it.
Being ranked joint 70th in the ‘The Drum Indie 100’ is a fantastic piece of recognition.
But there's still plenty more to achieve.