Who we are

Hello!   Welcome to Damsel & Virgil

We are a full-service marketing agency specialising in the sports and cultural sector. From strategy to execution, whatever your business, we'll help you at every step of the process. We offer consultancy, market research, design, PR & communications, media planning and sponsorship.

With bags of marketing experience, including several years in the highly-charged world of the English Premier League, we are passionate about creating marketing programmes that make a difference - to both organisation and community.

What we're about

Creative wisdom.

We believe in creative thinking – thought leadership & innovation – and 'thinking' creative based on customer insight and market intelligence.

We want to be the best and to work with the best – whether that be writers, designers, researchers, editors, web specialists, clients or brands. Not necessarily the most popular or well-known, just the best. The definition is by our own yardstick of quality and is rooted in a simple but fundamental desire to do great work that, well…..also works.

Audience development

More and more people are engaging in sports and culture. Our communities are becoming increasingly diverse. What are you doing to actively engage new audiences? How will you make sure your existing audiences remain loyal?

Whether you need to put more ‘bums on seats’ or increase visitor numbers, audience development is a vital component of your marketing strategy. Finding new and innovative ways to engage the public and the business community is critical to the success of your organisation in an increasingly competitive and sophisticated leisure market.

Philosophy (Steady Eddie or Bold Betty?)

We like to think of ourselves as a small agency with big ideas, and a global perspective that comes from working across cultural and geographic boundaries and industry sectors.

We like working with talented people who aim high and aren’t afraid of expressing their opinion. Bold is good, we say. Bold can lead to undiscovered territories and wild eureka moments.

Our values include some that wouldn’t be out of place in the sporting and cultural communities: ambition and drive, fair play, passion and pride, creative integrity and an innovative approach to the challenges that we (and our clients) face.

Sponsorship activation

You’ve done the deal, negotiated the rights and secured your sponsorship but do you have the plans and people in place to get the most value out of this exciting asset?

This should be the starting point of a mutually beneficial partnership that can yield rich dividends if planned and delivered well. Unfortunately, it can often be the point at which the cracks start to appear if clear objectives, outcomes and responsibilities are not there from the outset.

Market research

Market research leads to intelligent marketing.

We believe that there is a role for market research in almost every marketing activity. It doesn’t have to cost the earth and take an age. It could be a relatively quick and inexpensive piece of secondary research to understand your competitors, a continuous tracking study or a strategic review. Put simply, research reduces risk and helps to make the right decisions at the right time. To us, that makes good business sense.

Corporate social responsibility

Sports and culture occupy a unique place in society. With their ability to bring together and enrich communities, they are well placed to help address social issues at a local level. Sports and culture-led CSR programmes offer opportunities for business, government and the community to come together, weaving individual objectives for mutual gain.

Enhanced company reputations; motivated staff who are joined together in a common purpose and pride in their company; the opportunity for disadvantaged kids to train with Premiership coaches or experience a theatre workshop – these are just some of the benefits that CSR can bring.

Blossoming relationships

Love your work. Our modus operandi; a simple philosophy and guide to how we like to do business. It's what sets us apart, as well as our relentless passion for doing things better. Here are some of our friends from our blooming client base.