Name: Steve McGrath
Age: Thirty eight
Occupation: Managing Director, Big Dot Media. Daddy to three beautiful children.
Spoken For?: Happily married for 15yrs!
Children: Three, 2 boys (7yrs, 4yrs) & 1 girl (10yrs)
Favourite Film: Up Close and Personal
Motto: Screw it, let’s do it (Richard Branson)
Hello Steve, how are you today?
Tired – it’s been a very busy and very long week
What did you have for breakfast this morning:
Frosted Shreddies
What are you working on right now:
A flash movie for one of our partners, whilst having a deep and meaningful office discussion on Speedibeet – just another random day in the BigDot office
How did the idea for Big Dot Media come about?:
I set up the agency as a run-of-the-mill web design agency about 4 years ago and formed a partnership with an advertising agency after using them in a previous role. It worked well and I soon realised there was a niche in the market for creative agency partnerships. Due to the explosion in digital media, there were many agencies who just didn’t have the capability nor the knowledge to offer a fully integrated service to their clients, so we took the decision to focus solely on partnerships with creative agencies rather than working with end-user clients. We have formed some great, trusted partnerships, and some strong friendships, and we wouldn’t do things any other way.
Do you ever encounter any major difficulties in your partnerships?:
Not really, in fact it’s been rather easy. Many times we have been told that we were just what they needed to increase their service to their clients. And because we sign non-disclosure agreements before discussing any work, our partners are safe in the knowledge that their clients are safe – we have heard the same story from many of our partners about other digital agencies trying to approach their clients direct. The non-disclosure agreement brings an immediate element of trust to the partnership.
The only other difficulty that we sometimes encounter is the fact that we can not showcase the work that we do, as we work in a silent and confidential capacity. Therefore when we visit a new partner, the first job really is given on a trust basis. Most partnerships usually begin with a couple of small jobs, and then the partnership blossoms from there.
Have you always worked in I.T?:
I have a background in business development, health and safety and human resources. I was a digital media and IT manager for a global recruitment organisation for 10 years before Big Dot Media. My first real job after leaving school was as a bus driver, but after crashing eight buses, I decided it wasn’t my forte. (Actually GM Buses decided it wasn’t my forte)
Who did you vote for in the General Election?:
Conservative
What one thing are you most proud of?:
All of my three children
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?:
Bora Bora
Where do you see Big Dot Media in five years time?
As far as I am aware, we are the UK’s only specialist confidential digital media agency for creative agencies, but I would like us to be recognised as the UK’s number one, having created many more partnerships and forging more exceptional relationships.
Leave a Reply
