A Teesside entrepreneur who launched a marketing agency during lockdown is celebrating five years in business, having grown from a one-woman start-up into an award-winning team delivering work across the UK and beyond.
When Sophia Gowland founded Petite Agency in August 2020, her aim was simple: to create a business that gave her the freedom to work independently and deliver great work on her own terms. Five years on, that solo start-up has evolved into a respected creative team, small in size but big on impact.
The agency now delivers strategy-led campaigns, personal brand content, and social media management for clients across multiple sectors, including construction, property, professional services, healthcare, and the public sector. Based in Stockton-on-Tees, the team works with clients locally, nationally, and internationally.
The agency’s portfolio includes major local names such as JMAC Group, a £20m+ turnover construction and industrial services company whose rapid growth over the past two years has been supported by Petite’s marketing, branding, and content strategy.
Throughout 2024 and 2025, Petite has also expanded its client base in the capital, signing multiple London-based businesses across professional services and property. “What our London clients value is the mix of strategic thinking and a genuinely personal service, something we’ve carried with us from the North East,” said Sophia.
Since launching, Petite has picked up four industry awards, including Best Small Business at the Tees Businesswomen Awards 2024, and built a reputation for its focused and ambitious approach. The business is also preparing for its next chapter, with recruitment underway for its sixth team member and plans to move into a larger office to accommodate growth.
“My vision for Petite Agency was always about quality over size,” said Sophia. “What started with just me has grown into a team of five (soon to be six), but the same focus remains, keeping things personal while making a bigger impact together.”
“From day one, the Teesside business community has been a brilliant support,” Sophia added. “People gave me a chance before I had the portfolio to back it up, and that early trust gave me the space to grow. I’ll never forget that.”
Earlier this year, the agency secured its first global client, a $100m-turnover industrial brand operating in more than 15 countries. The partnership marked a defining step for the business, positioning Petite as a trusted marketing partner for international B2B brands.
“Our strength isn’t in size, it’s in approach. We succeed by being creative, agile, and human,” said Sophia.
Sophia has also become known for her work in personal brand strategy, delivering workshops and talks on how business leaders can build visibility and trust online, most recently with financial advisers and regional development projects.
“I’m proud of what we’ve built so far, but we’re still learning, still evolving, and still just getting started. For me, it’s not about being the biggest agency, it’s about producing great work and building a business I’m proud of.”
