In today’s fast-moving landscape, events stand for more than mere social gatherings – they are strategic tools for connection, storytelling, and brand innovation. As companies seek more agile, tailored experiences, a new breed of event partner is stepping up to meet the moment. The Agency Cleo is a unique freelance events agency, boasting access to an extensive network of freelance event specialists and a dedication to delivering events that build brands. We heard more below from Emma Winstanley, Founder and Operations Director, as the firm is named in the Greater London Enterprise Awards 2025. Excellence Award in Iconic Event Management 2025 Small but dynamic, The Agency Cleo is dedicated to creating memorable and impactful experiences for founders, startups, and brands. The 360° agency offers endto-end event planning services that include concept development, venue sourcing, supplier coordination, and on-the-day logistics management. These operations are guided by the core values of passion, leadership, trust, integrity, and prioritising client success, defining how the agency works with clients, selects collaborators, and designs experiences that exceed expectations. When The Agency Cleo was founded in 2021, it primarily focused on providing freelance support to larger event companies. Over time, the agency has grown and scaled, evolving into providing curated support more specifically to founders that are launching an event. “I recognised a need for an event partner that can offer more strategic and creative leadership that helps smaller businesses showcase brand and engage their audience through high quality events,” Emma recalled. The Agency Cleo is a founder-led agency shaped by a culture of collaboration, clarity, and shared entrepreneurial spirit. The agency works primarily with a trusted network of freelancers and event specialists – as well as a selection of suppliers, venues, and creative talent – each selected from London’s dense network and personally vetted by Emma. Though its team may be lean, The Agency Cleo operates as an agile ecosystem wherein each member is aligned with the overarching mission of delivering high impact events that feel personal, purposeful, and polished. “My clients gain access to a highly experienced events specialist without the ongoing overheads,” Emma explained. “They benefit from my well-established network of trusted suppliers – something I have built over years in the industry – allowing them to get the best value and service across all aspects of their events. We offer a streamlined service model; clients deal with one consistent point of contact throughout, mitigating fragmented communication across multiple freelancers or teams.” Through its unique approach, The Agency Cleo has successfully delivered events across multiple countries and has gained invaluable international event experience. This is a distinct advantage for the agency, particularly in catering to UK-based businesses looking to grow their presence overseas. It is this unrivalled expertise that sets The Agency Cleo apart in a crowded market – a masterful combination of flexibility, global expertise, and a streamlined, cost-effective approach tailored specifically for small businesses. Over the last four years, one of the agency’s most significant obstacles has been navigating the unpredictability of early-stage startup clients. Founders often work with limited budgets, shifting priorities, and last-minute decisions – which can create logistical and financial strain when planning events. Instead of admitting defeat, The Agency Cleo leaned into flexibility and built solutions around the challenge, developing modular packages with transparent pricing and scalable services that allow startups to build based on their growth stage and budget. “This shift not only helped our clients feel more in control and supported but also positioned us as more than just an events agency; we became a strategic partner for founders needing high-impact events without the overhead of a traditional agency model,” Emma told us. “As a result, our client retention improved; we gained strong referrals from startup communities; and we built a reputation for being nimble, founder-friendly, and deeply aligned with the startup mindset.” Building on this success, The Agency Cleo is anticipating a period of focused growth and refinement ahead. The agency has built strong momentum working with founders and earlystage startups and is now looking to deepen those relationships by offering more strategic event support – from intimate pitch dinners and product launches to investor-facing experiences. This is a significant development for The Agency Cleo, as the team continues to prove that high-impact events are not bound by format; they are crafted with intention, tailored to the brand, and designed to meet the moment. “Looking ahead, our aim is to become the go-to events partner for startups across their growth journey,” Emma shared. “Our vision is to keep building an agency that is known not just for excellent events, but for being a trusted partner in helping startups show up with confidence, clarity, and creativity – whatever stage they are at.” Contact: Emma Winstanley Company: The Agency Cleo Web Address: www.theagencycleo.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUyMDQwMA==