Soho-based public relations agency, PHA Media, has been appointed by Dragons’ Den star Jordan Daykin to oversee his UK PR and communications for a third time.
Daykin, 22, became the youngest entrepreneur in history to receive investment in the Den at 18 years old, when Deborah Meaden gave him £80,000 for a stake in GripIt Fixings, a business Jordan founded when he was just 14. Today, the company is valued at £20million and has completed two successful crowdfunding rounds—the most recent of which raised £2.14million from more than 1,400 investors via Crowdcube. In 2017 Daykin grew staff numbers from 5 to 47 and increased revenues by 350%.
Last month, Daykin announced his acquisition of automotive industry heavyweight VPS Group for £5m, with plans to raise significant funds and capitalise on the booming number plate market. Since making a name for itself as a leading contract supplier for the automotive sector, the business -which employs 160 people and turns over £5.1m—now has five main revenue streams, including a growing number plate manufacturing arm.
Throughout 2018, PHA Media’s Technology and Innovation team will work with Daykin to raise his personal profile as a serial young entrepreneur, and in doing so continue to grow the presence of VPS Group and GripIt Fixings in the mainstream media.
Jordan Daykin, founder of GripIt Fixings and CEO of VPS Group, said: “Having worked with PHA Media at the time of my Dragons’ Den appearance and subsequent fundraising rounds, I’m familiar with their ability to deliver, making them an obvious partner for this new chapter in my career. They know my story and understand my ambitions, and I’m looking forward to a successful 2018.”
Ben Cossor, Senior Account Manager at PHA Media, commented: “We’re very proud to be working with Jordan again on the back of two successful PR campaigns over the last three years. He’s an exceptionally talented entrepreneur and businessman, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to take his profile to the next level and witness first-hand the continued growth of GripIt Fixings and VPS Group.”
Daykin has been on the VPS Group board as a Non-Executive Director for two years, offering strategic advice to the company his father originally founded in 2004. As well as aiming to sell 1 million number plates in 2018, Daykin has ambitions this year to grow VPS Group’s labor supply nationally and make use of its extensive staffing database to grow its recruitment offering.
