Branded3 scoops big briefs for cosmetic surgery giant

The Hospital Group – one of the largest UK providers of cosmetic and weight loss surgery – has appointed Branded3 to work on both its search and media accounts, following a pitch process involving five other agencies.
The St Ives-owned agency, which is 15 years old this month, has operations in Leeds, London and Bath. It is supporting The Hospital Group across media channels, starting this month with SEO, PPC, CRO, PR and social media. Branded3 will focus on increasing brand awareness, both online and offline.
The Hospital Group operates 17 clinics and hospitals, including what is claimed to be the largest purpose-built cosmetic and weight loss surgery hospital in Europe.
The Hospital Group and Transform head of marketing Jeff Ashfield said: “Branded3 have an enviable reputation within the online search and media arena. We are thrilled to be working with them and are looking forward to developing our weight loss and cosmetic footprint online as we develop our business as a whole.”
Branded3 chief executive Tim Grice added: “We’re looking forward to working with the team at The Hospital Group – they go about things the right way and we’re totally bought into outcomes they deliver for their patients. They’re a brand we know well from our experience with sister business Transform and we’re excited to help push them forwards, as we continue our own expansion across media channels.”
Branded3 will be keen to avoid any repetition of the kind of ads – devised by a different agency – which have landed sister business Transform in hot water with the ad watchdog. In January, the Advertising Standards Authority upheld its third complaint about Transform TV ads in the previous 18 months; in July 2016 it was rapped for suggesting that young girls could gain popularity and feel more confident if they had a breast enlargement. However, the firm did escape censure in October last year over an ad which included “busty” scenes of a young woman.