Red Hot Penny was founded in 2015 and specialises in SEO, PPC and digital analytics, with clients including La Perla, Megabus, Skatehut ad SEKO Logistics.

The agency will be integrated into The PHA Group to establish a new Digital division, led by Red Hot Penny’s former Managing Director, David Schulhof, who will report into PHA’s Group MDs Shelley Frosdick and Stuart Skinner.

Jodie Wheeler, RHP’s former Client Services Director, will become Associate Director in the Digital division.

The acquisition will also fortify PHA’s central services, social media and northern teams with new talent joining in those areas.

PHA has seen 20% growth during the last 12 months and will now move beyond the annual fee income milestone of £10m, with further regional growth to build on their presence in Manchester, expected to follow soon.

PHA Group's joint MD Shelley Frosdick commented, “Demand for digital expertise is increasing and we are delighted to establish a genuine centre of excellence within PHA, following the acquisition of Red Hot Penny.

It has been great to get to know David and his team; they are an impressive group with complementary skills and a shared cultural approach focused on the highest quality work. We fully expect the Digital team to become another driver for growth and opportunity.”

Whilst David Schulhof, former MD of Red Hot Penny said, “Our desire to provide clients with the best possible support, as well as offer our employees continual development opportunities, meant that we needed to evolve as an agency. Becoming part of The PHA Group ticks all these boxes and together we will deliver an industry leading proposition.”