We’re delighted to announce KAYBE as the winner of Branding Agency of the Year at the My Local Awards 2026 Yorkshire.

This award recognises agencies that combine creativity, strategy and real client impact, and KAYBE has earned that recognition in impressive style. A multi-award-winning marketing agency with a passion for digital, KAYBE has built a strong reputation for producing high-quality work that not only looks great, but delivers meaningful results. Their team is driven by curiosity, creativity and a genuine commitment to helping clients grow.

What makes this win especially powerful is that it reflects exactly what KAYBE set out to achieve from the beginning: to challenge the traditional agency model and build something better. Their success has come from caring deeply about their clients, understanding their goals and approaching every project with the kind of energy and attention that makes brands stand out for the right reasons.

Built to do agency work differently

KAYBE’s story began in 2019, when founders Kris and Christiane were working independently as marketing consultants on a corporate project. Through that experience, they discovered they shared the same frustrations with the agency world: bold promises at the start, followed by confusion, disputes and disappointment once contracts were signed.

Rather than accepting that as the norm, they decided to create something different. Their vision was to turn the traditional agency model on its head and build a business that genuinely cared about customers while driving growth through passion and curiosity. As demand for their work grew, KAYBE was officially registered as a limited company on 14 February 2020.

That founding story says a lot about the business they have become. KAYBE was not built around hype or empty claims. It was built around the idea that strong client relationships, honest collaboration and smart creative thinking should be at the heart of agency work. That mindset has clearly shaped everything they do and is a big reason why they are such deserving winners of this year’s award.

What makes KAYBE stand out

In a crowded marketing landscape, differentiation matters. KAYBE believes their biggest point of difference is their people, mindset and customer obsession, and it is easy to see why.

They describe themselves as a team of self-confessed marketing nerds, always staying up to date with the latest developments in digital marketing and constantly looking for better ways to help clients succeed. But technical knowledge alone is not what makes them special. What really sets KAYBE apart is the way they get under the skin of a client’s business, understanding not just what they do, but what they want to achieve.

That depth of understanding allows them to treat their clients’ goals as if they were their own. It creates branding and marketing work that feels strategic, personal and genuinely aligned with the business behind it. Instead of delivering generic ideas that could apply to anyone, KAYBE focuses on building brands that speak to real people in a real and relevant way.

Big achievements, strong relationships

One of KAYBE’s biggest milestones so far has been working with some of the largest global tech companies, helping to promote products and services through creative campaigns that support both brand awareness and lead generation. That is a major achievement for any agency, and especially impressive for one that has grown by staying true to its client-first ethos.

At the same time, some of the moments they are proudest of are much more personal. For KAYBE, one of the clearest signs they are doing something right is when a client recommends them to someone else, or when a client moves to a new business or starts a new venture and wants KAYBE to come with them. That kind of loyalty is incredibly valuable.

It shows that KAYBE is not just delivering projects. They are building trust. They are becoming long-term partners to the businesses they work with, and that is one of the strongest indicators of a successful agency. It also proves that their original vision of creating a different kind of agency is not just a good idea on paper. It is working in practice.

Overcoming challenges and growing stronger

Every successful business has challenges behind the scenes, and KAYBE’s early hurdles were certainly memorable. One of their biggest unexpected obstacles came when trying to set up a UK business bank account with an overseas director. In a digital age, it sounded like something that should be simple, but the reality was far more complicated.

It required persistence, determination and, in their own words, a lot of time on the phone and in waiting areas. It may not be the glamorous side of agency life, but it is a reminder that behind every growing business there are unseen moments of frustration, patience and problem-solving.

What matters is that they got there in the end, and that resilience has become part of the KAYBE story. It reflects the same mindset they now bring to client work: stay curious, keep pushing and do not stop until the result is there.

Supporting community through expertise

KAYBE’s impact extends beyond commercial work. They also use their marketing expertise to support causes that matter, working with charitable organisations such as Melanoma Me and Helping Pets North East. By providing marketing support and digital platforms, they help these organisations communicate their missions more effectively and reach wider audiences.

That community-focused approach is a strong reflection of the agency’s values. They understand that branding and marketing are not just tools for selling. They can also be powerful tools for raising awareness, building support and helping important organisations make a bigger difference.

Their connection to Yorkshire also plays a key role in how they work. KAYBE believes local businesses are the backbone of the economy, and they are proud to support organisations across Yorkshire and the wider UK. By combining experience gained from major corporate clients with the local knowledge of team members in the Yorkshire area, they are able to create branding that feels authentic rather than generic. That means messaging that speaks to communities in a natural and relatable way, not just polished ideas designed for a presentation slide.

A great example of branding in action

One standout example of KAYBE’s work is their partnership with The Common Good Network. From the very beginning, they helped create a recognisable brand, develop a directory and build a platform that gives people interested in social mobility a place to begin exploring opportunities and support.

Working closely with Toni Kent, the vision behind the project, KAYBE played an active part in bringing the idea to life. From early brainstorming to hearing positive feedback from users, it became the kind of collaboration that shows just how valuable strong branding can be. It is not only about visuals or messaging. It is about helping a meaningful idea become something real, usable and impactful.

That relationship has continued well beyond the initial launch. KAYBE has gone on to support user experience, brand recognition and the ongoing evolution of the directory. It is exactly the kind of long-term, purpose-driven client journey that reflects the agency’s strengths.

What this award means

When KAYBE found out they had won Branding Agency of the Year, they said they were genuinely thrilled and a little speechless. Knowing the award was voted for by the public made it even more meaningful.

For founders Christiane and Kris, it is a proud moment and recognition of the creativity and dedication their team brings to every project. They also recognise that great branding work can sometimes go unnoticed simply because it is expected to be strong. Awards like this create space to celebrate the talent and effort behind that work.

For the whole team, this win is both a boost and a motivation to keep pushing forward. Looking ahead, KAYBE is already exploring what the next generation of tracking and targeting could look like in a cookieless future, with a focus on balancing innovation and privacy. It is a forward-thinking step that fits perfectly with an agency that is clearly committed to staying ahead of the curve.

Congratulations to KAYBE

At My Local Awards 2026 Yorkshire, we are proud to celebrate businesses that bring creativity, excellence and real value to the clients and communities they serve. KAYBE is a fantastic example of that.

From rethinking the agency model to building trusted client relationships, supporting charities and creating branding that genuinely connects, they have shown exactly what a modern, purpose-driven agency can achieve. Their win is a reflection of talent, trust and a team that clearly cares deeply about the work they do.

Congratulations to KAYBE, a very deserving winner of Branding Agency of the Year 2026.

And finally, a message from the team: “Driving growth through innovative marketing with purpose and curiosity is what KAYBE stands for.”