"The Accelerated Growth Programme helped us crystallise our ideas and turn sustainability from 'the right thing to do' into a clear plan of action that wins work. Their support has made our projects greener and our business stronger."
Founded in Cardiff while the team were still at university, Spindogs has grown over two decades into a leading digital transformation agency. Today, the company delivers large-scale brand, web, and digital marketing programmes for clients in automotive, fintech, government, and social housing, serving clients including Hyundai, Hodge Bank, HMRC, the NHS, and Peabody. With a £4.6m turnover and a reputation for handling sensitive, data-heavy projects, Spindogs is also integrating low-carbon thinking into every stage of delivery. Here, Managing Director Liam Giles shares how the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP) helped accelerate their carbon reduction journey and turn social value into commercial value.
What problem are you solving, and why does sustainability matter to it?
We remove the pain of delivering complex change; everything from brand repositioning to multi-site, data-rich digital platforms. The digital sector contributes more than 3% of global emissions. Our mission is to build products and campaigns that are high-performing and low-carbon, so clients don't have to choose between experience and impact.
How did AGP support you in your carbon reduction journey?
AGP helped us adopt a structured and measurable approach. Firstly, they helped us establish baseline measurements across Scope 1, 2, and 3, covering office energy, commuting, and remote work, as well as the emissions linked to hosting and delivery. From there, we built an action plan aligned to recognised targets, with regular reviews through our internal Sustainability Steering Group to keep us accountable.
Our organisational goal is to achieve Net Zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by the end of the 2025–26 financial year. We're tackling Scope 3 through supplier engagement and continued efficiency in how we design, build, host and maintain products. Any unavoidable emissions are offset through certified programmes.
What have been the biggest challenges?
Gathering data in the early stages—particularly around Scope 3—was complex. Also, embedding change while growing fast is hard. AGP's role has been to bring in the right expertise at the right moments so we could maintain momentum without losing focus.
What practical changes have you made?
All of our client platforms are hosted on cloud infrastructure powered by renewable energy, ensuring sustainability is built into the foundations of our work. We've optimised asset delivery and adopted performance-led design principles to minimise data transfer, cutting energy use without compromising the user experience. By embracing a remote-first approach to collaboration, we've also significantly reduced travel, lowering emissions while maintaining seamless teamwork. Finally, we've streamlined our build and deployment workflows, making them leaner to avoid unnecessary computing demands and the resource waste that comes with rework. Together, these changes have helped us deliver digital projects that are both efficient and low-carbon.
The biggest win is cultural: low-carbon delivery is part of our definition of "quality", not an add-on. That mindset shift is what sustains progress.
Where has AGP's support made the biggest difference?
AGP has been a sounding board and specialist back-up. They've helped us crystallise ideas, stress-test our plan, and support key change programmes, most notably our ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 implementation. AGP also supported acquisition work that strengthened our capabilities, which is essential for delivering complex, low-carbon digital at scale.
Has the carbon reduction work helped you win major contracts?
Yes, especially where social value and sustainability are core evaluation criteria. Our approach is now a key component of procurement responses, and it has helped us secure significant wins in the public and housing sectors. Recent successes include collaborations with Peabody Homes, HMRC, the Cabinet Office, and Magenta Housing, as well as other major projects in the NHS and local government. Buyers are increasingly seeking partners who can demonstrate credible plans, robust governance, and practical delivery methods. AGP's support helped us tighten all three.
What advice would you give other growing businesses starting their Net Zero journey?
Start with a baseline and a simple plan, then iterate. Make sustainability part of your delivery checklists, not a side project. And use AGP support to accelerate and de-risk the journey, whether that's specialist guidance, frameworks, or connections.
Find out more about how the Accelerated Growth Programme can support your business.
Learn more about Spindogs.