One of Wales' best-known independent communications and events agencies has ceased trading after its board concluded the business was no longer sustainable in the face of a shrinking market and increased competition.
Cardiff-based Orchard Media and Events has instructed Menzies LLP to place the company into liquidation, bringing to an end a business established in 2010 which grew to deliver communications, creative, content and major event projects across Wales and beyond.
The Butetown-based agency said it had experienced increasingly difficult trading conditions in recent months, which ultimately meant it could no longer sustain the scale and quality of work on which the company had built its reputation.
In a statement, the company said:
“The Board of Orchard Media and Events Ltd has made the difficult decision to cease trading and have instructed Menzies LLP to place the company into Liquidation.
“In recent months, the company has faced the challenges of a reducing market and increased competition. This presented a situation where the scale and quality of our work was no longer sustainable. Throughout this time, our dedicated and expert staff team continued to deliver excellent results for our clients.”
The closure comes less than two years after Orchard moved to an employee-owned model.
In October 2024, the company announced that ownership had been transferred to an Employee Ownership Trust following the departure of its original founders. At that point, Orchard employed 64 people and reported annual turnover of £15 million.
It is understood that around 70 people were employed by the agency prior to the decision to cease trading.
Orchard had developed into a significant presence within Wales' creative and communications sector, providing services spanning strategy, communications, creative production, content creation, events and brand activations.
Its portfolio included work on a number of high-profile Welsh campaigns and events, including the award-winning women's running campaign Own the Night, content for Welsh language and culture festival Tafwyl and Transport for Wales' Metro Pay As You Go campaign.
The company said:
“We have had an enviable track record as a company since we were established as Orchard in 2010. We grew significantly, developing our services and responding to the needs of clients, and became employee-owned in 2024.
“We would like to thank our clients, suppliers and partners for their support.”
The closure will be a significant development for Wales' creative industries, both because of Orchard's scale and the breadth of work it delivered across the public and private sectors.
Its comments about a reducing market and increased competition also highlight the pressures facing parts of the communications, media and events sector as agencies compete for changing client budgets and increasingly fragmented sources of work.
Menzies LLP will now contact outstanding clients and suppliers as part of the liquidation process.
