Midlands SEO agency takes home national award after five years of rapid growth
Bromsgrove-based Sherbet Donkey has been named Large SEO Agency of the Year 2026 at the UK Agency Awards, bringing one of the industry’s major national awards back to the Midlands.
The award was presented on Thursday 1 October at the London Hilton Bankside, where agencies from across the country came together to celebrate the best work and growth stories in the industry.
Proud to Bring the Award Back to the Midlands
Founded in Worcestershire in 2021, Sherbet Donkey has grown from a team of five into an agency of more than 40 people, working with businesses across the UK.
The judges praised Sherbet Donkey for its “exceptional growth, strong long-term client relationships, and clear results, underpinned by an impressive people-first culture.”
Sherbet Donkey has also built its growth around a permanent four-day working week, something the judging panel highlighted as part of its modern approach to agency life.
Alongside the win, they also achieved the silver award for Large Agency of the Year.
Five Years of Solid Growth
Today, the Worcestershire-based agency has more than 40 team members and manages over 100 active SEO clients across a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, retail, construction, HR, IT and events management.
Sherbet Donkey’s growth has been driven by giving clients a reason to stay. Long-term relationships have played a major part in that success, with long-term renewals now commonplace across the agency.
Hear From Founder and Managing Director Loki Hinton-Bowen
“Five years ago, Sherbet Donkey was just a handful of people and a lot of ambition. Now we’re a 40+ strong team and Large SEO Agency of the Year. I’m not an SEO specialist myself, but I know how to build a brilliant team, and this award belongs to them.”
A Four-Day Week That Actually Works
Sherbet Donkey’s permanent four-day working week was another standout part of the win.
Rather than treating shorter working hours as just a perk, the agency rebuilt internal processes around it.
Twelve months after introducing the model, output had increased, results had improved and the work-life balance had become one of the reasons new talent wanted to join the agency.
The judges praised Sherbet Donkey’s four-day working week and described its approach as a “modern agency set-up.”
Next Steps for Sherbet Donkey
Going forward, Sherbet Donkey is sticking to what’s worked: doing SEO properly and building relationships that last.
And while Large SEO Agency of the Year is a pretty good reason to celebrate, nobody at Sherbet Donkey is planning to put their feet up just yet!
Find out more about Sherbet Donkey and its SEO services: