THE creative company that capped a successful year by collecting a Dorset Business Award is to take its local track record to London.

Poole business Salad made international headlines a year ago after the Daily Echo reported how its boss, Arabella Lewis-Smith, flew its 20 staff to Madrid for a Christmas party.

Since then, it has earned plaudits for creating Commonwealth Games England website, which allowed fans to follow their national side’s progress in the Gold Coast Games.

That site beat those of Leicester City Football Club, the English Football League and Beats By Dre to win the Sports Website of the Year title at the Drum Digital Awards (DADIs). It was also shortlisted for a British Interactive Media Association (BIMA) award and at the Lovie Awards, which recognise internet achievements across Europe.

Last week, Salad took the Creative Impact Award sponsored by Liz Lean and DIgipigz at the Dorset Business Awards.

The Team England site delivered up-to-the-minute content to more than 1.9million fans during the team’s 11 days of participation.

Salad’s head of marketing, Fleurie Forbes-Martin, is now heading a satellite office in London. The office is in House of St Barnabas, a homelessness charity and private members’ club in Soho.

The move follows success in attracting London clients such as the jeweller House of Garrard and the Bloomberg Square Mile Relay, as well as Commonwealth Games England.

Fleurie Forbes-Martin said: “It’s about nurturing those relationships, having a presence so we can spend time with them and listen to their challenges.

“Most importantly, it’s about establishing our name and presence and more of a reputation in an area where the majority of our customers are based.”

Salad has also established a new leadership team with the authority to take many of the business’s strategic decision.s

It consists of Fleurie Forbes, Martin; Matt Leach, head of digital; Dan Young, head of creative; Jon Lockhart, lead creative; Michael Jamieson, account director; and Sophia Taglialavore, studio manager.

Salad’s trip to Madrid last year featured in the Echo and then spread to national and international publications, prompting a rash of enquiries from people interested in joining the company.