A SOCIAL media agency working with more than 40 global businesses has celebrated its fifth birthday.

Bournemouth-based South Coast Social was started by managing director Clare Groombridge from her kitchen table during maternity leave.

It employs seven people, with plans to expand this year.

Clare Groombridge said: “I’ve always believed in celebrating our yearly ‘birthday’, the date the company was registered, to highlight how far we’ve come, especially after the incredibly tough last year we’ve all had due to the pandemic. We were no exception as a business.

“With statistics showing that 20 per cent of companies fail in their first year and around 60 per cent will go bust within their first three years, we’re proud of the strong foundations we’ve built – not only are we one of the leading social media agencies on the south coast, we have an incredible client portfolio of exciting global brands, a sister company in SCS Media and a soon to be launched training department.

"We also have some very big plans on the horizon for the remainder of 2021.”