Yatter primed for growth following acquisition by Velstar

Yatter, the Edinburgh-based paid advertising agency, has been acquired by ecommerce specialist Velstar just three years after formation.

The company has enjoyed consistent growth since starting out in 2021, currently managing over £10 million in annual client ad spend.

A leading Scottish PPC and paid social agency, Yatter has a portfolio of 60-plus clients including Loch Lomond Group and Countrywide, employing 12 people in the capital. No jobs are under threat as a result of the agreement, which sees Yatter become the only Shopify Plus partner agency in Scotland.

Details of the deal remain undisclosed.

Yatter founder and CEO Gavin Bell (pictured above), 30, said: “We have a very close alignment on values and culture and Velstarʼs impressive growth and shared vision to be the UKʼs No. 1 independent agency made them the perfect partner for Yatterʼs next chapter. 

It’s been a rewarding journey since setting up in 2021. We set out to be the best paid advertising agency in Scotland and believe that has been achieved.”

He added: “Velstar have emphasised they acquired us for a reason; that we have the skills and people they need in their business. It’s thrilling to see our teamʼs expertise join Velstarʼs growing capabilities across the likes of Shopify, while the team will also benefit from wider career progression opportunities. 

Myself and business partner Dave McCall look forward to working closely with Velstar over the coming year to ensure a seamless integration that enhances our client offering and drives even greater results.”

Bell is originally from the Shetland Islands and lives in Kinross. He launched the business in 2021. Yatter helps businesses scale with expertly-managed paid ad campaigns and works with brands across the world, managing over £10m in client advertising spend annually. Yatter is a Google partner and preferred Meta marketing partner. 

Founded by Dan Sheard in 2016, the Liverpool-based Velstar group surpassed ambitions of reaching a £6 million turnover by this year, and buoyed by the acquisition of Yatter, is on course to generate in excess of £10m of annual revenue in 2024 – an increase of 250% since 2022.

Velstarʼs purchase of Yatter sees the firm establish a presence in Scotland for the first time, the move following the acquisition of Leeds-based B2B agency 9XB in August 2024, Surrey agency WeTeachCRO in March 2024 and Chester-based marketing agency We Influence in October 2022.

Velstar CEO Peter Birks said: “This is a positive move for the Velstar group as we continue to expand our services and grow our team and expertise. With our building strategic plans for 2025, I am confident there are exciting and rewarding times ahead for our customers and colleagues.” 

London-based M&A consultancy Cactus supported Yatter throughout the acquisition. Cactus is a global, people-first M&A advisory firm that helps founders go beyond, through hands-on M&A and growth advisory.