Published on: September 21, 2026
Habitat M has been appointed as the media strategy and performance marketing partner for 1st Energy, following a competitive multi-agency pitch.
The partnership brings together two businesses with a challenger-focused approach, with 1st Energy looking to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive energy market. Habitat M will support the brand in building greater awareness while translating that momentum into measurable customer acquisition.
Habitat M was chosen for its strategic approach and ability to connect brand-building with performance as part of a unified growth strategy. Its remit will cover media strategy, planning, buying, performance marketing, campaign management and measurement, with senior agency leadership remaining closely involved throughout the engagement.
The agency will work with 1st Energy to strengthen its market presence, identify opportunities to connect with potential customers and continuously optimise media investment against business objectives. The strategy combines long-term brand development with performance activity designed to convert customer demand.
The account also strengthens Habitat M’s growing focus on challenger businesses seeking to compete with larger and more established players. Its approach brings together positioning, media execution and ongoing optimisation to help clients increase visibility, establish differentiation and support sustainable growth.
Sam Brownbill, Co-Founder of Habitat M, said: “Having a challenger mindset ourselves meant we immediately understood the direction 1st Energy wants to take and the growth it is determined to achieve. Our pitch was grounded in a clear strategy: building a more distinctive brand while turning that momentum into measurable customer acquisition. We’re delighted to now have the opportunity to deliver it as 1st Energy’s agency partner. Welcoming 1st Energy into the Habitat M portfolio is an exciting step for our business and our continued mission to Make Businesses Better through experienced thinking, disciplined planning and strategy, and a relentless focus on delivering meaningful business outcomes.”
Treacy, Head of Sales & Marketing at 1st Energy, said: “We selected Habitat M because they understood both where the business is today and where we want to take it. They brought a clear view of how brand and performance need to work together, with senior people directly involved and a strong focus on measurable customer growth. This is an important period for our business, and we wanted a partner on a similar trajectory – one that would go above and beyond to deliver commercially.”
Habitat M Co-Founder David Ross said: “Echoing Sam’s words, 1st Energy is exactly the kind of ambitious business we created Habitat M to partner with – established, growing and determined to challenge the category. This win is an important milestone for our agency and a strong endorsement of what clients value from an indie agency: direct access to senior talent, sharper thinking and genuine accountability for growth.”
Through the new partnership, Habitat M will support 1st Energy in connecting brand strategy and performance marketing to drive awareness, customer engagement and commercial growth.
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