Altrincham HQ celebrates 15 years in business this September. Founded by Alex McCann on September 14th, 2009, the social media company has grown from humble beginnings to working internationally with prestigious clients such as the BBC, Manchester City, Selfridges, and United Utilities, while also serving local businesses in Altrincham.
Before founding Altrincham HQ, McCann was a music journalist, interviewing legendary bands and artists like The Rolling Stones, Take That, Suede, Blur, My Chemical Romance, Sugababes, Muse, Elbow, Paramore, Busted, Panic! At The Disco, and some of the biggest rock & roll bands in the world. This experience helped him hone his skills in storytelling and audience engagement—skills that have been pivotal in the success of Altrincham HQ.
“The world is very different now than it was in 2009,” says Alex McCann. “We founded the business at a time when the Sun newspaper had called Altrincham a ghost town. Our remit has always been 50% business, 50% community, and from those early days, we were all about amplifying the positives of Altrincham.”
In 2024, 86% of the UK population uses social media, but when Altrincham HQ started, convincing people of the power of social media was a hard sell. “People thought social media was a fad and it was going to disappear in a few years. It’s now seen as an essential tool for all business,” Alex adds.
In 2016, Altrincham HQ was recognized as The Best Social Media Company in Manchester at The Talk Of Manchester Awards. “Winning the Best Social Media Company in Manchester Award was such a proud moment. It was recognition for the hard work we do, and being down to a public vote, it showed how many local businesses believed in us,” Alex reflects.
“Being based out in the suburbs of Altrincham, it’s often seen that we can’t compete with City Centre Agencies, and this was proof that you can do exactly that. We named our business after our hometown, and we’re always proud of how far the town has come.”
Despite their success, Alex feels many people do not realize the extent of their reach. “The business is effectively run on laptops and phones, and we reach 600,000-800,000 screens every single month.”
Reflecting on 15 years, he says, “We’re qualified, experienced, and have a track record of delivering results. Our longest client has been with us for over 12 years, initially signing up on a 3-month contract. We’ve seen many in our industry come and go, but what sets us apart is our belief that we’re only as good as our last testimonial. We have 700+ reviews from happy customers, but the most important one is the next one, and that’s what keeps us at the top of our game.”
WORDS: Alex McCann
PHOTOS: Martin Hambleton
