Darlington based Certys Limited is a full service, creative agency delivering effective PR and multi media campaigns for local, national and international clients.

Each company had skills at which it had excelled for many years: what Certys did was bring them together into one powerful entity that is creative and flexible and which puts its clients needs before everything else.

The word Certys itself is derived from the Latin for being sure of one’s actions: the experience that the company’s directors bring to the business ensures this to be the case.

Our clients operate across many different sectors and most of our work comes through personal recommendations. We are not one of those agencies that tells a client what they need: our client relationships all start, and continue, with listening. This has always been a two-way process for us which provide real results.

Meet the Team

Gary Shove  - Company Director Certys Limited

Gary has extensive experience as an account handler involving both the public and private sector. With 27 years experience in services marketing, printing and graphics arts he is the perfect lead for project managing any contract.

All stages from client liaison, strategic planning, production/project management through to solution delivery are succesfully managed.

He also specialises in all aspects of visual communications including corporate identity, brand development, literature and advertising.

John Dean - Company Director Certys Limited

John is an award-winning writer and journalist of 25 years standing, whose main areas of expertise are public relations, campaign creatives and literature design, specialising in newsletters and marketing material.

John's work has appeared in more than 30 publications including The Sunday Telegraph, The Sunday Times, Times Educational Supplement, The Guardian, The Northern Echo, Reader's Digest, Police Review, Special Beat and The Dalesman.

John is also an environemtal and wildlife journalist who has devoted much of his work to celebrating the natural heritage of the North-East, including how it can be used to promote tourism.

As a journalist for 25 years, John is well used to writing and researching material to a tight deadline and has carried out a range of work for clients in the fields of newsletter, magazine and brochures production.

Keith Blundy - Company Director & Secretary Certys Limited

Specialist in photography and image technology with more than 20 years' experience in Freelance PR, Event & Commercial Photography.

He has significant experience of Corporate Management at the most senior levels gained in Marketing and Communications roles with special expertise in Project management, Product Development, Brand Image Development, Technology and Operations.  

Mark Etherington - Company Director Certys Limited

Mark is a Design and Communications professional with over twenty years experience in services marketing and graphic design and more than fifteen years working in and with Local Authorities at a senior level.

He is accomplished in setting criteria for success and interpreting them through innovative concepts with experience in many promotional activities including hospitality, exhibitions, events, leisure and trade shows.

Sharon Jones - Graphic Designer

Sharon started her designer career in the highly time conscious world of on demand printing and newspaper publishing. Her 10 years of experience includes acting as the Creative Production Co-ordinator for the Newsquest NE Group and in their design agency The Media Factory.

She is a co-founder of Pro-Actif Communications Ltd, one of the partner businesses of Certys Limited.

Frances Griss - Journalist

Frances Griss has been a journalist for 19 years. Her work includes feature writing and reporting on subjects including tourism, the environment, business and the countryside.

She has written for publications including Farming In The North, Yorkshire Life, The Northern Echo, Durham Town and Country, Summit and The Dalesman. She is the editor of Durham County Life.

Certys also has access to a stable of experienced freelance writers working in the region.