Hive – outsourced marketing support
Background
Hive is a West Yorkshire consultancy providing specialist payments testing and quality engineering. Founded by Sean Beesting, Phil Beesting and Neill McCarthy, the business supports banks, fintechs, and financial institutions in streamlining payment certification, accelerating time to market, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Hive was built to solve a clear market gap: many organisations lack the in-house capacity or specialist knowledge to test and certify payment systems effectively. With decades of experience in the financial services sector, Sean and Neill set out to launch a consultancy that would deliver faster, smarter, and more secure outcomes for clients globally.
Challenges
When Sean first approached Get Ahead, the business was still at concept stage. Together with co-founders Phil and Neill, they had identified a clear opportunity, validated it with potential clients, and secured early interest. However, there was no name, brand, or marketing strategy to support a successful launch.
That’s where Get Ahead’s team came in. We provided outsourced marketing expertise to help shape Hive’s identity, messaging, and go-to-market approach.
Regional director Fiona took on the role of project manager. She assembled a tailored team of marketing specialists to support Hive’s launch. Marketing consultant and copywriter Claire led on marketing strategy and messaging, supported by graphic designer Kate and web developer Jennie.
Solutions
From the outset, Hive’s leadership team including Sean, co-founder and CTO Neill McCarthy, and Operations Director Phil Beesting, collaborated closely with the Get Ahead team. A brand development session helped define Hive’s unique selling points, target audience, and values. Claire used this insight to shape the brand’s mission, tone of voice, and website messaging. Meanwhile the Hive name was finalised, reflecting both the founders’ surname and the idea of collaborative intelligence.
Kate designed a clean, professional logo featuring a stylised honeycomb in gold, while Jennie brought the brand to life with a fully responsive website. Claire developed clear, confident copy and created Hive’s LinkedIn business page, ensuring the team had a strong foundation for digital visibility and client engagement.
Outcomes
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Hive and Get Ahead teams, the business launched with a cohesive brand, polished messaging, and a professional online presence. Hive quickly attracted clients both in the UK and across the world and continues to grow its reputation within the financial services sector.
I’ve worked in payments quality engineering for most of my career, said Sean. But I needed the right support to take Hive to market. Get Ahead’s insights, creativity and experience were invaluable. They helped us shape a professional brand that clearly communicates what we do. We now have the tools and presence to engage confidently with clients and grow at pace.
