Widnes start-up 125 Social launches fixed-fee social media service for small firms

125 Social, a new start-up agency in Widnes, has launched to provide tradespeople and small businesses with a UK-based team to write, design and post their social media content for a set monthly price.

The agency's arrival comes after Markel Direct released research in July 2026. The Censuswide study, How small businesses are using social media in the UK, surveyed 501 UK tradespeople and small business owners. It found 77% handle social media themselves and 65% have had no training in it, although 84% say it wins them work.

The agency operates from Cheshire House, Gorsey Lane, in Widnes. It was founded by Luke Hilditch, who worked at Hot Web Design for three years and then founded Think Mad, a web design, branding and marketing agency in Liverpool, in 2020.

Plans start from £62.50 +VAT a month under a half-price pilot that runs until 31 October or until 50 businesses have signed up. No long-term contract is required and customers can move freely between the three plans, Starter, 125 Social and Growth, all of which are covered by the launch offer.

Hilditch said: “Nearly every tradesperson I speak to knows they should be posting, but it’s the first job that slips when they’re busy. We built 125 Social so a plumber in Widnes or a salon in St Helens can have consistent, professional social media for a fixed price, without being tied into a year-long contract.”

New clients go through a short onboarding process so the team can understand their services, location and tone. The UK-based team then writes each month's posts. Clients on the £125 and £250 plans also get branded graphics and have the posts published for them.

Each post has to be signed off by the business before it goes live, and clients can cancel at any point with 30 days' notice.

The agency also says it will provide monthly performance reports “in plain English” showing which posts are performing best and where audiences are coming from.