Household has been named Independent Agency of the Year at the Creativepool Annual 2026, and shortlisted for Best Agency to Work For. Here's the full story.
Household has been named Independent Agency of the Year at the Creativepool Annual 2026.
Chosen by an international jury from a global field of entries, the award celebrates the work, thinking and people behind independent agencies.
And it wasn’t the only recognition for Household on the night. Our Executive Creative Director, Kate Walmsley, was named one of Creativepool’s Top 100 Creative Leaders, while Household was also shortlisted for Best Agency to Work For.
To be recognised for our work, our creative leadership and our culture in the same year means a lot.
What the judges said
Judge Alex Little, Executive Creative Director at VCCP, said:
“Household’s energy runs through its founding story, growth, awards and work. Most compelling is the optimism our industry badly needs, making you want to meet them and share ideas.”
That word, optimism, stuck with us.
It’s difficult to capture in a case study or credentials deck, but it’s something we try to bring to every project: the belief that there’s always a more interesting answer, a braver idea or a better experience to be found. And the conviction to bring everyone with us in making it happen.
Kate Walmsley, one of the Top 100 Creative Leaders
Kate leads the creative thinking behind Household’s brand experiences, turning big brand ambitions into places, products and moments that people genuinely want to be part of.
Her place among Creativepool’s Top 100 Creative Leaders recognises not only the work, but the creative culture she has helped build across our London and US teams: ambitious, generous and always ready to push an idea further.
Shortlisted for Best Agency to Work For
Being shortlisted for Best Agency to Work For feels particularly important because our people make Household what it is.
We’ve always believed that great work and a great place to work should go hand in hand, so to see our culture recognised alongside some of the industry’s best means a great deal.
Congratulations to Propeller Group on the win!
What it means to us
When we look at what the jury recognised, four things stand out.
- Spirit. People First and Thinking Brave aren’t values that sit on a website or wall. They shape how Householders work: how we show up for each other, how we challenge ourselves and how we partner with our clients.
- Speed. Independence keeps the distance between an idea and a decision tight. The people doing the work are close to the people making the calls, so good ideas can gather momentum quickly, from first thought to opening day.
- Partnership. The best experiences aren’t built in isolation. We work alongside client teams, architects, makers and build partners from the earliest idea through to the moment the doors open, connecting the brand with every part of the experience.
- Benchmarks. We want to make work that moves things forward, not simply follows what’s already been done. Experiences that give people a reason to care, turn customers into fans, and turn that fandom into lasting growth.
Thank you
This award belongs to our brilliant Householders, past and present, and to the clients and partners who trust us with their brands, their ambitions and some very big ideas.
Thank you to Creativepool and its jury, and congratulations to all the agencies and creatives recognised this year.
We’re very proud of this one. And we’re excited about what comes next. If you’d like to talk about what’s next for your brand, get in touch at [email protected].