AN ADVERTISING agency that sprung into life above a former funeral parlour is looking to build on a successful 18 months.

Max Local, Dalton Court, Lower Darwen, is the brainchild of Steve McKelvey, 45, and aims to give local businesses a higher profile within the regional economy.

The way Steve does this is by maximising their presence on Google listings and he says the company has turned over £400,000 already this year.

The company originally started as a one-man band run from the owner’s house in Grisedale Avenue, Blackburn, but long hours spent home alone led Steve to find another location.

It was this search that led him to relocate to a small flat above his wife’s holistic therapy business in Shear Brow, Blackburn, which happened to be a former funeral parlour. The company sprang into life and now has 11 staff employed at its office in Dalton court.

Steve said: “We came here at the end of May and I’ve been able to get staff in who I know I can trust.

“I want to motivate my staff and make sure they enjoy the job they are doing and if I can do that then they are more productive.”

The team spirit has led the company to enter a team in the Blackburn Combination football league and Steve said the atmosphere was prospering as a result of this.

Businesses listed with Max Local get a Google report every month to see where they have been placed and Steve has plans for a small local business directory which he intends to start distributing next month.