The UK digital arm of Edelman, the communications agency, has announced plans to expand significantly following the acquisition of Encore, a Brighton based software development agency.

Edelman Digital has grown significantly throughout 2010 and 2011, and the addition of the Encore team will take the number of UK staff to over 50.

Encore is known for devising and implementing a wide variety of applications and platforms across media channels, including mobile platforms, internal communications services, and social media.

Marcus Dyer, managing director of Edelman Digital UK, comments: "The additional capacity and skills of Encore open up exciting opportunities in areas such as mobile and our developing capability in social business strategies and platforms. This is an enormous boost to the existing team in London."

A relationship between the two companies has existed for several years prior to this announcement. All eight of Encore's staff will join the Edelman team, with founder Jethro Grassie, who will take on the position of Edelman's UK technical director, saying they are "tremendously excited" by the union.