Public relations and healthcare group Huntsworth has reported revenue up 3.8% in the first three months of 2012, fuelled by almost 20% growth at PR firm Red.

Huntsworth said that it enjoyed a strong first quarter thanks to Red growing by 19.4% year-on-year, following a string of key client wins last year including Boots, Adobe, Symantec and Gatwick Airport.

The strong performance of the consumer PR firm helped offset a tougher time at another Huntsworth subsidiary, Citigate, which saw a 2.7% year-on-year revenue decline as financial markets remained subdued.

PR firm Grayling – which has clients including Google, National Grid and the EU Commission and accounts for almost half of Huntsworth's revenues – reported like for like revenue growth of 3.8% in the first quarter.

The company said that this was driven by growth in the Middle East and digital revenues.

Huntsworth Health grew revenues by 3.3% year-on-year.

"As the uncertain economic outlook – particularly in Europe – continues, management is keeping tight control of costs," said Huntsworth chief executive Lord Chadlington.

"Therefore, even with modest full year revenue growth, [management] expects improvement in operating margins and profitability for the first half and for the year as a whole."

Earlier this year, Huntsworth bought Atomic PR.

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