Ad Matters 27.06.25

This week’s advertising dispatch arrives with details of not one but two visits to the Palace of Westminster. We held our annual Parliamentary Reception on Monday, showcasing Advertising Pays 2025 on the day that the Industrial Strategy recognised the importance of our sector to the UK’s economic prosperity. Check out what happened, including a gallery of attendees here.

We returned the following evening to mark the 50th anniversary of The Debating Group (the AA was an original founder) and celebrate hundreds of successful debates within the magnificent walls of the Speaker’s House. It’s an incredible building contained within the Palace, rarely used for events so a real privilege to be there. The group has featured many illustrious speakers from the worlds of politics and advertising, including three who would become Prime Ministers (well, two and then there was one who was late and missed the actual debate – guess who?) as reported in The Times Diary.

If you want to come along to a future debate, or even put yourself forward as a speaker, you will find everything you need to know here.

Our must reads:

• The Government has released its Creative Industries Sector Plan, part of the wider Industrial Strategy, which highlights the advertising industry as a key sector to drive growth. (Campaign)
• Government considers alcohol advertising restrictions as part of its 10-year health plan. (Just Drinks)
• As ads for the 2024 Black in Business winners go live in July, research has shown what the power of TV advertising can do and the importance of DEI. (The Media Leader)
• Cannes Lions Judges from Publicis, The Barber Shop, FCB London and adam&eveDDB give their reflections after the Festival. (Campaign)
• The IPA has found that adults in Great Britain are now spending more time on mobile phones than watching TV. (The Guardian)

Our pick of the ads:

• Our Ad in the A is T&P’s “Falling hungry” for Snickers, starring Spanish footballer Aitana Bonmati, humorously suggesting diving in football is caused by hunger for confectionery.
• VCCP’s “Moments that matter” for Barclays stars American tennis player Frances Tiafoe as he looks to his coach for support – a visual metaphor for the importance of having the right financial partner.
• Ogilvy’s “Off Script” sees Jonathan Bailey embracing spontaneity in style with the new MARTINI Spritz.
• McCann Bristol’s “Read Better” for Waterstones Bristol comments on the amount we read through browsing our phones each day, which could be equally spent on reading a great piece of literature.

Dates for your diary: 

• ISBA President’s Lunch is back to celebrate ISBA’s 125-year anniversary, on Wednesday 9 July. Host and ISBA President Pete Markey will announce the winners of the 2025 President’s Awards and Domonic Sandbrook, author and co-presenter of ‘The Rest is History’ podcast, will be speaking. Book your tickets here.
• The UK Creative Festival & Careers Fair takes place in Margate 9-10 July, bringing the creative community together for sharing insights, networking and parties! If you email ukcf@ukcreativefestival.co.uk with ‘Advertising Association Discount’ as your subject, you will receive a 10% discount code.
• Entries for the Campaign Ad Net Zero Awards are still open until 17 July. These awards recognise and reward all impactful sustainability initiatives of agencies, brands, public sector organisations, charities and NGOs, media owners and platforms. Find out more here.  

And finally, as we put together this week’s Ad Matters, news broke of the new ISBA Director General, so a big AA welcome to Simon Michaelides, the Interim Chief Customer Officer of Great British Racing. You can find out more about him and his career here. Simon takes over from Phil Smith OBE who has led ISBA these past eight years. Phil will become Chairman of Origin, the UK cross-media measurement platform.