This week, 100 delegates from across the industry are gathered at The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne for our annual Media Business Course a.k.a. MBC. It’s the industry’s flagship programme for young media talent which has been running for more than six decades, and its alumni is quite the list!
For those not familiar with the course, delegates work in syndicates to tackle a live client brief, this time from Allwyn for The National Lottery’s Christmas campaign. They develop strategic media plans before presenting their ideas to a judging panel of senior industry leaders. Alongside the challenge, delegates hear from a brilliant line-up of speakers covering every stage of the planning process, while expert tutors guide each team throughout the week, helping refine their thinking and prepare them to pitch under pressure.
By the time you read this, the four finalists will have pitched, and the winning team will be announced later today. Keep an eye on our LinkedIn page for details of this year’s winners!
Our must reads:
- Marketing week explores how Tesco stands out on TikTok after their advert on in-store quiet hours for people with sensory overload lands in top 19% of all ads for distinctiveness. (Marketing Week)
- Campaign reveals the price of advertising around England’s World Cup quarter-final, following ITV’s last England match, which drew more than 13 million viewers. (Campaign)
- LBB asks the APA chief executive, board of the Advertising Association member, and vice president of the CFPE Steve Davies what’s been playing through his headphones during his life and career. (LBB)
- The Media Leader reports on the launch of the European Media Marketplace, which aims to grow budget share for trusted open-web media across Europe. (The Media Leader)
Our pick of the ads:
- Our Ad in the A is from McDonald’s and Leo UK, who have launched ‘Shake n’ Serve’, a Wimbledon-inspired dipping experience celebrating the fan-favourite fries and milkshake combo.
- Adam&eveTBWA created ‘Double Act’ a 90-second film for Twix, arguing that when it comes to chocolate, ‘two is more than one.’
- Greater Thameslink Railway have teamed up with T&P, who have created ‘Every Stop is a story’ to capture the curiosity of summer travel.
- Havas London’s NHS Blood and Transplant’s Emergency LOW-GOS campaign adds Metallica to highlight urgent blood shortages ahead of the band’s London Stadium shows.
Dates for your diary:
- If you’re involved with an inspiring scheme, school outreach programme, partnership initiative or social enterprise you should enter our Marketing Week Talent Trailblazer award. The free-to-enter award celebrates organisations and individuals opening our industry up to new talent. Entry open until July 31.
- Learn how to avoid creating misleading ads at the ASA’s live virtual training on 21 July. AA members can benefit from enhanced group discounts for this event by applying the relevant promo codes: 35% off for groups of 4–24 delegates (AAgroup35) and 60% off for 25+ delegates (AAgroup60). T&Cs apply.
- CreatorFest 2026 on 14-15 July has a packed two-day agenda of networking and panels. Get 20% off your tickets using the code AA20OFF here.
And finally, if you’re looking for more creative inspiration, take a look at the latest raft of Thinkbox award winners – there’s some crackers in there. My personal fave being the work delivered by Havas for EDF. Chair of judges, Elliot Millard, ably reminded the audience that TV is something you can rely on ‘to get the whole country into one room, watching and talking about something together’.