Ad Matters 5.9.25

That distinctive morning air chill takes me back to school days and the start of a new academic year. It’s time to learn again… So, it’s the perfect moment to ramp up CPD plans. Warning. Here comes a shameless plug for our Advertising & Marketing Training Hub, developed in partnership with Adwanted UK.

The hub has had a huge refresh for the new ‘term’. It features 23 training providers including the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the ASA/CAP, and Bauer Academy, and showcases nearly 700 courses and qualifications across a range of skills and levels, including plenty of free development opportunities. Google has given us access to 50 free licences for their Career Certificate programmes, so, if you’re keen to become a Project Management genius or an AI Essentials pro, now’s the time to register. Other new courses include Tesco Media’s new Retail Media Certificate, a fast-growth area of advertising, and the rebranded Pinterest Academy’s new Media Planner and Media Buyer Certificates.

The team behind it here at the AA have worked hard to ensure the industry’s largest training hub has been specifically curated with you in mind: you can browse training for your teams as well as yourself, no matter what stage in career. It’s the best of UK advertising’s training, skills, and development – all in one place. Find out more and register your free account here. Shameless plug over. Now, where’s my pencil case?

Our must reads: 

•  Our Public and External Affairs Director, Chris Walker, has explained how advertisers can avoid detention over the incoming less healthy food advertising rules. (Campaign)
• Agency leaders including those from FCB London, Accenture Song, AMV BBDO and Talon reflect on what they have learnt from 2025 so far. (Creative Salon)
• Jellyfish’s Tom Roach gives his view on marketing’s AI revolution, as he believes creative people will be at the heart. (Marketing Week)
• Bupa has partnered with Black Ferns women’s rugby team to launch ‘Let’s talk girls’ health’ to champion sport’s power to give back physically, socially and emotionally. (LBB)

Our pick of the ads:

• Our Ad in the A is McCann London’s ‘Did somebody say’ for Just Eat, starring Craig David singing whilst visiting six houses enjoying food delivered by Just Eat.
• VCCP’s ‘In Denim We Can’ for Primark celebrating everything denim through dance.
• Saatchi & Saatchi helped John Lewis to celebrate their centenary with a 100 second film named ‘Tableau’ capturing 100 years of culture.
• NatWest has highlighted the challenges of buying a first home in ‘Got Your Back’ by T&P.

Dates for your dairy:

• To help you prepare for the incoming restrictions on Less Healthy Food advertising, we have opened a new webinar covering any last-minute questions on 11am-12pm on 10 September. Register here.
• For any specific questions, you can also book on to a closed Q&A for questions not covered by the resources. Grab your spot here.
• Our UK Advertising Exports Group is hosting a webinar to help those interesting in international trade opportunities understand more about Saudi Arabia’s Advertising Market on 8 September. Sign up here.

And finally, The Newsworks Awards 2025 have launched, which celebrate brilliant advertising in new brands in categories such as timely tactical, contextual, effectiveness and creativity. You can enter here.

Also, we are pleased to welcome The Brandtech Group as a new member of our Front Foot Network!