The Advertising Association promotes the role and rights of responsible advertising and its value to people, society, businesses and the economy. We represent UK advertisers, agencies, media owners and tech companies on behalf of the entire industry, acting as the connection between industry professionals and the politicians and policy-makers.

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The Advertising Association focuses on major industry and policy areas that have huge ramifications on UK advertising. This section contains our work around public health, gambling advertising, data and e-privacy, trust, the digital economy and more.

Credos is the advertising industry’s independent think tank. It produces research, evidence and reports into the impact and effectiveness of and public and political response to advertising on behalf of UK advertisers in order to enable the industry to make informed decisions.

Front Foot is our industry’s member network of over 90 businesses across UK advertising. It aims to promote the role of responsible advertising and its value to people, society and the economy through a coalition of senior leaders from advertisers, agencies and media owners.

We run a number of events throughout the year, from our annual LEAD summit to the Media Business Course and regular breakfast briefings for our members. We are also the official UK representative for the world’s biggest festival of creativity – Cannes Lions.

This Week: UK Advertising in the Media

/ March 4th 2022 / Matt Bourn
Industry News

Mark Read on pay rises and hiring in 2022, Coca-Cola win and Ukraine concerns

Mark Read has said he is confident about WPP’s outlook for 2022, despite soaring inflation and the war in Ukraine, and expects to hire about 4,000 staff if the agency group hits its forecast of 5% growth.

Brands and agencies on alert to support staff in Ukraine

International brands and agencies have been rushing to support their businesses and staff in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion.

How tech platforms are trying to stop Russia-Ukraine disinformation

The Drum asked the major tech platforms what they’re doing to stop misinformation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Here’s what they said.

Work Of The Week: When Agencies Do Good

This week’s work of the week features great creative for charities, helping causes ranging from motor neurone disease to people smuggling.

Brands And NFTs: A Marketers’ Guide

A rundown of what some of the world’s biggest brands are doing with NFTs today.

Salary Survey 2022: Brands strive to ‘nail’ hybrid working as demand for flexibility soars

As brands grapple to define what hybrid means to them, they must balance offering an effective office experience with the needs of employees working from home.

Consumer confidence plummets amid ‘perfect storm of worries’

Brands must make sure they remain on the “must have” list, says Gfk’s Joe Staton, as confidence could drop even further.

‘There’s no question it’s right’: Unilever marketing chief Conny Braams silences purpose critics

In January, Unilever found itself in the firing line of investor Terry Smith. Now, for the first time, its chief marketing and digital officer has responded.

Revealed: Winners of The Media Leaders Awards 2022

UM UK’s Rachel Forde and Bloomberg Media’s Duncan Chater took home multiple awards from Mediatel’s Media Leader Awards 2022 yesterday.

Fallon London And Axa Launch Feelgood Health Roadshow

The experiential OOH roadshow aims to create fun ways for Brits to boost their mental and physical wellbeing.

Ukraine agency Banda creates harrowing film calling for international support

With the capital under siege, the Kyiv agency is asking supporters to post this video and #standwithukraine.

Comparethemarket removes Russian meerkat ads from TV news

Move comes as site says it wants to be ‘sensitive’ to the situation in Ukraine.

At times of war marketing is rendered superficial and ridiculous

Given what’s happening in the world right now marketing really doesn’t matter, but there are ways brands can respond without appearing tone deaf.

Beam Suntory appoints Jerry Daykin as head of global media

Premium spirits company Beam Suntory has appointed Jerry Daykin as its vice-president of global media.

Podcasts, hybrid working, shopping habits: 5 interesting stats to start your week

Podcasts are expected to see the highest level of growth over the next 12 months, with 20% of UK consumers planning to listen to more in 2022.

BBC “By order of the Peaky Blinders” by BBC Creative

By order of the Peaky Blinders, Birmingham City FC has gone back to its roots and become ‘Small Heath Alliance’ – the name of the club in 1875, around the time the Peaky Blinders’ leader, Tommy Shelby, would have been a small boy.

CMO survey warns talent shortage is holding the industry back

Research also shows just 11% of global CMOs are confident they have completed their digital transformation journeys.

How do you solve a problem like advertising’s talent crisis?

Industry leaders share how their new approaches to talent are helping develop a future-proofed industry.

ASA bans ‘irresponsible’ Floki Inu cryptocurrency ad

The ruling follows a clampdown on cryptocurrency marketing by the ASA in December last year.

Laura Fenton and Dino Myers-Lamptey to co-chair Media360 2022

OMD chief executive Laura Fenton and The Barber Shop founder Dino Myers-Lamptey will chair this year’s Campaign Media360 event in Brighton on 24-25 May.

How one Covid-19 campaign changed the behaviour of a whole region

LA7’s ‘Killing Covid with Kindness’ campaign set out to reduce the number of positive Covid-19 cases within four months.

Media agencies struggling to keep brands advertising around bleak Ukraine news cycle

When Applebee’s dancing cowboy ad interrupted CNN’s Ukraine war report last week, it quickly became the subject of social media mockery, leading it to pull ads and CNN to overhaul its ad placements against news. But Applebee’s isn’t the only brand concerned about advertising next to war coverage. The Drum caught up with media agencies about what they’re seeing.

‘Unprecedented’ inflation as TV ad prices overtake pre-pandemic levels

TV ad pricing in January 2022 “bucked” historical trends to surge past levels not seen since before the Covid-19 pandemic, while the outlook for 2022 remains unpredictable due to the World Cup being televised in the run-up to Christmas.

It’s no accident that out-of-home is thriving once again

The challenge the OOH sector now faces is to reach and surpass pre-pandemic levels of growth, writes the CEO of Kinetic.

How Do You Maintain An Agency Culture In An Era Of Campus Working?

Holding group aggregation has become the norm, but it’s still crucial – if less easy – to maintain individual agency culture.

Mother Launches Outdoor Campaign For Ikea Store Opening In West London

The creative features products playfully placed around Hammersmith.

Supporting Ukraine & the Ukrainian Production Community | What You Can Do

The APA is collecting money from its members and passing it on to Radioaktive, who are organising their support from their temporary base in Warsaw.

How Can the Creative World #StandWithUkraine?

Whether its resources, cash or ideas, Ukraine’s creative community can put your efforts to good use.

Agencies ramp up support for Ukrainian staff

Publicis Groupe has pledged a guaranteed salary for the rest of 2022.

The Client: Ukraine. The Brief: Prevent World War III

Ukraine’s creative industry is asking talent worldwide to join their campaign to end bloodshed and avert global disaster.

Introducing ITVX

Britain’s freshest new streaming service launching later this year.

Next 15 acquires Engine Group UK for £77.5m 

Lake Capital bought the wider Engine Group, including its US and APAC arms, for £100m in 2014.

B Corporation celebrates certified brands with retail pop-up

300 products with sustainability and community at their core will be stocked.

‘Bigger and bigger’: Amazon attains top spot for UK adspend in 2021

Nielsen documented a 20% increase in adspend in 2021 following previous 17% decline.

Biden calls for end to targeted advertising to kids: the industry reacts

President Biden in his State of the Union address urged Congress to crack down on social media platforms for the harms they cause to young people’s mental health.

Jut Eat on ‘clear path to profitability’ after 85% rise in marketing spend

Just Eat’s loss after tax widened dramatically over 2021, from €151m (£126m) to a little over €1bn (£833m). However, the business says the significant investments it made over the pandemic have set it up to achieve profitability.

Climate misinformation presents ‘clear and present danger’

Media companies and advertisers need to help stamp out climate-change misinformation, industry stakeholders have warned, after a major United Nations report highlighted the issue as a key obstacle.

Walkers and Doritos “Only on holiday” by VCCP

What’s your holiday alter-ego? The kings of crisps, Walkers and Doritos, poke fun at Brits abroad.

How brands are taking action amid Ukraine crisis

As war rages in Ukraine, major brands are taking action. From withdrawing from Russia to pledging support to refugees affected by the crisis, here’s a continually updated list of the measures being taken.

Accenture Discontinues Business in Russia Following Invasion of Ukraine

The company currently employs nearly 2,300 people in the country.

Healing With Fortitude: Kiyan Prince’s Father On Dreams And Creativity

Dr Mark Prince OBE, who runs the Kiyan Prince Foundation, talks why advertising needs to sell more dreams to young people.

Peloton, M&S and Amazon among top digital ad spenders in 2021

Amazon became the UK’s top advertiser by spend in 2021, overtaking Procter & Gamble and Sky, who came in second and third respectively.

ITV to launch exclusive shows on streaming service ITVX

ITV has announced it will launch the UK’s first integrated advertising and subscription-funded platform later this year.

Marketers, get ready for building sustainability in advertising and production

Jonathan Parker, managing director (APAC) for APR (Advertising Production Resources), makes a compelling case for marketers to urgently rethink their entire production ecosystem, all the way from strategizing to execution, to achieve sustainable practices.

We need to talk about inflation

As inflation tightens its hold on the supply chain and price increases hit consumer spending power, the nature of work for clients must change.

Tesco warns of declining reach of TV advertising

Despite its warning, the supermarket giant has ‘hope’ for its relationship with the medium.

Lions research reveals lack of confidence in creativity

Study shows only 12% of brands feel extremely confident investing in high-quality creative and only 8% of agencies feel extremely confident convincing brands to invest.

Publicis Groupe UK launches scheme to attract diverse talent

The six-month paid internships will focus on design and engineering.

LEGO is different together

Two new spots for LEGO from Luc Reso Janin celebrate the creativity and togetherness of children.