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 Brexit, HFSS and gambling advertising, data and e-privacy, trust, the digital charter and our Industrial Strategy campaigns.

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 50 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

/ July 2nd 2021 / Matt Bourn

In this weekly series we pull together, in one place, a selection of must-reads from across our industry media. Hope you find it a useful edit of another week in advertising!

New export initiative UK House seeks to build on British success at Cannes Lions

Six-month virtual roadshow to promote role of UK advertising and creativity.

Major football sponsor deals with gambling brands on decline

Gambling brands are no longer the most prevalent sponsors across major English sporting teams after several companies exited deals with major English football teams over the last two years.

Gap: where did it all go wrong for the iconic 90s brand?

When Gap appeared on British high streets in 1987, its particular brand of all-American fashion proved an instant hit. Three decades on, however, it had lost its distinctive appeal and yesterday (July 1) shuttered all 81 of its UK stores. So, where did it go wrong?

As recruitment surges again, brands need purpose to compete for talent

With the economy and hiring rebounding from the pandemic, brands need to seek diversity of thought and understand top candidates want to do meaningful work.

Arcade visions.

Nothing is certain these days, and that includes the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Exactly how the divisive event will turn out remains to be seen, but at least the BBC’s traditional promo is back after a five-year absence.

Purpose Awards EMEA 2021: Winners revealed

Co-op and Lucky Generals take Brand and Campaign of the Year.

Two-thirds of Campaign readers oppose privatisation of Channel 4

Just one in eight in favour of sell-off in reader survey.

Otrivin Creates AirBubble For Cleaner Playgrounds

Saatchi & Saatchi-led initiative tackles air pollution for children.

One in 10 UK brands ‘have not set carbon-neutral goals’

A third of UK brands plan to be carbon neutral by the end of 2023, while only 10% admit they haven’t set any carbon emission goals, according to a survey published today by creative production company CLICKON.

Sorry, I have plans with myself

How Space NK and FCB Inferno redefined aspiration to create the space to celebrate and elevate the diversity of beauty experiences.

Google poses pressing summer questions in billboard campaign

Google is looking to highlight its importance to everyday life by showcasing how it can help get our summers back on track after more than a year of lockdowns.

Advertising on recovery road, says M&C Saatchi

M&C Saatchi has upgraded its profit forecasts after predicting that advertising spending could recover to pre-pandemic levels this year.

M&C Saatchi cuts Golden Square space by 30% as simplification strategy has ‘traction’

Group has shut 20 loss-making subsidiaries.

Radiocentre CEO Siobhan Kenny bids farewell

The outgoing CEO of Radiocentre reflects on her seven years in charge of the industry body for commercial radio.

Virgin Red “Find what blows your bubble” by Glow London and Truant London

Virgin is promoting its new rewards club with a TV ad featuring a recording by Grace Carter and a 36-piece orchestra.

Marketoonist on influencer marketing

Tom Fishburne is founder of Marketoon Studios.

The best football ads ever… as chosen by the industry

Football fans across Europe have been patiently waiting for the return of Euro 2020, and brands, sponsors and broadcasters have been doing everything to hype up viewers. You can view the best ads from the tournament so far here.

The Address: UK Eyes On The Big Prize

With 11 Grands Prix under its belt, the UK ad industry should be proud of its performance, and look forward with optimism.

Looks Like You Need An Adventure

Iceland invites you to turn your lockdown sweatpants into sweatpant boots for your first big post-pandemic adventure. Seriously, Iceland is turning sweatpants into boots.

How Can Agencies And Brands Reignite Effectiveness?

With Cannes entries for Creative Effectiveness down dramatically, there may need to be a reassessment of effectiveness culture.

WACL releases toolkit to help marketers tackle the gender pay gap

Gender pay gap reporting has helped shine a spotlight on British companies that fail to remunerate female staff as well as male workers.

How out-of-home can play its part in a sustainable media buy

Neil Tookey, vice-president head of commercial trading at Essence, looks at the future of OOH through a sustainability lens.

Just Eat heralds return of Love Island with gourmand animatronic critters

Brands are paying about £100,000 per ad, according to report last week.

UK’s top marketers back stricter regulations to prevent ‘bad apples’ from ‘souring’ consumer trust

While trade bodies protest the government’s plans for a junk food ad ban, the UK’s leading marketers are widely in favour of increased regulation and restrictions across potentially harmful products, new research finds.

More than half of CMOs back tougher restrictions for HFSS advertising

Marketers also want stronger rules around gambling and the environment.

Dress to impress.

Buddy Holly provides the soundtrack to this likeable piece of work for Matalan. As ‘True Love Ways’ lilts in the background, the cast are too distracted by their reflections to notice much else.

Meet the brands vying for dominance in the fast-growing rapid delivery market

Online grocery sales are beginning to plateau after ballooning during the pandemic, but one subset of the market primed for further growth is fast-track deliveries, which are expected to be worth an estimated £3.3bn in the UK.

Best Euro 2020 ads: a 4-4-2 of the tournament’s top creative

Steve Howell, creative partner at creative agency Dark Horses, has had the novel idea of picking the 11 best ads of this year’s Euros. He’s even assigned them a formation and starting position – and frankly, who were we to try stop him? Here he talks us through his picks.

Why the UK government had to allow HFSS online ads ‘loophole’

Boris Johnson’s attempts to fight the invasion of foreign HFSS advertisers is less like Churchill and more like Canute, writes law firm Lewis Silkin’s partner and advertising law specialist.

The double-edged sword of HFSS ad ban: zero impact on obesity, maximum impact on digital advertising

The ban is not only ineffective and half-baked, but it also creates a vastly unlevel media playing field.

AMVBBDO Wins Agency Of The Festival At Cannes Lions 2021

Five Grands Prix helped secure the London agency the top accolade at the awards show.

AMV BBDO wins top agency, FCB top network, WPP top holding company at Cannes Lions 2021

UK agencies performed strongly.