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.

UK advertising: Thinking outside the (rain) box

/ June 17th 2019 / Matthew Evans

UK advertising is renowned for bringing fresh and creative thinking to any brief and that was certainly true down at the Piazza  at Cannes Lions this week, where  a special #CreativityIsGREAT photo booth, brought the British weather to the Riviera by making it rain in Cannes for the duration of the international festival of creativity.

As soon as Cannes Lions opened at 9.30am the first excited delegates lined up to get their photo taken beneath the rain, sheltered by a red, white and blue umbrella and accompanied by a selection of special UK-themed props to add to the fun. Those getting their photo take also received an instant memento of the occasion via a photo printout.

This very special installation is a festival-first and aims to demonstrate the strength, creativity and quirkiness that epitomises UK advertising and makes us such a success on the world stage. It is a collaboration of the UK Cannes Lions Working Group that includes the AA, Channel 4, Clear Channel, DIT, Framestore, London & Partners, M&C Saatchi, Newsworks – see an image of some of the group above.

If you’re at the Lions this week, come on down and feel the rain at our very own Cannes-did Camera experience!