Nominations Now Accepted for Marketing Excellence Award 2022
Join Marketing Week and the Advertising Association as they recognize companies promoting diversity in marketing for the second consecutive year. Submit your nominations for the Talent Trailblazer Award today!
We are excited to announce that our Website has teamed up with the Advertising Association to introduce the second edition of the Talent Trailblazer Award. This award recognizes the efforts of organizations and individuals who are dedicated to bringing fresh talent into the industry.
The award is free to enter and aims to recognize companies that have successfully attracted talent to the industry by implementing various initiatives and projects. This helps to open doors for individuals who may not have initially considered a career in this field. The deadline for entries is 19 July.
Some examples of initiatives that could be highlighted include apprenticeship schemes, school outreach programmes, partnership initiatives, and social enterprise schemes. These are just a few examples, and there are many more possibilities to showcase how companies are making a positive impact in attracting talent to the industry.
VCCP's Stoke Academy was the winner of last year's award. The academy aims to inspire and nurture creative talent in Stoke, providing opportunities for young people to build successful careers in marketing and advertising without having to move to London. Their mission is to create a more accessible and diverse industry through work experience, skills training, and career guidance.
Also recognized last year was the Brixton Finishing School and its range of programs designed to support underrepresented groups in breaking into the creative industries. These initiatives aim to remove barriers and empower individuals to kickstart their careers in this field.
Three other companies were also considered for the prize. These included Havas Platform, the marketing and communications team from London Metropolitan University, and Shape Your Future from RockCorps/Apprentice Nation.
The judges for this year are:
Sarah Skinner, CEO, Grace Blue
Ewen McPherson, group chief people officer, Havas
Richie Booker, head of diversity and belonging, Hearst
Sharon Lloyd Barnes, commercial director and inclusion lead, Advertising Association
Ash Schofield, CEO of GiffGaff, has been urging the industry to make marketing careers more accessible to a wider range of individuals from diverse backgrounds through our ongoing Opening Up series on our website.
The Advertising Association introduced its Talent Plan in January 2023 to emphasize the importance of attracting new talent, making the most of apprenticeship opportunities, and focusing on retaining and developing talent to stay competitive with other industries.
Russell Parsons, the Editor in Chief of Our Website, commented, "The AA's findings, which we have been reporting on for years, underscore the need to welcome new recruits into the industry and make a strong case for bringing in talent from diverse backgrounds. By recognizing those who excel in this area, we aim to inspire others to follow suit."
"We are thrilled to announce the return of the Talent Trailblazer Award, which aims to showcase the exceptional efforts being made in the industry to broaden the recruitment pool. Companies are taking the lead in creating initiatives to nurture and retain new talent in advertising and marketing," shared Sharon Lloyd Barnes, Commercial Director and Inclusion Lead at the Advertising Association.
"After the success of our first awards, we are excited to receive a diverse range of entries that will inspire other organizations to foster a more inclusive environment in the industry."
Any company in the advertising, media, marketing services, and marketing industry in the UK is eligible to participate in the award. This includes marketing teams in brands, media companies, agencies, and martech firms.
The winner of the award will be announced at the Our Website Awards ceremony on 7 November.
Entries are open until 19 July. For more information click here.
Editor's P/S:
The Talent Trailblazer Award, a collaboration between The Advertising Association and Our Website, celebrates organizations and individuals dedicated to attracting fresh talent to the industry. It recognizes initiatives like apprenticeship schemes, school outreach programs, and social enterprise schemes that open doors for those who may not have initially considered a career in advertising and marketing. Last year's winners included VCCP's Stoke Academy and the Brixton Finishing School, both of which were recognized for their efforts to create a more accessible and diverse industry.
The award's return this year underscores the industry's commitment to attracting and retaining diverse talent. The Advertising Association's Talent Plan emphasizes the importance of broadening the recruitment pool, and the Talent Trailblazer Award aims to inspire organizations to follow suit. By recognizing those who excel in creating inclusive and accessible initiatives, the award encourages others to foster a more welcoming environment for individuals from all backgrounds.
