Hi John, Marketing Week has partnered with the Advertising Association to launch a new award that will celebrate those leading the way in the opening of the industry to new talent. The free-to-enter Talent Trailblazer Award will spotlight the companies whose initiatives and projects have helped attract talent into the industry who might not have otherwise seen it as an option. The trade body launched its Talent Plan in January highlighting the industry’s need to attract new talent, maximise the opportunities presented by the apprenticeship scheme, and address how it retains and develop talent to truly compete with other industries. Meanwhile, Marketing Week has been calling on the industry to act on democratising marketing careers, opening them up to more people, from more diverse backgrounds. Together, we will champion what good look looks like and inspire others to act. Award entries will be judged by the AA’s Talent Working Group and Marketing Week’s Editor in Chief, Russell Parsons. They will be looking for the stand-out examples of success in recruiting, developing and retaining new advertising and marketing talent. How is the scheme run, what are the underlying factors for its success, what are the opportunities for the industry to scale this and how can others learn from the success that has been achieved, all factors that will be considered when judging. The award is open to any business operating in the UK’s advertising, media, marketing services and marketing industry, from marketing departments in brands to commercial media owners, through to agencies of all kinds and the tech companies that provide support services to the industry. We also want to see entries from social enterprises, charitable initiatives and other organisations looking to bring fresh talent into the industry. Entries will close on Friday 19 August and a shortlist will be announced in September, ahead of the winner being unveiled at the Marketing Week Awards ceremony on Wednesday 1 November. For more information and to enter, click here. Russell Parsons Editor-in-Chief, Marketing Week and Festival of Marketing |