Advertising campaigns helping to build a better society
Ahead of their parliamentary reception tonight, Advertising Association chief executive Stephen Woodford explains how ‘This Ad Can’ create lasting change.
When we asked Damian Collins to host our parliamentary reception this evening, he had just one condition – that we used the event to celebrate how advertising can change society for the better.
I’m hard pressed to think of a better example than ‘This Girl Can’. FCB Inferno’s campaign for Sport England has found fame around the world - and it worked. Over 1.6m women in the UK have started exercising as a result. Campaigns like this really show off advertising at its best – and I’m delighted that Sport England CEO Jennie Price will be with us tonight to tell us more.
So yes, advertising is oxygen in our economy. The £21bn forecast to be spent this year will return around £126bn to GDP, supporting over 550,000 jobs, funding our media, culture and sport – and helping to make things better and cheaper for people.
But increasingly, these campaigns are helping build a better society, breaking down barriers and creating lasting change with insight and inspiration – they are even saving lives.
That’s what the Advertising Association will be showing off on the House of Commons Terrace tonight. With the help of the agencies, charities, businesses involved, and a bit of virtual sparkle, we’ll be celebrating some incredible work…
• FCB Inferno’s ‘This Girl Can’ campaign for Sport England
• WCRS and their Missing Type campaign for National Blood Week
• Maltesers and AMV BBDO’s ‘Lighter Side of Life’ campaign in association with Scope
• John Lewis and their agency adam&eveDDB, partnering with Age UK
• St John Ambulance and BBH’s ‘Chokeables’ campaign
• Stella Artois and Mother’s ‘Buy A Lady A Drink’ campaign for water.org
• and how the British Heart Foundation and Grey London taught the nation CPR, with a little help from Vinnie Jones
And if you haven’t worked it out yet, this is an advert too. So please come and join us. AA President and Camelot CEO Andy Duncan and Jennie Price will speak briefly at approximately 7:30pm – and the people behind the campaigns will be there to talk about the work.
I hope to see you there.
Stephen Woodford
Chief Executive, Advertising Association
#ThisAdCan
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