IPA announces Effectiveness Awards shortlist

Curry’s, Nationwide and Specsavers are just some of the 20 outstanding case studies that have been named on the revered IPA Effectiveness Awards 2026 shortlist. In addition to the shortlist, five case studies were bestowed Commendations by the judges for providing new learning, including around social/creator-led marketing. Analysis of the shortlist reveals: There are 15 single-market case studies, three not-for-profit and two multi-market entries. The combined total marketing communications spend of the shortlisted agencies exceeds £1bn. There are 14 joint entries and six single entrants from 26 different agencies. adam&eve\TBWA…

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UK companies revise marketing budgets up despite tough economic conditions

UK companies revised their marketing budgets up to the second highest level in two years in Q2 2026, despite economic and inflationary headwinds remaining at large. This is according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report, published on 16 July 2026. After a strong start to the year, 23.8% of respondents reported an increase to their marketing spend, in comparison with 16.9% who recorded cuts. The resulting net balance of +6.9%, slightly below Q1’s +7.3%, pointed to a historically strong expansion in budgets. Meanwhile, approximately 59.4% of respondents left their marketing…

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New IPA/Tracksuit report reveals what clients want from their agencies

Nine out of ten brand leaders are seeing true commercial value from their agency partnerships. But while confidence in agencies remains high, new research from the IPA, produced in collaboration with Tracksuit, reveals an opportunity to add more value by delivering more of the strategic thinking clients value highly. Launched at the flagship IPA Business Growth Conference on 8 July 2026, the report, Bridging the gap. Redefining the value of agencies, explores the value agencies create today and what clients value most from their agency relationships. It also explores where a…

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Leading advertisers judges and Chair from Tesco named for IPA Effectiveness Awards

The IPA has announced the full line-up of leading advertiser judges for the 2026 IPA Effectiveness Awards, including its Chair for this year, Tesco’s UK Customer Director, Suzanne Quinn. The much-revered IPA Effectiveness Awards are regarded as the most rigorously and robustly judged industry Awards, with winning cases fully analysed and dissected by three separate judging panels: client (advertiser), industry and technical. The industry and technical panels were announced earlier this year. The full line-up of client judges for 2026 comprises: Nathalia Amadeu, Global Brand Director, Vaseline Alexia Clifford Sarah…

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“Small thinking” is killing advertising warn Les Binet and Will Davis

A new report, written by Les Binet and Will Davis and published by the IPA, argues that advertising effectiveness is being undermined by short-termism, narrow metrics and underinvestment, and calls on the industry to “think big” again to unlock real business growth.   In Go Big or Go Home, Les Binet, Author, Consultant and Visiting Professor at Ravensbourne University, and Will Davis, Chief Data Officer and Co-Owner of Medialab, outline the state of marketing effectiveness today, identifying where they think the key problems holding it back lie and offering practical…

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