IPA Celebrates Gold Standard Agencies

The IPA’s CPD Gold scheme recognises and rewards agencies who demonstrate a genuine culture of learning, bettering the professionalism, development and reputation of the industry enhancing clients’ brands and agencies’ worth as a result.

During incredibly tough times, each of the 36 CPD Gold agencies have made an exceptional investment in the professional development and wellbeing of their employees helping them maintain strong business practices throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Their achievements will be celebrated at an event on 28th May, hosted by IPA CPD Gold panel chair Ross Farquhar, marketing director, Little Moons, highlighting the commitment made by CPD Gold and Platinum agencies to staff mental health and wellbeing during the most challenging of times.

This year’s CPD Gold agencies are:

23red, Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, Access, Agency Inc, April Six (Mobility), Cogent, Elvis, Generation Media, Hearts & Science, Hunterlodge Advertising, m/SIX, Manning Gottlieb OMD, MBAstack, MediaCom North, MediaCom Edinburgh, MediaCom, Medialab, Mindshare, MullenLowe Group, Ogilvy, PHD Media, Posterscope, PSI, RAPP, St Luke's, The Advertising Association, The Corner, The&Partnership UK, Total Media Connect, Total Media, VMLY&R Commerce, WAA Chosen, Wavemaker UK, Wieden + Kennedy London and Wordbird.

Access, Agency Inc and The Corner have achieved CPD Gold for the first time, while Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO and Manning Gottlieb OMD are celebrating ten consecutive years of CPD Gold.

Twenty also achieved CPD Platinum Accreditation for sustained CPD excellence, by earning CPD Gold at least four times over a five-year period. Elvis, Mindshare, St Luke’s, RAPP and Wordbird have achieved CPD Platinum for the first time.

This year’s CPD Platinum agencies are:

23red, Elvis, Generation Media, Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, Hunterlodge Advertising, Manning Gottlieb OMD, MBAstack, MediaCom, MediaCom Edinburgh, Mindshare, MullenLowe Group, Posterscope, PSI, RAPP, St Luke's, The&Partnership UK, Total Media, Wavemaker UK, Wieden + Kennedy London and Wordbird.

Says Ross Farquhar, marketing director, Little Moons and chair of judges for CPD Gold: “One might have anticipated that, in the middle of a pandemic that has put such incredible pressure on the creative and media industry, the commitment to professional development might have faltered. Chairing this year’s CPD Gold Accreditation has left me under no such illusions. The CPD Gold agencies have demonstrated extraordinary levels of dedication to their people, innovation in continuing their personal growth and a recognition of the role CPD needs to play in ensuring greater diversity amongst industry’s future leaders. Congratulations to all.”

Says Patrick Mills, director of membership and professional development, IPA: “None of us could have predicted the events of the last year, but the way agencies have adapted, reacted and rebounded has been remarkable. It would have been easy to stop investing in the professional development of our people amid the very real economic and social pressure we’ve all been under, but I’m delighted to see how, in the most difficult of times, the commitment to CPD remains as strong as ever.

“Perhaps more than anything else, the success of this year’s CPD Gold and Platinum agencies truly demonstrates how vital CPD is to the success of our businesses and to the success of our industry. Huge congratulations to each of you.”

When applying for CPD Gold Accreditation, agencies must demonstrate that CPD lies at the heart of their business, building a strong learning culture, in support of real business objectives and the development of employees professionally and personally.

The IPA’s CPD programme offers inspirational career development and training through engaging and effective courses and award-winning qualifications, ensuring agency practitioners; skills match their client’s needs. Find out how you can achieve CPD Gold accreditation at our free workshop on 25 May.