Prestigious Media Business Course Relaunches for Summer 2022 to Address Talent Drive

The Advertising Association’s prestigious Media Business Course (MBC) is to return in 2022 and will now be held in the summer on 5-8 July at the Grand Hotel in Brighton.

For the first time, the Advertising Association is aiming MBC at talent with four to five years’ industry experience. The iconic course is being reshaped in response to the results of the first inclusion survey of the industry’s workforce, the All In Census, the ongoing work to rebuild public trust in advertising and the industry’s talent crisis while retaining the unique essence of this highly respected course.  

Founded in 1964, MBC has a firmly established heritage as the place where thousands of young media industry practitioners are exposed to an inspirational and often life-changing learning experience.

Delegates will be divided into syndicates to work on a blue-chip client brief and create a full media strategy before pitching against each other to become the coveted MBC winners. During the three-day event they are guided through the process by tutors who rank among the top strategic media talent in the UK and enjoy a stellar line-up of some of the best speakers in media and advertising today.

Stephen Woodford, CEO, Advertising Association, said, “For over half a century, our much-loved Media Business Course has been at the forefront of supporting talent development needs and we’re delighted to be rebooting it this summer with a focus on building back better. This is a major initiative tackling the retention and development of talent: one of the biggest issues the industry will face next year. Never has it been more important to support young practitioners in developing the skills they need to make strides in their careers.”

Co-chairs of MBC, Karen Stacey, CEO of Digital Cinema Media and David Wilding, Director of Planning at Twitter, said: “There really is nothing quite like the Media Business Course and we can't wait to bring it back to Brighton next year. More than ever the world needs big ideas, optimism and new ways of thinking and we want everyone who comes along to feel the energy of media planning and the vibrant advertising industry. It's an inspiring, hands-on celebration of the art, craft and joy of media planning taught by the best in the industry to inspire the next generation. We'd love to see you there.” 

A top line-up of speakers is expected for 2022, following contributions in 2019 which included Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman, Ogilvy UK; Karen Blackett OBE, Country Manager, WPP; and Alex Mahon, CEO, Channel 4. The MBC 2019 Showreel can be viewed here. 

Registration will open shortly and you can register your interest here.