With 81% of people in the UK today saying that creating a well and healthy world is the biggest challenge of the 21st century and 52% of people in the UK saying that they have felt more unwell since the beginning of the pandemic, the immense scale of the task ahead is very clear.

To further explore this growing challenge, last week (April 28th), McCann Bristol and McCann Synergy hosted the second Talks on Toast event of the year, Truth About Wellness.

Hosted by Kathryn Ellis, Managing Partner, Strategy at McCann Bristol alongside Rodney Collins, Director at McCann Worldgroup Truth Central and Chloe Foy, Behavioural Strategist and ACC Coach at McCann Synergy, the event uncovered research based on 10 years of trended global data about the shape, role and meaning of wellness in consumer lives across 26 global markets – uncovering insights around mental, physical, emotional, financial wellness and much more.

Focusing on wellness both today and tomorrow, the research timeline demonstrated huge shifts in consumer behaviour from before the pandemic through to now. A large emphasis was placed on how far wellness has come in the last decade and the importance that is now placed on this for both customers and workforces.

With 74% of people saying they’re definition of wellness has evolved in the past year, what does it mean to be ‘well’ in today’s world? The insights uncovered suggest wellness remains multi-dimensional, however the definition of wellness we are familiar with needs to expand. Rodney talked through the eight dimensions of wellness including; emotional, financial, spiritual and social, with the focus drawing more now on how a sense of lack in one area can negatively impact another.

Rodney commented: “We’re really noticing that in the past 10 years what has shifted is that each of these dimensions appeared to exist in a silo, there was no mention about how ones mental health could impact ones physical health, how the bacteria in our stomachs affect how happy we are, how loneliness increases our chances of developing heart problems, or how the hitting costs of urban ride sharing is increasing environmental pollutants, which in turn are driving higher rates of Asthma. So the wellness conversation today has really become expansive, interconnected and networked.”

The discussion continued by identifying the erosion of this siloed approach, delving into the evolution of the wellness conversation and addressing five key additional shifts brands and businesses should foster and strive for to ensure a positive wellness evolution in the workspace.

Talks on Toast is a quarterly event hosted by McCann Bristol, delivering insight and global research at a local level based on key global topics.

Integrated marketing communications agency, McCann Bristol – part of McCann Central – has been awarded CPD Gold by the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) for its outstanding professional development opportunities over the last 12 months.

The IPA 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.

Dean Lovett, CEO at McCann Central said: “This is a huge accolade for us. Building a strong learning culture that supports real business objectives, as well as supporting the professional and personal development of our employees is a priority for us.

“Thanks to our people, we have overcome the challenges of the last two years and the business is in a very strong position. Through this continued focus on our people, and their place within our business, we’ve been able to further improve the CPD opportunities available to them – such as our annual Day for Meaning where employees come together to create plans to improve conscious inclusion across our offices and enhance company culture.”

McCann Central is one of just 35 agencies UK-wide to receive the CPD Gold accreditation.  Those applying for the award 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.

Dean added: “This is also an award for all employees. Their commitment to learning as well as personal and professional development through a very challenging period, is really impressive.”

McCann Bristol provides integrated communications and award-winning creative across a range of best-in-class services including: strategy, research and planning, design and creative, broadcast, digital, PR and social, internal comms and employee engagement, activation and media buying.

📣 Introducing The MUZA Collective for Bristol & Bath-based Creatives 📣

Did you know the Creative Industries is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the UK economy, contributing over £111 billion every year? That’s almost £13 million every hour! But despite this impressive growth, work in the creative sector can be extremely precarious… especially for freelance creatives.

Sick pay? Holiday pay? Income security? IR35? Taxes? etc.

As part of our fourth-year innovation project at the University of Bristol, my co-founder and I (Harry Ellis) set about changing this narrative. We immersed ourselves in the region’s vibrant creatives communities, collaborated with experts from Nesta, The RSA and Creative UK, and have developed a solution that provides the necessary securities that freelancers typically miss out on. Introducing… The MUZA Collective.

🚀🚀🚀

The MUZA Collective is a social enterprise concept to support Bristol and Bath-based creative freelancers by combining cooperative principles with the protective salaried status provided by a formal employment contract. Importantly, while our freelance members benefit from improved social security, automated tax/insurances and statutory employment rights, our shared enterprise does not sacrifice their autonomy as they are still in control and work on their own terms.

Our unique offerings:

  1. Salaried employment status – the most protected form of worker classification in the UK, which makes our members eligible for minimum statuary employment benefits
  2. Wage portage/smoothing – providing freelancers with an averaged monthly salary, with an upfront payment guarantee to provide necessary income security
  3. Automated admin/legal/insurances – remove the hassle from running your own freelance enterprise; we invoice, forward social security contributions and taxes, and enlist our members with workplace pensions, giving you more time to be creative
  4. Shared enterprise – gives our members agency, voice and representation within the enterprise; you become part of something bigger than sum of its parts
  5. Collective network – benefit from creative cross-collaboration, mentorship and skill development in a safe, healthy & inclusive environment, based in Bristol-Bath

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sound interesting? Please register your interest today (it’s free, quick & easy!)

In order to move this project from concept to reality, we’d like to invite your support. By expressing your interest today, you can provide us with a valuable proof of desirability, which is vital for the next stage of our project: development!

Please express your interest at: https://www.muzacollective.uk/expression-of-interest (simply your name and email!)

If you have any questions or would like to find out more, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

– Harry and Frankie

JonesMillbank, Bristol-based video production company, went stateside with their content last week, featuring on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Last month they captured the session performances of three tracks – CRAWL!, CAR CRASH and THE NEW SENSATION – at The Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow.

The subsequent edit of CRAWL! was picked up by The Late Show ahead of IDLES’ appearance at Coachella, part of their US-wide tour, with notice and the recording delivered to CBS the day of the broadcast.

“Our portfolio of work across music has developed somewhat alongside the commanding ascent of IDLES” said Rob French, Senior Creative at JonesMillbank.

“We have collaborated with them for a few years now and have established a relationship built on trust and integrity – key when an artist has a distinctive ownership of their brand.”

“The band brought such a beautiful energy to these sessions, bearing in mind it was mid-tour and in the middle of three sold out shows at The Barrowland Ballroom. We could barely communicate or see the stage, the light and sound was so intense but it was such a privilege to capture such raw energy so intimately.”

You can watch the feature and the session at https://jonesmillbank.com/work/idles/barrowland-sessions, with the releases of CAR CRASH and THE NEW SENSATION coming in the following weeks.

***

JonesMillbank are a passionate full-service video production company

They work exclusively in-house with a talented team of multi-disciplined creatives, all the while telling authentic stories long before it was cool for a range of clients such as University of Bristol, Battersea, The Royal Mint, IDLES and randstad.

jonesmillbank.com
01173706372
hello@jonesmillbank.com

We’re delighted to announce that Armadillo CEO, James Ray, has been appointed one of the three agency heads boosting the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) leadership team and will be joined by OMD’s chief operating officer, Christian Byron and Republic of Media’s head of client services, Gill Jarvie.

James’ role will be as City Head for Bristol, Cardiff and the South West. He’ll serve as a figurehead and champion for the Industry in the region. He’ll engage with, and represent, the outstanding talent in the community, and provide a voice for IPA members in the areas.

Paul Bainsfair, director general, IPA comments “I’m delighted to welcome Christian, Gill and James into their new positions. I know they will provide valuable guidance and expertise to our wider agency community as we continue to recover from the pandemic. 

James says: “It’s a great privilege to have been appointed as your new City Head for Bristol, Cardiff and the South West, not least as I have some big shoes to fill. I wanted to start by thanking Mike Leeson for his superb stewardship over the last few years, and I hope I can step up to his high standard.

I’m really excited to be taking on the role. With the uncertainty and disruption of the last few years driving a shift towards a more hybrid and even more accessible mix of benefits and support, there’s never been a better time to be an IPA member – especially for those of us outside of the capital”.

Armadillo joined the IPA in March 2020. We were incredibly pleased to join an organisation that, with over 266 agency members, who are responsible for over 85% of all UK advertising spend, supports and celebrates the best in the industry. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with them over the past two years and are incredibly excited to continue to develop this relationship further as the advertising industry continues to innovate and grow.

B Corp Month (in the year we became a B Corp)

Last month was B Corp month — a time to appreciate what it means to be a B Corp. The B Corporation is a global movement of businesses rethinking what it means to be successful, focusing on regenerative, inclusive, and equitable practices that benefit everybody, not just the people at the top.

B Corp businesses not only listen to the demands of the climate crisis — they’re often leading the way. It’s a huge psychological shift taking place in the business sphere, happening across continents. There’s now over 4,600 B Corps in 78 countries around the world, covering 155 industries. We’re chuffed by how far this movement has grown. Tusko is also growing, and we’d like purpose driven creatives to join us.

We built our agency on the idea that private enterprises have a vital role to play when it comes to climate change, social injustice, and every unbalanced axis that tilts our world away from what’s good for all.

We’ve always wanted to be a part of the wave making a positive difference in the world. Because with the pressures of climate change just getting more intense by the year, we can’t just carry on with business as usual.

Not when the IPCC is warning about the catastrophic effects we will see in our lifetime. Or when freak weather events are starting to make the lives of people around the world more hazardous and uncertain.

With the comprehensive, measurable framework outlined by B Corp practices and value systems — businesses like ours have a defined, guided pathway to becoming a part of the solutions the world needs.

The road to B Corp

In our increasingly socially conscious economic sphere, being B Corp verified is a huge credibility boost for any business. As you may have heard from other companies on their B Corp journey, it’s no small undertaking!

But then again, it shouldn’t be simple.

Our entire economic world is built on a model that has directly resulted in the catastrophic environmental effects we’re beginning to witness all around us, and will have to adapt to over the coming years. So for businesses to become a part of the change we need to see, they need to be solidly accountable for doing things in a better way.

Luckily, it is completely possible to balance profit, and purpose. And as Mark Carney warns, can businesses afford not to adapt, and create those urgently needed solutions?

The journey to B Corp certification has given us an incredible framework to grow with, and we’ve had to ask occasionally awkward questions of our suppliers and our customers.

Our practices as an agency now include…

  1. asking if our associates have a ‘Code of Ethics’ in their business.

  2. enquiring if they have relationships with ‘Sin industries’): Tobacco, Alcohol, Gambiling, Weapons, Pornography, Unfair Trade Practices, Fossil Fuels, Diamonds and precious gems, fast fashion, Pharmaceuticals, and businesses with their workforce in 3rd world countries.

  3. asking if they would be happy to fill in our ‘Sustainability Survey’, to assess performance in this area.

But while we’ve had to make some hard decisions as a result of shifting our business to align with our ethics, we’ve also attracted some exceptional clients along the way too.

We’ve been working closely with a Bristol-based law firm NRG to create their new digital identity, and support an exciting rebrand project. They’re also on the journey to B Corp certification, and as we understand it one of the main reasons NRG wanted to work with us was because we are B Corp certified.

It’s highly rewarding to be able to work together with businesses from other sectors towards a common, essential goal.

 

Inspired by brands who came before us

We’ve been motivated to begin our B Corp journey by businesses who are already transforming our economy by transforming themselves.

We look to brands like Patagonia, a north star for sustainability in big business for many. They make the coolest outdoor gear, and they’re also a beacon for major corporation ethics, and contributions to sustainability.

Tony’s Chocolate have been making waves too — you might have seen their colourful campaigns against slavery in chocolate production.

We’re constantly inspired by the Future Leap Hub – associates of ours in Bristol running a co-working space that’s “one of the few sustainable and environmental co-working spaces in the South-West”.

And we’re also big fans of Chilly’s, a reusable water bottle with a mission to “accelerate the adoption and everyday use of reusable products”. We bought everyone in the Tusko team a Chilly’s bottle to keep us all hydrated with less single use plastic.


It’s clear that governments, NGOs, and charities can’t do it all when it comes to cleaning up our world. Private companies need to step up. The profits we’re making could be driving the sustainable reinvention of our economies, and the way we live. And with effective, global initiatives like B Corp, we now have a template we can follow to do that.

If you’d like more guidance on how to shop sustainably as an individual, we highly recommend The Ethical Consumer for advice that helps you spend money with companies with strong principles.

We’re looking for creatives to join our organisation. If you’re interested, please email jobs@tusko.co.uk, telling a little bit about yourself.

boomsatsuma welcomed representatives from the Department of Culture, Music and Sport (DCMS) and the West of England Combined Authority to see first-hand how boomsatsuma is successfully upskilling and reskilling young people in new and exciting ways

Having moved three of its creative, digital college courses into a new training centre at Bristol’s centrally located Leadworks, boomsatsuma’s Executive Dean, Dr Susan McMillan, welcomed Elizabeth Mitchel, DCMS, and Gail Caig (Creative Industries Council and Bristol Creative Industries) to meet course tutors and students.

Gail Caig, Creative Industries Council and Bristol Creative Industries, states:

“The talent on show on our visit to boomsatsuma in Bristol was impressive. The Creative Industries needs young people with creative and tech skills and this was a real opportunity to meet the next generation of talent. My work supporting the Creative Industries Council focuses on areas where there are barriers to growth for the UK’s creative sector, such as access to skills and ensuring we have a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Our visit really highlighted what excellent work is already happening in Bristol to enable young people from all backgrounds to access jobs in the sector”

The fact find mission informed DCMS and West of England Combined Authority’s with insights as to how boomsatsuma’s close links with West Country creative industry businesses and skills strategy impact students’ development in a significantly positive way.

Elizabeth Mitchell, DCMS Head of Skills, Diversity and Levelling Up, Media and Creative Industries comments:

“The DCMS team was so impressed by the energy and quality of the young students we met at boomsatsuma. The company’s admirable focus on matching their young people’s talents to the needs of the industry in Bristol will ensure a strong and localised talent pipeline for the creative sector.”

The expanding Createch sector in the West Country will bring meaningful employment opportunities across the coming years. Strong links with companies at the sharp end gives boomsatsuma students first hand experiences to gain the skills and knowledge to prepare them very well for an incredible range of careers.

Dr Susan McMillan states:

“Many of the city’s young people – at School and College – may not be aware of these creative tech roles, yet with some insight and training, they will be ideally suited to these careers. We work directly with schools across Bristol and the West Country to inspire children about working in the Creative Industries. We are now offering free, inspirational workshops and talks to schools in subjects from Game Art and Web Design to Virtual Reality. On our college courses we help students focus their ambition and skills. Our new portfolio of creative and technical degrees then gives young people an opportunity to enhance their understanding and industry experience and focus on employment through our meaningful and working relationships with employers from the BBC to The Bottle Yard Studios. We are connecting up the sections of the talent pipeline.

“I believe it is that our connected approach, from school, to college, to degree, to employment, is what differentiates boomsatsuma as a very effective educator.”

The ongoing expansion of boomsatsuma, with new technical degree’s coming on-line next year, precipitated taking on the Leadworks as a new course centre. Being located so close to We The Curious, The Watershed and Bristol Beacons places students in the creative heart of Bristol.

We’re excited to share that we have launched a new academy, starting with positions for Junior Developers and Digital Marketing Executives.

Get hands-on experience that will drive your career forward while getting paid!

The first step is to find out more about the roles available and then apply to join an Academy Day.

Our Academy days make the interview process more inclusive, interesting, and (hopefully) fun!

Spend the day with our mentors, participate in activities with other guests, and show us why you’re a good fit for being at Torchbox.

There will be a baseline of knowledge and skills required depending on the role you’re applying for. The full criteria is included in the specification.

The Academy Days are running on the following dates:

Find out all you need to know and how to apply. 

AgencyUK have announced the launch of the latest NHS public campaign which is designed to encourage people to call ‘111’ rather than ‘999’ when they have non- emergency minor conditions.

The campaign activity is aimed at high risk groups in deprived areas, those with poorer access to GP care, or people with small children, young adults or older youth, who live close to emergency departments or far from urgent care centers and without easy access to transport.

Although national awareness of the existing ‘111 help us help you’ campaign is high (of those surveyed, 98% were aware and 72% had used 111) there is still a requirement to continue encouraging consumer behaviour to change, particularly in these deprived areas.

The figures in Bristol (61% used) and 80% in North Somerset and South Gloucester is lower. NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucester CCG (BNSSG) also have targets to increase these numbers by a further 10%.

Taking a more direct, harder hitting approach is unlikely to work, and this was demonstrated following a programme of qualitative research conducted with people in these target audience groups. The agency and NHS team have developed a proposition and creative campaign that is clear and simple, showing the benefits of dialing 111 through illustrations.

“The campaign is simple in encouraging people to use 111 by showing how the service provides immediate advice and guidance for those who need help right away. The graphics can be easily understood and have been brought to life in the digital and outdoor elements created by AgencyUK.” says Dominic Moody, head of communications at NHS.

The integrated campaign leverages social media as well as traditional (OOH) and digital out of home (DOOH) formats such as buses, posters and interactive display screens.

Sammy Mansourpour, managing director, AgencyUK says “Working with the NHS is always a privilege, and as a leading brand communications agency our team have always felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility when it comes to helping improve our national services. We’ve been pleased with the media selection and KPI’s being applied to this campaign and look forward to seeing the impact it will make. The message is clear. Think 111 first.”

AgencyUK are an independent brand communications agency. The company has demonstrated significant growth over the past 12-months, contributed by the rapid expansion of their life science and healthcare portfolio. NHS is the latest major account win for the agency in the past 12-months.

Learned in Texas, delivered in Bristol. TMW Unlimited are hosting a free event at Origin Workspace to round up the most interesting bits from the world’s biggest knowledge-sharing festival, South by Southwest.

Liv Wedderburn (Social & Influence Director) and Paul Dazeley (Strategy Director) have returned from from Austin brimming with ideas and topics to discuss.

When they last returned from the last SXSW all the way back in 2019, they were most struck by how the conversation had shifted from revering tech to fearing it, with big corporations coming under mounting pressure over their ethical practices.

In the 3 years since, there’s been a pandemic, a new President, a Facebook rebrand and a whole new web has developed – so to say there’s a lot of new ground to cover is probably an understatement.

Besides a hefty dose of jet lag, the biggest issue in preparation so far has been trying to filter down the colossal amounts of information and choosing the most important things to share.

Liv and Paul will be diving into unknown realm that is our future: from the climate crisis, to demystifying the hype around the metaverse and Web 3.0, all the way to weird and wonderful conversations on space, sex tech, synthetic biology and much, much more.

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To attend, register here. Free ticket includes drink, canapes and fun for all.

Date and time:

Thursday 31 March 2022 18:45 – 20:30

Location:

Origin Workspace, 40 Berkeley Square, Bristol BS8 1HP