Adland invests in future talent as 1,500 students step inside agencies for Advertising Unlocked

Coinciding with this year's programme, the IPA is also launching a new Careers in Advertising Hub, featuring an interactive career quiz and year-round careers opportunities available to young people across the advertising and communications industry.

Growing the industry's future talent pipeline

Led by the IPA, Advertising Unlocked reaches students from different backgrounds, raises awareness of careers in advertising and is helping to build a more diverse future talent pipeline. This year's programme will bring together 61 agencies, welcoming around 1,500 students from 80 schools across 16 towns and cities - 40% of which are based outside London.

Since launching in 2017, Advertising Unlocked has introduced more than 14,000 young people to careers in advertising, media, strategy, technology, data, creativity and communications.

Bringing agency life to life

Students attending Advertising Unlocked will gain practical insight into agency life through a range of hands-on activities and workshops.

These include creative challenges and live briefs, AI-focused sessions, media planning and strategy workshops, content creation and social media sessions, CV clinics, careers advice and networking opportunities with industry professionals.

Participating agencies will also showcase their own innovative approaches to introducing students to the industry, providing an authentic glimpse into the skills, roles and disciplines that power today's advertising sector.

IPA Advertising Unlocked gains Government accreditation

The 2026 programme also marks an important milestone with the achievement of Discover Creative Careers Leader accreditation, the government-funded initiative supported by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), in recognition of the programme's contribution to raising awareness of creative career opportunities among young people.

New Careers in Advertising Hub launches

To support young people beyond the open day itself, today also sees the launch of the new IPA Careers in Advertising Hub, a year-round resource that features work experience opportunities, apprenticeships, graduate schemes and early-career programmes from IPA member agencies, making it easier for young people to discover pathways into the industry and take the first steps in their careers journey.

It also includes an interactive career quiz, designed to help young people identify which areas of advertising and communications best match their interests, strengths and ambitions. Whether students are drawn to creativity, technology, strategy, media, data or client relationships, the quiz will help signpost potential career paths.

This new hub complements the IPA’s existing careers pages that provide information for entry level talent, advisors and employers on the advertising industry.

Commenting on the talent initiative:

Karen Martin, IPA President and CEO, BBH London & Dublin says:

"Advertising is one of the most exciting, creative and collaborative industries in the world, but too many young people still don't realise the breadth of opportunities available to them.

"That's why initiatives such as Advertising Unlocked matter. They give students the chance to step inside agencies, meet the people behind the work and experience first-hand what a career in our industry can look like.

"The enthusiasm with which agencies across the UK support this initiative year after year demonstrates just how committed our industry is to investing in future talent. I'm also delighted that Advertising Unlocked has achieved Discover Creative Careers Leader accreditation and that we're launching the new Careers Hub. Together, they reflect our determination not only to inspire the next generation, but to give them practical support and opportunities as they take their first steps into the industry."

Says Leila Siddiqi, Director of Partnerships and Inclusion, IPA:

“Investing in entry level talent is critical to the future of our industry. The need to ensure that advertising continues to attract fresh thinking and new perspectives from all backgrounds has never been greater. Advertising Unlocked plays an important role in this by connecting students directly with agencies helping to break down stereotypes and showcase the wide range of routes and roles available. To support this even further, we’re excited to launch the new IPA Careers in Advertising Hub on the day, creating a central destination for young people to discover opportunities, explore careers and share all of it with their friends and communities.”

Full list of agencies participating in Advertising Unlocked 2026:

England – London & South-East

• 23red
• adam&eve\TBWA
• AMS Media Group
• AMV BBDO
• Anything is Possible (Brighton)
• BBH
• Beyond
• Bicycle
• Bountiful Cow
• Cream
• December 19 Limited
• dentsu London
• Droga5
• Fold7
• Generation Media
• Goodstuff Communications
• Grey Advertising
• Havas
• Hunterlodge Advertising (Hertfordshire)
• Kitchen
• M+C Saatchi
• McCann London
• Media Arts Lab
• Medialab Group
• Mediaplus UK
• McCann (Milton Keynes)
• MG OMD
• Mindshare
• Mother London
• Ogilvy UK
• Piqniq
• Publicis Groupe
• Talon OOH
• The Gate
• The Kite Factory
• the7stars
• VCCP
• VML
• Wieden & Kennedy
• WPP Media

South-West

• Bray Leino (Barnstaple)

Midlands

• McCann Birmingham (Solihull)
• WAA Chosen (Sutton Coldfield)

North of England

• dentsu (Manchester)
• McCann Manchester (Macclesfield)
• Open Partners (Manchester)
• Republic of Media (Manchester)
• Boutique (Leeds)
• EssenceMediacom (Leeds)
• IMA (Leeds)
• Cravens (Newcastle upon Tyne)
• Drummond Central (Newcastle upon Tyne)

Scotland

• EssenceMediacom Scotland Limited (Edinburgh)
• Republic of Media Ltd (Edinburgh)
• Story (Edinburgh)
• Jack Ryan (Glasgow)
• The Media Shop Scotland (Glasgow)

Wales

• Golley Slater (Cardiff)

Northern Ireland

• Ardmore Advertising and Marketing (Holywood)
• ASG (Belfast)
• Genesis Advertising (Belfast)