The APG A-Z is a series of 26 short and inspiring videos that are designed to give you all the basics for a proper understanding of the practice of planning and strategy. Whether you’re just starting out in an agency - be it in advertising, media, social, design, whatever - and have planner or strategist in your title, or you work for a client or research company and have a professional interest in strategy, this course is for you to do in your own time.

We are saddened to announce the death of Beth Barry on 12th February 2024. Beth was a brilliant researcher and planner. With Lee Taylor, Beth led the Ogilvy and Mather Planning Department in the 1990’s and served as APG Chair from 1994 to 1996.  She was also the founder of the awards now known as the APG Creative Strategy Awards. She thought it was essential that the contribution of planners was publicly documented and celebrated as much as the creative work they helped to inspire. These awards go from strength to strength and are a fundamental part of her legacy.  

I would like to thank Lee Taylor, her work partner and friend for the following words in her memory, and in celebration of her unique qualities.

Sarah Newman

APG Director

Think of a planner. What image comes to mind? Ironic notebook? Quiet demeanour? Statement glasses? You probably conjured one of these, right? 

There’s a lingering stereotype that planners are introverted intellectuals who prefer to work solo. Of course it’s a cliché for a reason. Many strategic thinkers would choose time and space to mull over a problem or an idea....

This week John Bizzell, WARC’s awards lead, talked to Martin Beverley, Chair of Shortlisting Judges and and Kate Waters, Chair of Judges, on what they were really thinking during this year's APG Creative Strategy Awards.

The Planning team at Leo Burnett carried away the Grand Prix for McDonald’s ‘Raise Your Arches’; a spectacular demonstration of transformational creative strategy.

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adam&eveDDB were crowned Stephen King Strategy Agency of the year.

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In the year where we had the highest ever number of entries, it’s a real accolade to win a prize and the winning cases are brilliant. And if you’re an APG member you can read the cases on Think Tank.

A point of view on the APG’s updated Strategy Skills Survey and what we have learned from it.

Each week we will be featuring a new piece written by Jim Carroll, a long serving strategist and former UK Chairman at BBH. Click through to read more and subscribe.

Creative strategy can be the best job in the world, not least because the skills you learn as a brand planner are so transportable. 

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The APG is doing an occasional series of events where we talk to strategists who have taken their skills into new areas to find out which skills they brought with them, how they apply them, what new things they have learned and how they think other people can benefit from their experience. 

Will Humphrey was a strategist in agencies for 15 years, working in different manifestations of the planning discipline and in a variety of excellent agencies. He left his most recent role at Wunderman Thompson two years ago and jumped ship to McKinsey. He has some fascinating insights into the difference between life in agencies and the ‘The Firm’ and how he has been shaped by the experience to date.

This is a call to arms for strategy people to join a new APG GenAI & AI Working Group that aims to get the best from the technology for the planning and strategy community, and help shape a positive future for the discipline.

Carolyn McCall launched ITV Head First at this year’s ITV Palooza. This competition asks brands to join ITV and communicate to the nation the importance of taking steps towards better mental health and wellbeing, through the creation of an on-air spot.

The total prize fund is £2 million of airtime - with the winner being awarded £1 million and ITV offering to match-fund the other four shortlisted entries up to £250k each, in order to get as many representative campaigns on air as possible. The award will be chaired by Sheila Mitchell CBE, former Marketing Director for Public Health England who was the architect behind Every Mind Matters. 

Michael Lee, APG Chair and Group CSO at the VCCP Partnership is talking Planning skills and much more. Michael is a gripping speaker and it’s a really good conversation. Highly recommended.

APG Arrive and Thrive is a cross-agency initiative to improve the way we recruit, support and train young people from diverse and more disadvantaged backgrounds. Click through to read more about it and watch the video from our launch event. 

The clue is in the name. It’s the place on the APG site where we bring together all the precious bits of strategic learning that can help you navigate a tricky problem, give you fresh inspiration or just wake up your jaded planning brain when you need help but don’t know where else to go.

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To get a taster of how excellent these resources are for members, we’re giving you the chance to download one example of each for free. You’re welcome!’