Recent Successes

We landed an important and very timely piece in Campaign for our client, timeTo, and its chair, Pippa Glucklich. The issues we see in the media are often mirrored in our own industry, and it's vital that those of us who witness sexual harrassment do something meaningful about it. Pippa offers some excellent advice we would all do well to heed.

https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/masterchefs-eye-roll-moment-reveals-male-allyship-adland/1927596

Humorous ads - we all love them, we all remember them - but it's still purpose-led ads that scoop most of the accolades. Phil Evans, Executive Creative Director at our client Leith, wrote in Creative Review how it's vital that new blood coming into the industry treasures its funny bones.

https://www.creativereview.co.uk/humour-advertising-creative-department/

This week, WARC published a deep dive on digital twins, and we were proud to help shape it with our client, Collective.
From defining the narrative to articulating why it matters, we shaped the story alongside the team - spotlighting how digital twins aren’t just virtual replicas, but strategic tools for brands to create once, scale everywhere, and unlock serious savings.
For us as a PR agency, this wasn’t just about writing. It was about working together to interrogate trends, elevate thought leadership, and turn technical innovation into easily understandable cultural conversations.
https://www.warc.com/content/feed/digital-twins-the-new-engine-of-creative-efficiency/en-GB/10740

After the joy of winning the Euros, we created, landed and help craft this exploration of why sports is a tricky place for brands to be by Larissa Vince, CEO of Dark Horses and TBWA\London. Posted in Campaign it gives invaluable insights into what those brands can do to not only not alienate fans but actively move sport forwards. https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/making-sports-ads-interesting-again/1927445

It's always gratifying when we're able to show how our clients are leading the way - even more so when it's Hollywood they're setting an example to! Here, Steve Barnes at Collective explains how digital twins add the level of authenticity and safety people often fear when considering using AI. 

As Steve says, "Digital twins are not some sci-fi concept. They’re here, they’re working, and they’re redefining how branded visuals are created - not in some future world, but right now."

 https://magazine.shots.net/news/view/digital-twins-while-hollywood-panics-ai-tools-are-working-for-adland

St Andrews Links is known globally as the Home of Golf - no small undertaking then to rebrand the historic institution for a worldwide audience whilst ensuring it's inclusive, forward-thinking and still celebrates centuries of tradition. Of course, Dark Horses knocked it out of the park (missing the bunker and straight in the 17th for a hole in one)

https://www.designweek.co.uk/dark-horses-rebrand-gives-the-home-of-golf-a-new-look/ 

Leith's new work for Lovehoney shows that even with tight regulation around what some brands can say, you can still hit the spot. A quiet riot of a campaign, and a masterclass in how to say everything... without actually saying it. We'd say what we think of censors, but it'd only get cut out. 

timeTo was featured in Media Leader, highlighting the urgent need to tackle sexual harassment across the advertising industry. The article, “From Silence to Action,” showcases timeTo’s new bystander training, a practical toolkit empowering people to safely intervene at events, parties, and social settings where harassment too often goes unchecked. With simple, non-confrontational tactics like distraction, defusing, and checking in, shifting the burden from victims to the industry at large. 

Boom 🎇 Brilliant day for us. We were briefed to come up with an idea for NABS which found a way to partner with a key title and celebrate donors. Introducing The Yay List. Simple is sometimes best. If you want this sort of thinking for your business, drop us line

Food banks can be a lifeline for many. More and more people use them due to the cost of living and financial changes.

An important element is being able to collect the food donations and having the ability to deliver food parcels to those who can't get to the actual food banks themselves. So a true lifeline for many.

Instead of buying gifts at Christmas last year we spent the money sponsoring one of the delivery vans for Horsham Matters, Support on the move. A great charity making a real difference to those who need it. The van has just hit the road with our logo on it. So proud.

https://www.marketingweek.com/asda-marketing-back-roots/

This week Lucky Generals luanchd its first work for Asda. We placed interviews with Luckie's CEO Cressida Holmes-Smith and Adam, the Asda client in three top tier titles

Marketing Week

The Drum 

Campaign

“The question we’re asking of clients in 2025 is — did you really f–king mean it?” 

A brilliant question from Lameya Chaudhury, head of social impact at our client Lucky Generals, at SXSW London that was picked up by Billboard for its piece "Can Touring Truly Go Green? Five Takeways from SXSW London" looking at sustainable live events. https://lnkd.in/dQfBagTz

It was a long time coming but once we were allowed to shout about Collective's groundbreaking Digital Twins work with Unilever, that's exactly what we did

https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/unilever-uses-digital-twins-accelerate-content-creation/1910803

An interview with Alexia Clifford, top marketer at GambleAware, about their recent campaign

85,000 11- to 17-year-olds are affected by gambling harms. How many of you knew gambling affected children? And to this extent?

This brilliantly visual campaign by our client Lucky Generals for the charity GambleAware, raises awareness of this truly shocking fact. 

https://www.marketingweek.com/gambleaware-children-gambling-harm/

Anyone who's tried to get a piece in Ad Age knows just how tough it is, so the team nailed this one. And Lameya obviously nailed the writing.

https://adage.com/opinion/aa-brands-must-make-dei-core-to-business-not-performance/

This week we helped Stuart Archibald launch his new venture CA.5. As well as securing coverage in a host of top titles, we helped him with the external positioning of the business, putting the focus on Human Experience instead of Customer Experience. 

 One of the biggest propellants of any sport is when major brands begin sponsoring events, such as Women’s Euro 2022. Not only does the additional revenue help grow the game, but the extra eyeballs that a big brand campaign can bring help to cement the sport in the public consciousness.  

The Leith Agency is always looking for ways to make a positive difference in the world - in this case, cleaning up the waterways that run right past their HQ! Some lovely old skool local news coverage of Hell or High in Edinburgh News. 

A great piece in Campaign where we placed two of our clients, Melissa Robertson CEO of Dark Horses and Cressida Holmes-Smith, MD at Lucky Generals, to add to this important discussion.
So many women feel the pressure of not being able to progress or missing out if they decide to take parental leave.
In fact women can improve, as Melissa writes: "I felt that becoming a parent made me better at my job. I was more focused."
Becoming a parent certainly increases the ability to multi task, organise, improvise and get things done. However as Cressida notes:
"Unfortunately, the perception remains that within the household, women are the main caregivers and men are more focused on their career."
Companies need to address the issues so women can progress and thrive in their careers. Just because "you have stepped off the merry-go-round" does't mean you can't get back on.

We placed this inspiring piece by our client Jon Williams, Founder and CEO of the Liberty Guild, in The Drum, asking the question, “why don’t the creatives lead the creative agencies?” 

It doesn’t have to be just the account managers lost in numbers who climb the ladders. Why are creative directors happy to sit in the corner and play with their crayons instead of getting creative with the P&L or growth strategy? If you find a suit blocking the ladder you wish to climb, get another ladder. As Jon reminds us, “we don’t have to stay in our own lane”. 

 Welcome to Lootopia... Where all your worries and anxieties will flush away. Picture this, your own private toilet right next to your sunbed. A throne fit for royalty in the middle of the ancient ruins. A picturesque loo at the peak of some glorious mountains. Sounds good in Lootopia doesn’t it?! It certainly would if you’re one of the 13 million people with gut issues and have a holiday planned this year. 

 One of the biggest propellants of any sport is when major brands begin sponsoring events, such as Women’s Euro 2022. Not only does the additional revenue help grow the game, but the extra eyeballs that a big brand campaign can bring help to cement the sport in the public consciousness.  

 Diversity Standards Collective founder Rich Miles reveals some key opinions from the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Awkwardness, uncomfortable silences, and mortifying embarrassment are all portrayed in Zoopla's latest campaign by Lucky Generals, as the brand looks to position itself as the home research partner for future movers.

As Cannes Lions gets under way, Josh Krichefski, global chief operating officer at MediaCom, has a message for his fellow senior leaders.

Last month marked the two-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, which sent ripples throughout society, culture and business. In the ad industry, Floyd’s death and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests prompted a wave of soul-searching and pledges to address a long-standing lack of diversity. 

Lucky Generals has embarked on an other-worldly campaign to promote the launch of the ice cream brand Little Moons.

The automaker worked with U.K. agency Dark Horses to promote partnership with disability charities

Created by Lucky Generals, the uncomfortable film was first released back in 2019, to raise awareness of the issue of aggressive behaviour and sexual harassment that happens at the festival

 Advertisers are continuing to get more daring in their attempts to talk about bodily functions openly; but a new campaign from Lucky Generals for probiotics brand Symprove shows that consumers are still reluctant to do just that.  

Fans heading to Paris to soak in last weekend’s Uefa Champions League final had their prayers answered by a giant sponsored doorbell manned by Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos in an activation created by Dark Horses
 

  As customers return to the skies, Virgin Atlantic has taken the opportunity to launch a new brand platform with Lucky Generals. It's the first work for the airline since the London agency won the account last summer with a new TV ad taking the lead, directed by Ben Strebel.
 

 The agency created a film promoting a plug-in that changes the term ‘cookies’ to ‘data collectors’ to prevent children from unknowingly sharing their data. 

  The campaign marks the first time the leading online car buying and selling platform has promoted its industry leading ‘Sell Your Car’ feature to the mass market. The campaign is designed to build consumer awareness that car owners can now sell their existing vehicle via the new ‘Sell Your Car’ portal whenever they configure a new car on carwow. 

 A new initiative for The Big Issue, the U.K. magazine sold by homeless and vulnerably housed people, uses innovative digital outdoor tech to help pedestrians locate vendors as many return to outdoor spaces following the pandemic.  

Gold winner in Corporate Communications/Marketing team of the year in the 2021 Campaign Agency of the Year Awards with creative agency Lucky Generals. 

 In the inaugural episode of shots Fired, Kean talks to Dark Horses CEO Melissa Robertson about the "lazy and unnecessarily loaded" gendering of titles and job descriptions. Kean plays devil's advocate as Robertson explains why it's something that infuriates her, and why a 'mumtrepreneur' is absolutely not a thing. 

Navigating the business end of the B Corp journey is not easy but the certification brings massive benefits. 

There’s nothing remotely like the Super Bowl in the UK – and the commercials aired during the game are unlike any commercials on the planet. With an audience of more than 100m watching from home, the Super Bowl ads are a big deal. They cost a lot to make and even more to air – reportedly up to $7m for a 30 second slot this year – so brands put a lot of effort into making them as memorable as possible. 

The platform's formula for success is poking fun at itself—and finding stars willing to do the same

 How can we truly make change happen? How can we push the ball forward? We talk a lot in advertising about change, transformation and innovation. But sometimes that’s all it is, talk. Creative change is all about changing the brief — that is how we will drive change everywhere else. It may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how few people actually try to do this. Ultimately, fear holds great work back and boldness pushes it forward. 

The IPA has teamed up with Epic Games and digital agency Collective to teach agencies and clients how to integrate digital assets (via Unreal Engine) into their businesses and marketing plans.

West Ham United FC and England midfielder Declan Rice fronts Panini’s advertising campaign to mark the launch of its 2022 Premier League Sticker Album.

Using Panini’s #GotGotNeed tagline, the campaign – created by Dark Horses aims to drive excitement for the new collection amongst youngsters across the UK.

Love him or hate him, no-one can deny Jeremy Clarkson has a wicked sense of humour, which is why he was so tickled by a new ad campaign by Forever Beta calling him a “f***er.” In this case, however, the F-bomb in question is “farmer”, with Clarkson fronting an Amazon Prime Video series in which he documents the highs, lows and Lamborghini tractors involved in becoming a farmer.