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Diploma in Strategy, Creativity and Communications

Over the last 20 years the communications landscape has changed beyond all recognition. New technologies are radically challenging conventional approaches to marketing and as fast as old jobs disappear new ones are invented.

The Diploma equips you to succeed and to future proof your career. It gives you the knowledge and confidence to be a master of change and not a victim of it. The focus is on the sustainable skills of the future: the abilities to analyse, to develop breakthrough creative thinking and to communicate in a compelling and confident way. Past students and agency managers attest to its transformative impacts on careers.

For further information, please contact suzanne@allindependentagencies.org or tracey@allindependentagencies.org

Here is what past graduates have to say...

“Learning about such a broad spectrum of topics”

“The opportunity to challenge myself and work on all elements of a brief”

“The most up-to-date insightful information that has helped me progress”

“The brief was really exciting”

“Confidence boost. The Diploma has increased my confidence at work”

“Fantastic opportunity to hear from so many leading industry experts”

Hear more about the Diploma

Feedback from agency leaders

About the Diploma in Strategy, Creativity and Communications

This 6 month programme gives delegates an unparalleled insight into what it takes to be an outstanding agency person of the future. Workshops showcase the best creative and strategic work from around the globe as well as the latest thinking on the impacts of technology.  It consists of a combination of interactive workshops, assignments, evening events and a challenging and future thinking set brief.

Throughout the Diploma delegates get to work on a real live client brief and they present their response to a panel of industry experts at the end of the programme. This means that the delegates learn all the skills needed to take a brief, develop a strategy, identify a proposition and work up creative and communication solutions – all the skills needed to gain a competitive edge in this rapidly changing world.

Successful candidates will secure a diploma awarded as a “Pass”, “Merit” or “Distinction”.

An Alliance trainer, all of whom have huge amounts of practical industry experience as well as being top-level trainers, will lead each session.

Hear from the tutors about their workshops
WORKSHOP 1
Julian Saunders
The power of brands
WORKSHOP 2
Julian Saunders
How to be a strategic partner
WORKSHOP 4
David Harris
Breathing life into the strategy
WORKSHOP 3
Jon Burkhart
Brand Storytelling and Content Strategy
Tiffany St. James
WORKSHOP 5
Tiffany St. James
The Future of Digital for Agencies
WORKSHOP 6
David Harris
Amplifying the creative message
WORKSHOP 7
Julian Saunders
How to use media effectively and creatively
WORKSHOP 8
Dominic Bray
Getting the Legals Right
WORKSHOP 9
Tessa Morton
The Art of Presenting

Diploma in Strategy, Creativity and Communications Course Content

LAUNCH MEETING – 17TH SEPTEMBER, 3PM TO 5PM (LIVE)

Introducing The Alliance Diploma

  • Introducing the diploma
  • Introducing the set brief
  • Marking scheme
  • Meet the Tutors
  • Hear from a Past Delegate

THERE WILL BE NETWORKING DRINKS AFTER THE LAUNCH

1

WORKSHOP 1 - 24TH SEPTEMBER, 9.30AM TO 1.30PM (LIVE)

The Power of Brands (Julian Saunders)

  • Introducing a framework for how strategists crack briefs and inspire creativity
  • Why brands matter to our clients: economic value of brands
  • Brand you – personal branding and creating your own brand identity
  • Brand ideas – what are they and how they act as the organising theme for mediamedia communications
  • Six methods for understanding brands

Homework set

2

WORKSHOP 2 – 10TH OCTOBER, 9AM TO 12PM (VIRTUAL)

How to be a strategic partner (Julian Saunders)

  • The vital importance of trust and relationships
  • What do clients really want and is it clear from the brief?
  • How to interrogate a client brief: preparation and research.
  • The key elements of the agency brief- problem definition/audiences/propositions.
  • Collobarative methods for framing and reframing the task
  • Inspiring examples of how clarity of task definition inspires solutions
3

WORKSHOP 3 – 23RD OCTOBER, 9.30AM TO 6PM – LAST HOUR IN PUB (LIVE)

Brand Storytelling and Content Strategy (Jon Burkhart)

  • Constant Curiosity: How do you turn curious questions into insights that lead to stories?
  • Magnetic Memorability: How can you build into stories to make them more memorable?
  • Dynamic Difference: Can emotions help you nail your purpose and content strategy
  • Real-time Relevance: How can your brand stories shape-shift with culture in real-time?
  • Kinetic Community: Can brand stories unite niche tribes and build community?
4

WORKSHOP 4 – 7TH NOVEMBER, 9AM TO 12PM (VIRTUAL)

Breathing life into the strategy (David Harris)

  • Different types of creative ideas.
  • The psychology of responding to ideas.
  • Techniques for sorting out good from the average – what makes a great creative idea (idea led).
  • Examples of great creative from around the world and understanding why it is good.

Homework Set

5

WORKSHOP 5 – 21ST NOVEMBER, 9.30AM TO 5PM (LIVE)

The Future of  Digital for Agencies (Tiffany St.James)

  • How agencies of the future will operate
  • Digital services that agencies can offer
  • How to get there: People, Processes, Technology
  • People: New roles, talent skills and training is needed
  • Processes: How are agencies changing with the digital landscape and what new processes are needed
  • Technology: what technology should agencies have and look out for
  • How AI and Generative AI can support agencies
6

WORKSHOP 6 – 5TH DECEMBER, 9AM TO 12PM (VIRTUAL)

Amplifying the creative message (David Harris)

  • Live examples of creative ideas in rough format.
  • The steps to take the ideas and turn them into execution.
  • Working with partners and suppliers to deliver campaigns.
  • Pitfalls and legal requirements.
  • Process and checklist.
7

WORKSHOP 7 – 9TH JANUARY, 9AM TO 12PM (VIRTUAL)

How to use media effectively and creatively (Julian Saunders)

  • Understanding how people process information as the bedrock of effectiveness
  • How rational or emotional are consumer in their decision making
  • Using insights from behaviour science to change behaviour
  • The critical targeting question- who exactly and what motivates them
  • Receptivity method – how insight into when and where consumers are open to communication inspires media neutral ideas
8

WORKSHOP 8 – 23RD JANUARY, 12PM TO 5PM (LIVE)

Getting the Legals Right (Dominic Bray)

  • An overview of marketing regulations – CAP, BCAP and the ASA
  • IP – trade marks and copyright, taking inspiration without infringing.  What can you use and what should you avoid?  How to protect your own work.
  • Sales Promotions – mechanics and key T&Cs

THERE WILL BE NETWORKING DRINKS AFTER THIS WORKSHOP

9

WORKSHOP 9 – 6TH FEBRUARY, 9.30AM TO 4PM (LIVE)

The Art of Presenting (Tessa Morton)

  • Becoming a confident presenter
  • Top Tips for Writing a Presentation
  • 1st steps to solid preparation
  • Knowing your purpose
  • Creating a structure
  • Managing nerves
  • Being your authentic self
  • Building chemistry – quickly
10

ANSWERING THE BRIEF DISCUSSION – 29TH JANUARY, 10AM TO 11AM (VIRTUAL)

Diploma in Strategy, Creativity and Communications Course Content

LAUNCH MEETING – 24TH SEPTEMBER, 11AM TO 12.30PM (LIVE)

Introducing The Alliance Diploma

  • Introducing the diploma
  • Introducing the set brief
  • Marking scheme
1

WORKSHOP 1 – 24TH SEPTEMBER, 9.30AM TO 2.30PM (LIVE)

The power of brands (Julian Saunders)

  • Introducing a framework for how strategists crack briefs and inspire creativity
  • Why brands matter to our clients: economic value of brands
  • Brand you – personal branding and creating your own brand identity
  • Brand ideas – what are they and how they act as the organising theme for mediamedia communications
  • Six methods for understanding brands

Homework set

2

WORKSHOP 2 – 5TH OCTOBER, 9AM TO 2PM (VIRTUAL)

How to be a strategic partner (Julian Saunders)

  • The vital importance of trust and relationships
  • What do clients really want and is it clear from the brief?
  • How to interrogate a client brief: preparation and research.
  • The key elements of the agency brief- problem definition/audiences/propositions.
  • Collobarative methods for framing and reframing the task
  • Inspiring examples of how clarity of task definition inspires solutions
3

WORKSHOP 3 – 19TH OCTOBER, 9AM TO 1PM (VIRTUAL)

Breathing life into the strategy (David Harris)

  • Different types of creative ideas.
  • The psychology of responding to ideas.
  • Techniques for sorting out good from the average – what makes a great creative idea (idea led).
  • Examples of great creative from around the world and understanding why it is good.
  • Live examples critiqued.

Homework set

4

WORKSHOP 4 – 10TH NOVEMBER, 9.30AM TO 6PM – LAST HOUR IN PUB (LIVE)

Brand Storytelling and Content Strategy (Jon Burkhart)

  • Constant Curiosity: How do you turn curious questions into insights that lead to stories?
  • Magnetic Memorability: How can you build into stories to make them more memorable?
  • Dynamic Difference: Can emotions help you nail your purpose and content strategy
  • Real-time Relevance: How can your brand stories shape-shift with culture in real-time?
  • Kinetic Community: Can brand stories unite niche tribes and build community?
5

WORKSHOP 5 – 24TH NOVEMBER, 9.30AM TO 5PM (LIVE)

The Future of  Digital for Agencies (Tiffany St.James)

  • How agencies of the future will operate
  • Digital services that agencies can offer
  • How to get there: People, Processes, Technology
  • People: New roles, talent skills and training is needed
  • Processes: How are agencies changing with the digital landscape and what new processes are needed
  • Technology: what technology should agencies have and look out for
  • How AI and Generative AI can support agencies
6

WORKSHOP 6 – 7TH DECEMBER, 9AM TO 1PM (VIRTUAL)

Amplifying the creative message (David Harris)

  • Live examples of creative ideas in rough format.
  • The steps to take the ideas and turn them into execution.
  • Working with partners and suppliers to deliver campaigns.
  • Pitfalls and legal requirements.
  • Process and checklist.
7

WORKSHOP 7 – 4TH JANUARY, 9AM TO 2PM (VIRTUAL)

How to use media effectively and creatively (Julian Saunders)

  • Understanding how people process information as the bedrock of effectiveness
  • How rational or emotional are consumer in their decision making
  • Using insights from behaviour science to change behaviour
  • The critical targeting question- who exactly and what motivates them
  • Receptivity method – how insight into when and where consumers are open to communication inspires media neutral ideas
8

WORKSHOP 8 – 1ST FEBRUARY, 1PM TO 5PM (LIVE)

Getting the Legals Right (Dominic Bray)

  • An overview of marketing regulations – CAP, BCAP and the ASA
  • IP – trade marks and copyright, taking inspiration without infringing.  What can you use and what should you avoid?  How to protect your own work.
  • Sales Promotions – mechanics and key T&Cs

THERE WILL BE NETWORKING DRINKS AFTER THIS WORKSHOP

9

WORKSHOP 9 – 16TH FEBRUARY, 9.30AM TO 4PM (LIVE)

The Art of Presenting (Tessa Morton)

  • Becoming a confident presenter
  • Top Tips for Writing a Presentation
  • 1st steps to solid preparation
  • Knowing your purpose
  • Creating a structure
  • Managing nerves
  • Being your authentic self
  • Building chemistry – quickly
3

ANSWERING THE BRIEF DISCUSSION – 13TH FEBRUARY, 9AM TO 10AM (VIRTUAL)

Book Now

Diploma in Strategy, Creativity and Communications

£1,795.00£2,295.00 +VAT

Description

The cost of the Diploma is £1,795+ VAT for  members and £2,295+ VAT for non-members.

There are just 25 places available which will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Please select member or non-member and press BOOK NOW to pay online. If you would prefer to be invoiced contact tracey@allindependentagencies.org 0207 535 3550 

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