The IPA (The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising)

The IPA is the professional body for advertising, media and marketing communications agencies in the United Kingdom. The IPA was established in 1917 in response from a request from the Government of the day to help with their recruitment and propaganda efforts. Since that time, the benefits of having a collective body to discuss issues of the day has never lost its appeal. Even though the IPA today is a very different organisation with its primary focus on individual members needs, it is still on call to any Member of the Houses of Parliament when advice is needed on a particular communication challenge. The history of the IPA shows there have been many occasions since 1917 when this has happened, both through our work, the AA and on individual basis. Rory Sutherland's Behavioural Economics programme is a good example. Our role is two-fold: to provide essential core support services to our 300 agency members who are key players in the UK’s £16.7bn advertising, media and marketing communications industry; and to act as the industry spokesman. Our core services cover a number of advisory services: from commercials production to all aspects of agency management. Members also have free access to our legal team; free access to a wealth of online information through our insight team; and access to the industry’s media research contracts, including our own TouchPoints. We also offer bespoke agency training and qualifications. We also run three award schemes. The most well known is the IPA Effectiveness Awards which demonstrates how agencies, and their clients, have measured marketing payback. This scheme is widely recognised as the most rigorous effectiveness awards scheme in the world. We also run schemes to showcase creativity in healthcare (Best of Health Awards) and to highlight online media owner servicing levels (MOAs).