London agency BBH has partnered with ad industry charity NABS to launch a new training programme aimed at getting more women involved in the advertising industry.
Named ‘HERd’, the initiative will also look to make the world of work better for women, while accelerating the next generation of female leaders.
The programme marks the first time that NABS has launched an initiative designed for females. It follows on the results of the 2023 All In Census which revealed that 29% of women believe gender hinders career progression, and 55% think parental leave has negatively impacted their career.
In its first year, the programme will be incubated entirely within BBH and tailored specifically to its female employees. In its second year, the programme will be opened up to people from outside the agency, at no cost.
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“We want to arm women with the skills and tools they need to further their careers and build confidence in their own way. The truth is that within our industry, there are still hurdles that women need to negotiate and there are still inequalities that exist,” BBH managing director, Holly Ripper said.
“We know we have to do more to support women and our actions must match our words. This partnership with NABS is just one way we are doubling down on our long-term mission to create more equal opportunities and support the next generation of female leaders. It’s crucial to retain the best talent and it’s non-negotiable to end gender inequality in the workplace.”
She continued: “We have seen the impact it has when we open up initiatives we have incubated within the agency, such as the Unsigned Union which has grown from a platform within BBH to shine a light on unrepresented artists, to an industry wide collective designed to foster, work with and celebrate emerging creative talent. The more people we can reach with HERd, and support in progressing their careers, the better.”
In order to better preserve work-life balance, all sessions will take place within working hours, while all fees paid into NABS by BBH will go directly into improving the charity’s work and supporting the thousands of women within the industry who access its services every year.
NABS CEO, Sue Todd added: “Our mission is to advance the mental wellness and support the development of individuals through training and coaching in the advertising, media and marketing industry, and we believe that HERd will play a significant role in achieving that goal. We look forward to working with BBH and the women who participate in the programme to create positive change.”
