The 4A’s Increased Focus on Talent Development Initiatives and Certification Programs

New York, NY – December 4, 2015 – The 4A’s, the leading trade association representing the advertising agency business, is closing out the year with a focus on talent development initiatives and certifications. Key training and certification initiatives include the Glass Ladder Webinar Series and the introduction of the Entry Level Foundation Certificate with its U.K. counterpart, the Institute for Practitioners in Advertising (IPA).

Nancy Hill, President and Chief Executive Officer, 4A’s, said: “The 4A’s is continually seeking opportunities to deliver world-class talent development programs that support our member agencies in attracting and retaining top talent. We’re looking forward to partnering with the IPA to offer a prestigious and coveted certification program to our members, as well as continuing to unveil an engaging series of webinar events.”

Webinars
On Monday, December 7, Cindy Gallop will host the final installment in her 2015 Glass Ladder webinar series called “How to Become Executive Creative Director When Nobody Thinks You Can,” in which she will discuss the challenges facing female creatives and how best to tackle them. This event will be hosted online but also features the opportunity for registrants to join live from the 4A’s offices.

Webinar pricing will increase beginning on January 1, 2016, to $149 for members and $259 for non-members (from $129 for members and $239 for non-members). Rates for seminars will increase to $425 for members and $525 for non-members (from $325 for members and $425 for non-members). However, all registrations for Q1 2016 learning programs that are received by December 31, 2015, will receive the 2015 rates. A list of 4A’s seminars and webinars and links to register can be found here.

Entry Level Foundation Certificate
In early 2016, the 4A’s and IPA will partner to offer an Entry Level Foundation Certificate, the industry’s foremost entry-level qualification, exclusively to its 750 member agencies in the United States. This certification will initially run as a pilot in the U.S., and based on successful results will be fully customized for the U.S. market and rolled out in late 2016.

“Our goal is to set benchmarks for best practices in the global advertising profession. There is clear evidence from our agencies in the U.K. of the direct and powerful link between investing in people and business performance,” said Paul Bainsfair, Director General, IPA. “Ultimately, our thinking adds value to our clients’ brands and drives real competitive growth. I am therefore delighted to collaborate with the 4A’s to share our global benchmark of best practice learning with agencies and clients in the U.S. advertising industry.”

To achieve this certification, participants will undergo 30 hours of self-paced online learning, culminating in an online exam. Enrollment opens for U.S.-based 4A’s members on January 1, 2016, and closes March 25, 2016. Delegates will sit for the final online exam on April 25, 2016. A certificate of completion will be awarded to all delegates who successfully pass the exam. For more details, please email [email protected].

About the 4A’s
The 4A‘s is the catalyst for bringing together the right people in the right place at the right time to address the advertising industry’s most critical business issues. We provide leadership, advocacy, guidance and community to our members and the industry at large, with proprietary access to the people, information and tools needed to make smarter management decisions. Our mission is to help agencies become more successful.

Primary Contact:
Samantha Wolf
Havas PR
(646) 515-3574
[email protected]