Media Business Course 2026
An intensive three and a half-day training programme for ambitious media practitioners, focused on media planning and pitching, where delegates work in syndicates to tackle a high-profile client brief and present to a panel of industry experts.
- Dates
- Jul 7 – Jul 7, 2026
- Location
- Eastbourne, UK
- Industry
- Media, training
Event Sponsors
39 sponsors on record
Sponsor· 17
Astus
Bauer Media Outdoor
Carat
carat.com
Craft Media
Dentsu X
Digital Cinema Media
Dunnhumby
dunnhumby.com
giffgaff
Guardian News & Media
iProspect
ITV
itv.com
JAA Media
Netflix
netflix.com
Ocean Outdoor
Pearl & Dean
Tesco Media
Unilever
Sponsors· 22
Amazon
amazon.es
Bicycle
Cancer Research UK
Channel 4
channel4.com
Disney
disneyadvertising.com
Global
global.com
Goodstuff
Havas
havas.com
Hearts & Science
heartsci.com
JCDecaux
jcdecaux.com
Mail Metro Media
mailmetromedia.co.uk
Meta
meta.com
Paramount
paramount.com
Publicis
publicisgroupeuk.com
Republic of Media
Seedtag
Sky Media
skymedia.co.uk
Snapchat
snapchat.com
Spotify
open.spotify.com
Talon
talon.one
Tesco
WPP Media
wppmedia.com
Sponsor figures are recorded as published, not independently guaranteed.
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Speakers
27 speakers on record
keynote· 2
Mike Florence
Chief Strategy & Planning Officer, dentsu
Simon Daglish OBE
Deputy MD of Commercial, ITV
speaker· 23
Carl Read
Director, Agencies & Partners, Google
Charlie Davis
Partnership Delivery Manager, Global
Clare Peters
Chief Strategy and Effectiveness Officer, OMD
David Grainger
Founder, GraveDanger Ltd
Davina Barker
Sales Director, Digital Cinema Media
Demi Abiola
Founder, Konfluence
Elliott Millard
Chief Strategy Officer, Thinkbox
Emma Dibben
Head of Partner Engagement, Wavemaker UK
Hamid Habib
Chief Experience Officer, Havas
Imogen Coles
EMEA Head of Influence, Ogilvy
James Appleby
Founder and Managing Director, Conquis
James Fleetham
Director of Advertising, The Guardian
Jenny Biggam
Founder, the7stars
Kevin Chesters
Strategic Consultant, Speaker and Author, Harbour
Lauren Angel
Commercial Agency Director, Global
Megan Blandy
Business Director, Arena Media
Naomi Boonin
Partner, Commerce Practice, WPP Media
Nick Hurrell
Chief Executive, AKA Advertising
Rachel McClenahan
Sales Director – Agency & Client, JCDecaux
Rak Patel
Chief Commercial Officer, Channel 4
Rhian Feather
Head of Media Planning, OMD UK
Richard Huntington
Founder, feral
Rob Hunt
Director of Experiential, Immediate Media
host· 2
Sharon Lloyd Barnes
Commercial Director and Talent & Inclusion Lead, Advertising Association
Suzanne Costello
Events Director, Advertising Association
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Agenda
44 sessions on record
Day 1
Coffee & Registration
10:00 AM
Welcome from the Advertising Association
10:30 AM
Speakers: Sharon Lloyd Barnes, Suzanne Costello
Welcome from our co-hosts
10:35 AM
Speakers: Jenny Biggam, Rak Patel
The Power of Insight
10:45 AM
Speakers: Richard Huntington
How To Plan
11:15 AM
Speakers: Rhian Feather
Why Brutal Clarity is Your Greatest Pitching Tool
11:45 AM
Speakers: James Appleby
Lunch
12:30 PM
A Tutor's Guide to Success in the MBC
1:30 PM
Speakers: Hamid Habib
How We Won the MBC
2:00 PM
Speakers: Charlie Davis, Megan Blandy
The Client Brief
2:25 PM
Refreshments and Syndicate Work
3:15 PM
Day 2
Introduction from the Convenors
9:00 AM
Speakers: Demi Abiola, Emma Dibben
Think Like a Fashion Designer: The Future of Marketing, Tailored
9:10 AM
Speakers: Mike Florence
Video
9:35 AM
Speakers: Elliott Millard
OOH
9:55 AM
Speakers: Rachel McClenahan
Audio
10:10 AM
Speakers: Lauren Angel
Search & Digital
10:25 AM
Speakers: Carl Read
Break
10:45 AM
Cinema
11:05 AM
Speakers: Davina Barker
Newsbrands
11:20 AM
Speakers: James Fleetham
Magazines
11:35 AM
Speakers: Rob Hunt
Social, Influencer & Creator Marketing
11:50 AM
Speakers: Imogen Coles
Commerce
12:20 PM
Speakers: Naomi Boonin
How to Present
12:25 PM
Speakers: Nick Hurrell
Wrap Up
12:55 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM
Coastal Calm - A Mindful Session at the Beach
3:00 PM
Afternoon Refreshments & Syndicate Work
4:30 PM
BBQ Night
7:30 PM
Day 3
Morning Mindful Reset
9:30 AM
Welcome to Day Three
10:40 AM
Four Steps To An Easy Life
10:45 AM
Speakers: Simon Daglish OBE
Creativity is Key to All Progress
11:30 AM
Speakers: Kevin Chesters
Announcement of Judges and Presentation Slots
12:15 PM
Speakers: Clare Peters
Lunch
12:45 PM
Syndicate Presentations to Judges
5:00 PM
Drinks Reception
7:30 PM
Gala Dinner with a DJ Set from Jay London of Capital
8:00 PM
Day 4
Announcement of the Shortlisted Syndicates
9:00 AM
Feedback from the Judges & Finalist Rehearsals
9:20 AM
Finalist Presentations
11:00 AM
Announcement of the Winning Syndicate
12:30 PM
Wrap Up
12:45 PM
Course Closes
1:00 PM