Forward & Thinking

Guess Who’s Back? Back Again... It’s Matt! We’re beyond excited to welcome Matt back to Forward & Thinking, bringing with him a wealth of expertise, strategic thinking, and absolute detail and dedication to campaign performance. For those who’ve worked with Matt before, you already know his ability to create a performance-driven strategy is second to none. And if you haven’t? Get ready, your brand is about to benefit from his expertise in multi-channel advertising and audience insights. Here’s to innovative campaigns, fresh perspectives, and the return of a true industry pro. Welcome back, Matt! 

Agency problems ... When you ask for proof of postage and you get this. Look, we love a good challenge... but sometimes a clear photo would do. If you’ve ever been in the same boat, know you’re not alone.  Have you received a proof of posting that left you questioning everything? Drop it in the comments, we’d love to see who can beat this one!  #AgencyProblems #mediabuying #ProofOfPostage #YouHadOneJob #MarketingFails

🚀 We Don’t Just Run Ads… We Build Industry Icons At Forward & Thinking, we create data-driven campaigns that turn growth brands into industry leaders. As an independent agency, we treat every client like they’re the big fish in our pond… because they are. 🎯 With a deep understanding of audience behaviour, media consumption habits, and real-time data, we design smart, measurable, and results-driven campaigns that cut through the noise and leave a lasting impression. 🔥 How We Make It Happen: 📊 Media Planning, Strategy & Buying – No guesswork. Just data-driven decisions that reduce waste, generate leads, and keep your brand ahead of the competition. 🧠 Research & Consumer Behaviour – We simplify behavioural science so you can understand why people buy and plan with confidence. 🤝 Partnerships & Collaboration – We don’t work in silos. We collaborate, combine expertise, and tailor campaigns to achieve maximum impact. The advertising landscape is more fragmented than ever, but that’s where we thrive. We help brands navigate TV, radio, digital, social, OOH, and more, ensuring your message hits the right people at the right time. 📢 Let’s turn your next campaign into a success story. Ready to make an impact? Drop us a message and let’s make it happen. #ForwardAndThinking #MarketingStrategy #MediaPlanning #AdvertisingThatWorks #ConsumerInsights #DataDrivenMarketing #ResearchAndBehaviour #CreativeMarketing #ContentThatConverts #AdvertisingDesign #MarketingPartnerships #CollaborativeAdvertising #IndustryExperts #SmartMarketing #DataDrivenAdvertising #CreativeStrategy #MarketingThatWorks

📺 TV & Video Advertising in 2025: Cutting Through the Complexity 🎬 Yesterday, we hosted an incredible event diving into the evolving world of TV and video advertising. With audience fragmentation making it harder to plan, target, and measure campaigns, we’re on a mission to simplify the process for our clients and show how TV remains a powerful tool for brands. Key Takeaways from the Event: 📢 TV boosts the impact of other ad channels by up to 54% 📈 Running TV alongside performance marketing increases lower-funnel response by 13.7% 🎨 Creative is KING – dull ads don’t drive ROI! Make it bold, memorable, and unmissable 💰 TV isn’t just for big brands – 208 advertisers spent under £5K on TV ads in 2022 📺 Viewing trends are stable, while VOD continues to grow (+25% BVOD, +9% SVOD) The landscape is evolving, but with the right strategy, TV remains a powerhouse for advertisers. One of the highlights of the day was our panel discussion, hosted by our very own MD Natalie Downie, featuring a stellar lineup of industry experts: 🎤 Olivia Dunkerley– Channel 4 🎤 Chris Moxon – ITV 🎤 Anton Davies – Sky Missed the event but want to learn more? Let’s chat, we’d love to share the insights with you! #ForwardAndThinking #TVEffect2025 #AdvertisingInsights #TVAdvertising #MarketingStrategy #EverymanCinema #LeedsNetworking

✨ Friday was a special day at #LadiesLunch2025 ✨ We had an incredible time supporting Sailors' Children's Society' and The HEY Smile Foundation at the Ladies Lunch 2025, celebrating the inspiring women making a real impact across Yorkshire’s business communities. Both of these Hull-based charities do amazing work supporting local families, and we’re proud to stand alongside them in their mission. It was a day filled with brilliant company, meaningful conversations, and a whole lot of fundraising for two fantastic causes. Natalie Downie, Alison Johnson, Jo Costello and Fiona Downie had the pleasure to share a table with Mel Deakin, Ana Watts, Lisa Harvey BA (HONS), Sophie Bartup, Amy Blinkhorn. 👏 A massive thank you to the organisers for putting on such a fantastic event, we’re already looking forward to the next one! #ForwardAndThinking #LadiesLunch2025 #CommunityImpact #SupportingLocal #SailorsChildrensSociety #HEYSmileFoundation #Networking #InspiringWomen The Golden Thread Events Management Ltd Natasha Barley Tessa Wray Jamie Lewis

Accelerate Action this International Women’s Day! At Forward & Thinking, we’re proud to be a female-led, majority-women agency, and today, we celebrate the incredible women who inspire, lead, and drive innovation in our industry. International Women’sDay is more than a celebration, it’s a reminder to continue pushing for gender equality, inclusivity, and opportunity in the workplace and beyond. This year, we’re embracing the theme ‘Accelerate Action’ by spotlighting women-run brands that align with our values and expertise. From Skin Rocks to Odd Muse, these businesses prove that female entrepreneurship is a force for change. We’re always looking to collaborate with inspiring female-led brands. If you’re one, or know one, let’s connect! Head to our site to read the full blog; https://lnkd.in/e3ph9jme Monica Vinader Ltd Skin Rocks Odd Muse GoodBox WUKA Tag a woman who inspires you! #IWD #AccelerateAction #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInBusiness #FemaleEntrepreneurs #ForwardAndThinking

Pancake Day at Forward & Thinking got a little competitive this year! We put our flipping skills to the test in the ultimate pancake toss competition, and let’s just say… some of us should probably stick to media planning. 😂 Who do you think took the crown for the highest flip? 🏆 #PancakeDay #FlippingFantastic #ForwardAndThinking Matt Ryder Nina Jackson Justine Hughes Jo Costello Darren Clewes Chloe Brown

🎥 70 Years of TV Ads: From Black-and-White to Streaming Delight 🎉 Happy Birthday, TV Advertising! 🎉 This year marks 70 years since the first TV ad graced UK screens, and wow, what a ride it’s been. From those humble black-and-white beginnings to today’s data-driven, multi-screen masterpieces, TV advertising has evolved in ways we never could’ve imagined. But here’s the kicker: TV still packs a serious punch. In fact, TV ads are responsible for 71% of total advertising-generated profit in the UK, and they’re the most effective in building long-term brand awareness. 📈 Plus, with the rise of Connected TV (CTV), brands can now combine the emotional power of TV with the precision of digital targeting. So, if you thought TV was old news, think again. It’s just getting started. Ready to make your mark on the small screen? We’re here to help. #TVTurns70 #AdEvolution #FromGrainyToGreat #ForwardAndThinking

🚗 In the Driver’s Seat: Navigating Team Dynamics at Forward & Thinking Yesterday morning, our team hit pause on campaigns and shifted gears into something just as important, team dynamics. Led by the brilliant minds at HumanBrilliance, we explored In the Driver’s Seat: Navigating Team Dynamics, diving deep into the unconscious motivators behind our behaviours. 🧠✨ Through engaging activities (and more than a few aha! moments), we learned how understanding these “drivers” can boost self-awareness, improve team relationships, and strengthen collaboration. 💬🤝 It’s all about harnessing individual strengths to drive collective success, and we’re ready to hit the accelerator! 🚀 Big thanks to HumanBrilliance for steering us in the right direction. Here’s to an even stronger, more connected Forward & Thinking team! 🙌 #TeamBuilding #InTheDriversSeat #HumanBrilliance #Collaboration #StrongerTogether #ForwardAndThinking

🎉 Employee of the Quarter Nina has taken ownership of our client hubs and workflow software ensuring high levels of service. She’s been instrumental in welcoming Chloe back from maternity leave, ensuring she felt at ease and up to speed with industry updates. From refining our pacing boards to tackling Spotify’s tricky platform issues, Nina constantly finds ways to improve how we work. No task is ever too much, she even chips in with the never-ending PCAs! And of course, her office singalongs and fun energy always keep the team smiling. ❤️🎶 #EmployeeOfTheQuarter #ForwardAndThinking