28
Apr

UNION TOPS NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2023 STAR AWARDS

The Marketing Society Scotland has revealed the shortlist for the 2023 Marketing Star Awards, which is to be held in June this year. The annual awards event is the benchmark for marketing effectiveness in Scotland, with over 30 agencies and clients nominated. The dinner is expected to be attended by over 600 marketing experts from Scotland’s leading brands and businesses as well the nation’s top agencies. Several agencies from the rest of the UK are also named.

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16
Aug

UNION APPOINTED TO THREE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT MARKETING FRAMEWORKS

The Union has been successful in gaining a place on three of the new Scottish Government marketing frameworks, also referred to as the ‘marketing rosters’. The rosters are tendered every four or five years; although this latest framework was delayed a year due to the pandemic. Agencies on the frameworks gain the right to tender for Scottish public sector marketing contracts, but are no guarantee of work. The Union has been appointed to three lots; 1) Creative Services above £50K, 2) Creative Services below £50K, and 3) Digital Marketing Services. Each framework is limited to five or six agencies.

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30
Jun

PROMOTIONS AT THE DOUBLE IN THE UNION GROUP

The Union Group is pleased to announce two key new promotions which strengthen the Union’s management team and signal the next generation of leaders for one of Scotland’s top creative agencies. Louise Killough has been promoted to Deputy Managing Director of The Union and simultaneously Emma Campbell is being promoted to Deputy Managing Director of sister agency, Union Direct. (As it happens, Louise and Emma are also sisters. And no ordinary sisters; identical twins, no less.) Previously the Union’s Client Services Director, in her new role Louise will continue to manage client business and oversee the account management function, while also be responsible for the financial performance and overall strategy direction of the agency. She will continue to work closely with other board members: Ian McAteer (Chairman), Michael Hart (Creative Director) and Heather Blair (Finance Director).

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28
Jun

UNION WINS TEN STARS AT 2022 MARKETING SOCIETY AWARDS

The Union topped the total number of awards won at the The Marketing Society Scotland Star Awards 2022. Winning a total of ten awards (2 Golds, 2 Silvers and 6 Bronzes) for seven clients, the agency demonstrated the breadth and quality of its creative output at the highly competitive event. The awards are judged by panels of independent experts; they aim to measure effectiveness of marketing investment.

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19
Jun

THE UNION’S 2021 STAR AWARD WINNERS

The agency was named Scotland’s Agency of the Year 2021 at the Marketing Society Star awards based on a strong set of award-winning entries. The Union won four Golds, one Silver and one Bronze at the awards event. Here we summarise the winning entries across four of our clients.

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18
Jun

THE UNION IS AGENCY OF THE YEAR 2021

At last night’s Marketing Society Scotland Star Awards The Union was crowned Agency of the Year 2021. This is the fourth time the agency has achieved this recognition, previously winning in 2010, 2015 and 2017. The agency also won three Gold awards, one Silver and one Bronze. An entry for the Scottish Government’s Parent Club marketing won Gold in the Digital Strategy category. Also for the Scottish Government, the campaign to tackle period inequality and discrimination won a Gold in the Marketing in Society category. 

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7
Dec

WHAT TEACHING TAUGHT ME

The Union has launched a new campaign for the Scottish Government to encourage new recruits into a teaching career in Scotland. The campaign aims to challenge perceptions of the career and showcase the variety, progression and rewarding moments that a career in teaching can provide.

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6
May

NEW CAMPAIGN LETS PARENTS KNOW PARENT CLUB IS THERE FOR THEM

A new campaign for the Scottish Government’s ‘Parent Club’ brand by The Union is addressing the challenges of parenting during lockdown head-on, while reassuring everyone we are all in it together. The ‘Here for You’ campaign captures some of the everyday trials and tribulations facing parents and carers as they juggle the additional pressures of the Coronavirus pandemic. Recognising that the situation is different for everyone, the advert covers a range of scenarios, from trying to balance home-working with learning at home, to keeping kids entertained, fed and enjoying the little moments together.

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12
Apr

UNION NOMINATED NINE TIMES FOR 2020 MARKETING STAR AWARDS

The Union has been nominated nine times for the 2020 Marketing Society Scotland Star Awards, the annual celebration of the best marketing work in Scotland. Five Union clients have been selected. The National Library for Scotland, Sterling Furniture, Children’s Hearings Scotland, Scotland Starts Here and The Scottish Government have all been shortlisted by the judges, in a total of than seven categories.

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27
Jan

THERE’S MORE TO CARE THAN CARING

The Scottish Government have launched a national recruitment campaign for Adult Social Care workers, created by The Union. Recruitment pressures for frontline Adult Social Care workers have been rising and vacancies are becoming harder to fill. This campaign aims to raise the profile of a career in Adult Social Care (ASC) and encourage people to apply for a role. The campaign was developed following research with the target audience (aged 22-45, considering a career change) and current workforce employees who suggested that vacancies are difficult to fill due to perceptions of the career.

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20
Jan

AN OPEN CONVERSATION ABOUT PERIODS

The Union has created a new groundbreaking campaign for the Scottish Government to challenge the stigma around periods and encourage greater openness and honesty. The integrated campaign is aimed at 16-24 year olds. The ‘Let’s Call Periods, Periods’ advertising shows how, as a society, we use all kinds of different expressions to avoid using the word ‘periods’, which is, after all, a natural bodily function experienced by more than 50% of the population.

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27
Nov

WHAT DID YOU DO TODAY?

The Union has launched a new campaign for the Scottish Government to encourage young people to choose a career in healthcare (nursing, midwifery and allied health workers) after a commitment to deliver an extra 2,600 nursing and midwifery training places. The campaign, ‘What did you do today?’, aims to showcase the importance of the roles in healthcare and the variety of opportunities available within the industry.

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22
Jun

UNION ENJOYS STELLAR EVENING AT STAR AWARDS

The Union team enjoyed a great evening at the 2018 Marketing Society Star Awards, held at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh. The awards is the equivalent of the Scottish marketing community’s Oscars – with over 500 guests attending from across a wide range of the agency and client companies. We were delighted to pick up six awards on the evening. Our entries for Scottish Government (Parent Club) and Historic Environment Scotland won Gold, whilst these clients also picked up Silvers, with another Silver going to Sterling Furniture. A Bronze was awarded to Union Direct for Scottish Widows. Three other entries were nominated: for Food Standards Scotland and Police Scotland.

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13
Apr

UNION AND UNION DIRECT SHORTLISTED FOR 2017 STAR AWARDS

Nominations for the 2017 Marketing Star Awards have been released and The Union, together with sister company Union Direct, have been nominated a staggering 19 times in total, the highest number of nominations for any agency. The awards, run by the Marketing Society, are Scotland’s premier marketing event, recognising marketing effectiveness across numerous categories.

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9
Feb

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION THROUGH STEM

Union Connect have created a dual field and partnership campaign for the Scottish Government to increase the number of people considering a career in teaching STEM subjects in Scottish high schools. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are crucial to Scotland’s future economic prosperity, yet many potential applicants perceive a lack of available jobs, or that alternative career options are more attractive. Yet teaching STEM subjects can be inspiring and rewarding for both teacher and pupil.

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9
Jan

NEW TV CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE FINANCIAL HEALTH SERVICE

The Union’s new TV ad for the Scottish Government’s Scottish Financial Health Service has just launched. The service is a new online portal that provides a gateway to financial help and advice to people living in Scotland. A website where users can access the information and support they need, no matter their financial issues.

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2
Aug

THE UNION RE-APPOINTED TO HANDLE ORGAN DONATION ADVERTISING

The Scottish Government has reappointed The Union to handle its Organ Donation advertising. The Scottish Government has set a target to double the amount of registered organ donors in Scotland in the next five years. The Union has worked on the campaign for the last three years, producing the award-winning ‘Kill Jill’ campaign which secured an IPA Effectiveness Gold.

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2
Dec

UNION CREATES TV SPOT AS PART OF SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT’S CAMPAIGN TO HELP TACKLE DEBT

The Union has just completed a TV commercial as part of the Scottish Government’s push to promote the National Debtline (0808 808 4000) which is designed to help Scots facing debt problems in the current financial downturn. The 30 second TV ad features the ‘Debt Monster’ a creature that gets larger and larger when ignored, reaching terrifying proportions. However when faced the ‘Debt Monster’ is faced, it becomes smaller and more manageable. The commercial ends with the advice to call the National Debtline for help and advice. The campaign will be supported by online advertising, a website and leaflets in key outlets.

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1
Aug

THE UNION AND NU MEDIA SECURE PLACE ON SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE ROSTER

The Union has been successful in securing its place on the Scottish Executive creative agency roster after a major contract review by the Scottish Executive. For the first time, a creative agency roster will handle the advertising requirements of Historic Scotland, NHS24, Quality Meat Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Executive and VisitScotland.

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