The creative industries have long been awash with festivals, conferences, awards and events, a reflection of the importance of sharing best practice, sparking new ideas and perspectives in the industry. At a time when an industry which thrives on networking is so physically disconnected, these virtual events are filling the void. 

In lockdown the seamless shift to virtual events has brought a new level of accessibility to these events, making them more open and affordable to marketers at different stages of their careers across the globe. Yet there has been one significant downside of this digital shift. Namely our collective inability to switch off from the constant connectivity of Teams, Slack or Zoom means that we are at risk of not getting the most from these events.

So, if you are reaching the stage of lockdown where it may begin to feel that the constant flurry of Slack notifications is akin to an invisible tech-gremlin tapping on your skull then perhaps switching off, in order to switch on to the industry around you, should be the order of the day. 

With this in mind the 2020 Festival of Marketing, which runs from the 5^th to the 9^th October, is a date for a pause of notifications. Speakers include Paul Pomroy, CEO of McDonald’s UK, Claire Hennah, Global Vice president of Ecommerce at Unilever, Alex Weller, European Marketing Director at Patagonia and Nina Bibby, Chief Marketing Officer at O2. While virtual networking and bite-size practical marketing masterclass sessions are also promised. 

Each day will focus on exploring key themes ranging from creative effectiveness to driving recovery and returning to growth.

Visit the Festival of Marketing website to find out more.