The UK Advertising Export Group (UKAEG) is supporting UK companies in making a noise at SXSW this year with a dedicated panel picker bootcamp.

The organisation has continued to support UK companies in building their profile at global events such as last year’s SXSW and Cannes Lions. The organisation is backed by strategic collaboration with the Department for Business and Trade and industry partners.

The bootcamp aims to help companies navigate SXSW’s PanelPicker session proposal platform. The platform helps power the trends, topics and themes for the annual festival. Prospective speakers submit their session ideas to PanelPicker, after which the community, SXSW Advisory Board and SXSW staff choose the best proposals.

The bootcamp, which will be exclusive to UKAEG members, will be presented by International Trade Director, Aisling Conlon and Keynote Speaker, Strategist & Author, Jon Burkhart.

The PanelPicker bootcamp is designed to equip UK companies with the necessary tools and insights to stand out amongst global competitors and help them gain the necessary votes to bag an official programme slot.

Last year’s bootcamp resulted in several talks making it onto the official programme including; Come play in the real metaverse hosted by VCCP, The C-Word: Advertising’s Guilty Secret hosted by Creature London, Startup to Scale Up: Why Brand Building Matters, with adam&eveDDB and The Great Metaverse of China, presented by Quimin.

Over 40 UK companies participated in this year’s trade mission to Austin with UKAEG hosting an extensive programme of activities at UK House. Over 10,000 SXSW delegates attended UK House over 4 days as UKAEG hosted 30 talks and a roundtable with the American Advertising Federation (AAF).

"We are pleased to confirm the return of our successful SXSW PanelPicker bootcamp, a proven game-changer for UK companies looking to maximise their impact at SXSW," explained Aisling Conlon, International Trade Director, Advertising Association. "The festival is a valuable opportunity for UK companies to showcase innovation and gain international recognition. Our bootcamp equips UKAEG members with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this unique environment, as we aim to strengthen the UK's influence and showcase our world-class talent and leadership on the SXSW stage.”

This call to the industry comes as UKAEG returns from its largest ever trade mission to Cannes Lions to date, in partnership with DBT, which successfully supported over 50 companies looking to grow their business around the world under the campaign UK Advertising @ Cannes Lions.

The latest exports figures revealed that the UK exported £15bn worth of advertising and marketing services around the world in 2021.

For more information on UKAEG and how to get involved, please visit the dedicated website here.