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.

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.

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).

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.

8
Apr

UNION GROUP COMPANIES NOMINATED FOR 23 MARKETING STAR AWARDS

Union Group companies; The Union, Union Direct and Union Data, have been nominated for 23 awards for the upcoming Marketing Society Scotland Star Awards. The awards have been the litmus test for marketing effectiveness and creativity for the last 15 years in Scotland. The Union was named Agency of the Year in 2021; however this year’s 23 nominations is a record for the agency. The nominations are in 13 categories; across a total of ten different clients. The breadth and depth of recognition, even at this stage, reflects both an intensely busy 2021 for the agency but also the wide set of marketing services the agency offers clients.

19
Aug

A RAFT OF NEW BOARD APPOINTMENTS AT THE UNION

The Union has promoted four of its senior management team to the boards of its businesses. This is the first time new Directors have been appointed for many years and represents a planned approach to succession, as well as a careful development the Union Group of businesses. Louise Killough, The Union’s Client Services Director, is appointed to the board of Union Advertising. Louise has been with the agency for over 16 years, and now leads the agency account management team. She also leads on client development and the agency’s financial performance. She has considerable client experience across many sectors, including Scottish Government, Quality Meat Scotland, VisitScotland, Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS), Scottish Enterprise, Reebok, Warburtons and Highland Spring.  Louise also sits on the Marketing Society Scotland committee.

18
Mar

BUSINESS AS UNUSUAL FOR THE UNION

We are The Union. It’s a name that emphasises the power of the collective. If ever there was a time when we need to draw upon one another for support, help and reassurance, it’s surely now. We don’t need to tell you about the very real threat Coronavirus poses to our families, communities and businesses. But we do know that working smarter, working safer and working together will help us overcome it. In keeping with the latest government advice we will, for the safety and wellbeing of our people, clients and suppliers, be implementing a work from home policy with immediate effect. It’s a change that changes very little in our ability to deliver uninterrupted service to our clients. Video conferencing, phone and email communication lines remain open, fluid and flexible for all communications and meetings.

30
Apr

ROBUST NEW BUSINESS SUCCESS FOR UNION

2019 has started with Union group companies winning a raft of new accounts, both public and private sector. Late in 2018 and in the first few months of 2019 the agency saw record levels of enquiries, tenders and pitches which has resulted in several key new clients. In the public sector the agency was awarded the Scottish Government’s ‘Smarter Wealthier Fairer’ portfolio of projects, which covers a wide range of important policy areas, from teacher, healthcare and tourism recruitment to new social security benefits, period poverty and Scotland’s Census.

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.

17
Nov

UNION DATA LAUNCHED TO MEET GROWING CLIENT DEMAND

Due to client demand for more data services the Union Group has decided to set up a new company focussed on more effective use of marketing data and providing technical data solutions. The new business will be called Union Data, and be based at The Union’s main offices in Edinburgh. Daniel Batey is the Managing Director role of the new Union company. Daniel was the Head of Data Planning at Union Direct for the last seven years and he was also Head of Analytics with Paragon Customer Communications in London. Ian McAteer will be Chairman and Gus Chalmers, MD of Union Direct, will join the new company’s board.

12
Jun

UNION NAMED 2017 AGENCY OF THE YEAR

The Union has been named 2017 Star Agency of the Year at the Marketing Society Star Awards in Scotland. The agency, together with sister agency Union Direct, collected 4 Golds, 5 Silvers and 4 Bronzes on the awards night. The event was held at the SWG3 venue in Glasgow, a gathering of over 500 marketing people, both agency and clients. Scottish comedian Susan Calman was the host for the evening.

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.

8
Aug

UNION DIRECT LAUNCH VISITSCOTLAND CRM CAMPAIGN

Union Direct’s CRM campaign for VisitScotland has just been launched. It promotes the range of things to see and do in Scotland this coming autumn and winter.

8
Dec

BUSINESS STREAM APPOINTS UNION DIRECT

Business Stream, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scottish Water, has appoints Union Direct to handle all its direct marketing requirements. Union Direct has been asked to build engagement with the business audience in Scotland together with any appropriate internal communications associated with this work.

18
Mar

UNION DIRECT AND VISITSCOTLAND TRIUMPH AT THE TRAVEL MARKETING AWARDS

Union Direct have won a prestigious UK Travel Marketing Award in London this week. The awards, organised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, celebrate the effectiveness of marketing in the travel and tourism sector each year. Union Direct won the Direct Marketing category for its work on VisitScotland; for the ‘Winter White’ promotion.

5
Jun

GUS CHALMERS TAKES THE HELM AT UNION DIRECT

Union Direct have announced changes to their management team. Daniel Clare, who has been with the agency for over two years, has resigned to pursue new challenges in consultancy. Gus Chalmers, Client Services Director of the agency, has been promoted to Managing Director with immediate effect.

24
Feb

UNION DIRECT WINS BEST MARKETING INITIATIVE AT THE 2007 SCOTTISH LEGAL AWARDS

Union Direct’s “Formidable but Friendly” marketing campaign for Anderson Strathern won Marketing Initiative of the Year at the 2007 Scottish Legal Awards held at the EICC on the 23rd February 2007.

1
Jan

UNION LAUNCHES DIRECT MARKETING AGENCY

The Union founding Directors have launched a new direct marketing agency – called ‘Only U’. The new agency launches having won the significant Intelligent Finance direct marketing account.