There was a big turnout of WDAD’s inaugural “In the Know” seminar, held at the ICO Conference Centre in Fitzrovia on October 9th. Titled “Online Insights”, the event featured a top line-up of guest speakers who highlighted some of the very latest thinking in web recruitment.

First up were Steve Playford and Alex Small of job board Exec Appointments. They focused on the issue of reaching passive candidates online, a perceived weakness of the web in the past.

Then, Luke McKend from Google tackled a series of topics around search engine marketing and its effectiveness in direct recruitment and employer branding - giving the audience the unique perspective only Google can offer.

Finally, Carve Consulting Director Paul Harrison looked at the much misunderstood world of social networking and its role in recruitment – something which very few people can discuss as authoritatively.

WDAD’s MD Mike Heal was delighted with the seminar, “It was great to see over 50 clients at the seminar, especially for an early morning start. We’ve had some excellent feedback about the event. “Eye-opening” and “thought provoking” were the most common reactions from clients.

Expect to see some more innovative online projects from WDAD clients soon.

WDAD has picked up the Best Recruitment Campaign prize at The Grocery Advertising & Marketing Industry Awards, held at The Brewery on October 2nd. Their blind campaign for a new Whitbread Group restaurant chain called Table Table beat off stiff opposition from Sainsbury’s, Pepsico and Ecolab to earn the prestigious Diamond Gramia Award.

Creative Director, Andy Holden commented, “The campaign has received nominations at other recruitment awards, but it’s rewarding to see it pick up the Diamond Gramia, as it is judged entirely by people from outside our industry sector. It’s also good to see the campaign recognised now, as the creative was based on work originally presented at our pitch for the Whitbread account last year.”

The judges commented, “This campaign simply works! A truly integrated idea, with lots of novel formats, broad use of communication and consistent art direction. They embraced the idea of mystery and used it to their advantage and it delivered fantastic results for the unmentioned brand. Well done to all involved!”

The campaign has also received another nomination at The London & South East Recruitment Awards at the end of this month.

All the winners can be seen at www.gramia.co.uk

No, a crazed serial killer hasn’t abseiled through the windows and decapitated half of our staff in a blood-splattered orgy of unexpected violence.
However, WDAD’s creative team did make a mess of our boardroom back in early May, when they turned a good, solid piece of office furniture into a great, big pile of splinters and sawdust.
The desk was destroyed in a slightly unconventional photoshoot for our client Gift Street Fundraising. The resulting image is a key element in a new recruitment campaign that targets graduates who hate the idea of going straight into a desk job after university.
You can find out more about the campaign and the photoshoot in this case study
And, if you’d like some advice on the Health and Safety implications of chain sawing furniture in your own workplace, feel free to contact WDAD’s creative department. special PDF.

WDAD is celebrating two wins and a runners-up spot at the RADS - the Oscars of the recruitment marketing world. In front of 1000 guests, we picked up the Best Small Campaign and Best Central Government awards from Host Jack Dee. Click here to read the full story and see pictures of the night.
Read the full story on our special PDF.

Our Head of Art, Dan Gregory, was a member of the RADS judging panel this year. Click here to read his insider’s account of how the winners were chosen.
Read the full story on our special PDF.