UWE Bristol becomes first UK university to join the Conscious Advertising Network

UWE Bristol has become the UK’s first higher education institution to join the Conscious Advertising Network (CAN), a membership organisation that promotes responsible and sustainable advertising and marketing practices.

As part of its membership with CAN, UWE Bristol has committed to adhering to the network’s guiding principles which promote ethical advertising practices.

This involves ensuring advertising is inclusive and advocating for sustainable advertising content and processes without compromising on driving real results.

CAN has over 190 organisations in its network which has traditionally included advertising and media agencies. UWE Bristol worked in collaboration with its own media agency, SMRS, to complete the rigorous process to join the network. This included reviewing its own policies and procedures as an institution to make sure its advertising practices are responsible and representing diverse voices.

Charlotte Hopes, Head of Marketing at UWE Bristol, said: “Working towards CAN membership in collaboration with SMRS made sense - not only because it reflects our brand values, but it recognises a mutual desire to commit to best practice in ethical marketing. We’re really proud to be the first UK university to become a full member and hope that this encourages other HE institutions to join us and help to drive positive change in the advertising industry.”

UWE Bristol will now follow CAN’s guiding principles when planning all future advertising campaigns, from content briefs to production, while SMRS will adhere to CAN principles when buying media and placing ads on behalf of the university, to collectively follow sustainable advertising best practice.

CAN co-founder Harriet Kingaby said: "We're thrilled to welcome UWE as a CAN member and pioneer in the higher education sector. Their partnership with SMRS shows just what is possible when agencies and brands work together. We hope that this will inspire more Bristol based agencies, and higher education organisations to consider the business, sustainability and ethical benefits of bringing transparency to their advertising supply chains."