Advertising jobs: COI chooses agency shortlist

Advertising jobs at a specific agency partnership could soon be reaping the fruits of their efforts.

The Central Office of Information (COI) has placed three collaborations on the shortlist for the Government’s £250m media buying business.

According to Media Week, the three partnerships are Smile, M4C and Aegis Media.

Smile consists of Starcom, Media Vest Group and I-Level where M4C is a Group M team effort and Aegis Media are made up of Carat and Posterscope.

The media news source reported a promising COI annual report which unveiled a £211m media spend and £40m online advertising spend during the last year.

A contract like the COI deal not only boosts an agency’s confidence but also leads to the safeguarding of jobs at the company.

Just making it to the shortlist can give the collaborations reason to be proud as well.

According to The Drum, Peter Buchanan, COI deputy chief executive said: “This is a very important step for COI. We have worked hard to create a fully comprehensive brief, in order to give competing agencies the best possible start.”

Pitches for COI’s business will proceed in December and the successful group will be announced early next year.

The winning alliance will start to fulfil their new role to the COI next April and will continue doing so during the following four years.