IAB UK Industry Starter Hub

Between the acronyms, lengthy job titles and complex structures, getting into digital advertising can feel like a bit of a maze. The IAB UK Industry Starter Hub puts all our most useful resources in one place - helping you find your feet, build your knowledge and use your company’s membership to grow your career.

New starter session

The IAB UK New Starter session, hosted both in person and online, is designed to give anyone new to the industry a comprehensive introduction to both digital advertising and IAB UK membership. The agenda covers everything you need to hit the ground running, including a presentation from our insight team sharing the latest research, a programmatic 101, a policy update, and tips on kickstarting your career in digital advertising. You will also get a full walkthrough of how to make the most of your IAB UK membership from day one. If you would like to sign up, please get in touch via email at [email protected]

Get in touch
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Get started with IAB online training

Our on demand training courses are a great starting point for anyone new to digital advertising. We recommend beginning with Introduction to Digital Advertising - a comprehensive 101 that covers the fundamentals of the industry, the key players and how digital advertising works.

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Attend and learn

IAB Events

The best way to learn about digital advertising is to be part of the conversation. Sign up to our upcoming events - including Last Thursday Club at our Holborn office and our Growth Summits - and start building your network from today. Missed a session? Our on-demand webinars library covers the topics shaping the industry right now. Recent highlights include AI developments, Less Healthy Food advertising restrictions, and the IAB UK Digital Ad Spend Report. New content is added regularly, so make sure to bookmark.

Join an IAB Community

IAB Communities are open to all IAB UK members to join and are one of the best ways to build expertise, influence industry thinking and make genuine connections with people working across digital advertising.

Community members can expect two core in-person meetings per year, supplemented by taskforce sessions for specific projects, tailored email updates, optional networking events and LinkedIn group discussions.

Communities cover a wide range of specialisms, including: Ad Operations, Audio, TV+, Gaming, Search, Creator Marketing, Digital Out of Home, Environmental Sustainability, Standards, DEI, In the North, Publisher, Policy, Retail Media and Social. Whatever your role or area of interest, there's a community for you. To join, simply email the community lead listed on the below link.

Benefits of joining IAB UK communities:

• Raise profile with a seat at the table on key industry topics

• Contribute to and influence tangible, valuable outputs 

Grow your network and collaborate with like-minded individuals

Explore IAB Communities

Explore IAB Insight

Our Insight projects and themes explore how investment in digital media is evolving, highlights the effectiveness of different digital media channels, educates members on emerging digital media, and we look to the future to help members future proof with market changes

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Digital Adspend

Want to know how much is being spent on digital advertising in the UK? Our Digital Adspend report is the official measure of the UK digital advertising market. Published twice a year, it breaks down spend across channels and formats - giving you a clear, trusted picture of where the industry stands.

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Futurescape

Looking further ahead? Futurescape is IAB UK's annual forecast report, giving you a data-driven look at where digital advertising is heading, making it an essential read for anyone wanting to understand the opportunities that lie ahead.

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IAB Compass

Feeling uncertain about an fast-evolving area of digital advertising? Our Compass reports are designed to help you navigate emerging channels and topics with clarity. Available reports cover Retail Media, Creator Marketing, AI, TV and more - with new editions added regularly.

Not another acronym!

Digital advertising has a language all of its own. Use our Jargon Buster to decode the acronyms and terminology you'll come across in your day-to-day work. And if you spot something that's missing, please let us know - we're always looking to keep it up to date.

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IAB Policy

Working with clients in regulated industries?

We have been working to help our members understand advertising policy and regulation in the UK.

Most recently, we have been helping members navigate the ban on advertising less healthy food and drink products online, which officially came into force in January 2026. Getting to grips with the rules can feel daunting, but IAB UK has you covered. We're also actively working with government and regulators on issues like scam ads and fraud, data protection and privacy, and many more.

If you or your clients have questions on the regulation then we’d be happy to help share some guidance. Please email [email protected]

What to follow, read and listen to

Staying on top of industry news is a great way to be an expert in your field. If you haven’t done so already, make sure to follow IAB UK on LinkedIn and find out how to subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out the below industry publications and podcasts to stay up to speed on digital advertising happenings.

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The IAB UK Podcast

Now in its 19th season, our podcast has established itself as a go-to source for insightful conversations about the digital advertising industry.

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IAB UK Member Vault

Keep an eye on industry news by reading the IAB UK Member Vault – a platform where our members post their most recent research, news, blogs and podcasts.

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AI Haven't a Clue

IAB UK CSO James Chandler and AI novice George Butler team up to interview the experts, innovators and disruptors shaping the AI landscape.

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The Drum

Covers creativity, technology and industry trends, with IAB UK and its members regularly contributing via The Drum's Open Mic.

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Campaign

A go-to for industry news, keeping you up to speed on the people, trends and ideas shaping advertising, even if you’re still finding your feet.

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Marketing Week

A trusted source for strategic insight, offering a broader view on marketing trends, brand building and effectiveness, ideal for understanding the bigger picture beyond day-to-day industry news.

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Wired

A broader read covering technology, science and culture - great for understanding the bigger picture.

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ExchangeWire

Essential reading for anyone interested in the technical side of digital advertising and adtech. Don't worry if some of it goes over your head at first - it does for everyone.

Fast forward to 2030 with Futurescape: New chapters, fresh insights

Explore the latest thinking on the attitudes, innovations and media shifts set to reshape advertising by the end of the decade