TWO advertising students, including an ex-Penweddig pupil, have won the prestigious DMA Breakthrough Award 2016 – one of marketing’s leading awards celebrating the next generation of talent coming into the industry.

Alis Hâf Rees from Aberystwyth and Amy Armstrong-Jeffery, both BA (Hons) Advertising students at the University of Gloucestershire, were presented the award in front of senior figures from across the marketing industry at a glittering ceremony at London’s Old Billingsgate.

The third-year creative team, both 20 years old, took home first place, leaving with a cash prize of £1,000, a paid internship at a top agency and the DMA Breakthrough Award.

The duo were up against students from 11 different universities from across the UK, all responding with their own creative advertising campaign for The Economist, this year’s award sponsor.

Their ‘To be read’ campaign was victorious thanks to their understanding of the challenge set out in the brief and presenting a campaign to the judges that they felt could genuinely be used by The Economist.

Alis said: “I can’t believe it! We were so excited to be shortlisted, but to go on and win the Breakthrough Award is a real honour. The awards night was fantastic and we were able to network with industry contacts which could help us get a foothold in the advertising business.”

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