The Creative Shootout competition, where advertising agencies compete to run a campaign worth more than £250,000 for a chosen charity each year, is to take a one-year break, say organisers.

The competition was founded in 2015 and last year saw agency Boldspace win the competition to carry out campaigning for Epilepsy Action,

Organisers say the competition will not be taking place in 2026 as it will be “taking a year out and pressing pause for 12 months, to plan its evolution”.

Creative Shootout founder Johnny Pitt said: “I set up the Shootout to celebrate creative brilliance and support good causes in a completely new way – and still pinch myself when I think what we’ve achieved for charities, and the experience we’ve given to creatives.

“However, running the awards alongside the day job takes a lot, and it feels right to press pause at the ten-year mark, to plan what’s next. I’m humbled and hugely grateful for everyone’s support over a decade and look forward to ripping up the rule book, once again.”

The competition sees advertising agencies take part in a live event to design a campaign for in just four hours based on a brief from the chosen charity. They the have ten minutes to pitch their campaign to an audience and judges at BAFTA.

The winning campaign is then run during the year.

Last year the winning agency receiving £10,000 to run the campaign and £250,000 worth of media support, from partners including The Guardian, Clear Channel and Acast.

Epilepsy Action was chosen last year as part of the competition’s focus on supporting good causes for people with non-visible disabilities

---