Cardiff agency Hello Starling earns national recognition for ‘putting people first’
Cardiff agency Hello Starling earns national recognition for ‘putting people first’
Cardiff-based media planning and buying agency Hello Starling has been awarded the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA)’s prestigious People First Promise certification, in recognition of its industry-leading commitment to employee wellbeing and mental health.
The certification marks a significant milestone for the Welsh agency, which has been officially recognised for meeting the IPA’s rigorous standards across three core pillars: empowerment, support, and prevention.
The People First Promise is a nationally respected accreditation that highlights agencies committed to creating safe, supportive and inclusive workplaces. Hello Starling passed a formal assessment by the IPA, receiving praise for embedding wellbeing into its culture and operations.
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The IPA specifically highlighted Hello Starling’s achievements in:
- Empowerment – offering meaningful opportunities for individual growth, confidence, and autonomy at work.
- Support – implementing initiatives that ensure employees are heard, cared for, and backed when they need it most.
- Prevention – holding leadership accountable for maintaining a mentally healthy and inclusive environment.
James Robinson, Managing Director at Hello Starling, said: “We’re thrilled to be recognised by the IPA for putting our people first. We firmly believe that agencies thrive when their teams feel safe, supported, and empowered.
This certification reflects the care and structure we’ve built around our people. It’s not just good practice, it’s the right thing to do.”
The award reflects Hello Starling’s broader ambition to grow sustainably, with people and wellbeing placed at the heart of its business model. The agency joins a select group of UK advertising businesses recognised under the People First Promise framework, positioning Cardiff as a hub for progressive workplace culture in the creative industries.
The IPA hopes the framework will act as both a benchmark and a long-term commitment for agencies across the UK to embed wellbeing into their business practices.
