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Comms Council Labs

Training in your first five years

Comms Council Labs courses are designed for people in their first five years of their career. If that's you read on. 

 

Your First Five Years Shape Your Whole Career
You're at a critical moment. In your first five years, you're learning how everything works, how clients actually think, how agencies operate, how your role connects to strategy, and how different disciplines work together. That foundation shapes every decision you'll make after. 

The professionals who invest in this foundation early are the ones who move faster, make better decisions, and advance further. They understand not just what to do, but why it matters. 

 

Why These Courses Are Different
Every Comms Council Labs course is built and delivered by respected professionals from advertising, media, PR, and creative - people who've actually done the work.

 

Rather than lectures and slides, you get immersive, discussion-led formats that combine essential theory with real agency challenges. You'll work through real-world scenarios, develop practical capability, sharpen your critical thinking, and you'll do it alongside peers from across the industry-building professional networks that extend way beyond your agency walls.

 

As the industry changes, our courses evolve to change with it. You're getting cutting-edge, locally relevant learning that reflects New Zealand realities while maintaining global standards.

 

When you complete a course, you get an industry-endorsed accreditation. That credential signals something real - to clients, to your agency, and to every opportunity that comes next. It's a tangible career milestone. Professional credibility. Proof that you're serious about your development.

Your career is your responsibility. Start building the foundation that will carry you through your entire career. Enrol in a course. Build your networks. Earn your credential. Move faster.

Let's go.

Recommended learning journey

This pathway shows a recommended order for our courses based on early-career experience.

Courses can be taken as stand-alone programmes or completed in a different order depending on your role, experience, and career goals.

Learning Path

Browse courses

Choose your next step

Hero - Foundations of Advertising

Foundations of Advertising and Media

3 days | August 2026

Learn how our market operates, what clients expect and how you can contribute to your agencies success.

Hero - Understanding Agency Finance

Understanding Agency Finance

1 day | March & October 2026

Understanding how agencies make and lose money is the quickest path to influence and autonomy in your career. 

Hero - Art of Managing People

The Art of Managing People

1 day | July 2026

At some point, you'll manage people. Be ready. Learn practical skills in leadership, feedback, and team dynamics.

Hero - Client Relationships

Client Relationships

1 day | TBC

Move from order-taker to trusted advisor. Learn to uncover what clients really need and build relationships that last.

Hero - Strategic Planning Lab

Strategic Planning Lab

4 days | May-June 2026

Strategy separates people doing work from people shaping work. Strategy isn't just a buzz word it's a superpower.

Learning and development information for managers

The Comms Council Labs training and development programme addresses the gaps that matter most: foundational industry knowledge in early-career staff, financial literacy, management preparation for emerging leaders, and strategic thinking.

 

Download the 2026 Training and Development Prospectus to explore how structured, industry-backed training can directly strengthen your agency's performance, client retention, and competitive position.