A conference run for copywriters, by copywriters.
CopyCon is organised by ProCopywriters — the UK’s professional association for working copywriters. We do our damnedest to help copywriters of all shapes and stripes.
Three organising principles.
Craft. Every talk and workshop is intended to share insights and help you be a better creative professional.
Connection. We try to engineer opportunities to connect with your peers, whether that’s through “networking” or in discussions and working groups.
Quality. CopyCon runs smoothly because our administrators, producers and organisers put in the work before the big day.
The arcThirteen years of CopyCon.
From a few dozen copywriters in a room at Haberdashers’ Hall in 2013 to a two-day flagship in Manchester and a spring special on AI — here’s a record of UK copywriting’s annual conference.
AI vs Humanity
Online special
24 April · Online
A spring online edition on the balance between creativity, humanity and AI. Kristy Martino opened. Lineup included Harriet Meyer, Andrew Boulton, Beth O’Malley, David Levin, Vikki Ross, Dave Harland, Diane Wiredu and Katherine Wildman. MC duties to Lorraine Forrest-Turner.
CopyCon goes north
Manchester
2–3 October · Royal Northern College of Music
The biggest and most ambitious edition. CopyCon left London after a decade and expanded to two days: an Experience Day of small-group workshops (Strategy and Tactics tracks), then a full conference day, with a CopyCon Meetup at The Grosvenor in between. Andi Jarvis, Rebecca Rowntree and Lucinda Everett led the workshop tracks; nine talks made up the main day.
CopyCon 2024
London
8 November · Royal College of Physicians
Twelve speakers and trainers across the day. Tasmin Lofthouse on turning data into copy that converts. Charlie Stewart on telling stories without inspiration. Alan Mahon of Blackad on value propositions. Audio-branding duo Kristie O’Brien and Alex Alcock on writing for sound.
“Calling CopyCon 2024 inspirational would be an understatement.”— Nhan Phan, The Munro Agency
The tenth edition
London
20 October · Royal College of Physicians
CopyCon X — a grand London venue for the tenth annual event. Eight talks plus a pre-conference meetup and after-party. Speakers included Sam Knowles, Lorraine Forrest-Turner, Honor Clement-Hayes, Tiffany Markman, Dave Harland and Al Robertson.
Out of London
Brighton
14 October · Komedia
Our first in-person edition since 2019. We escaped to the coast and set up shop in a comedy club. A celebration of words that work, after two years of pandemic-era Zoom.
CopyCon online, year two
Online
Online · pandemic edition
A second virtual year. Bittersweet — the format worked, but everyone missed the corridor conversations.
#CopyCon20
Online
Online · The Royal Institution was originally booked
The Royal Institution in Mayfair was on the cards before Covid forced a move online. The first virtual edition, MC’d by David McGuire. Relly Annett-Baker spoke on writing microcopy that gets people what they want; Robyn Bolton showed the results of writing simply. Honor Clement-Hayes was also on the bill.
“Pen in one hand, croissant in the other — I came away with pages of notes and a warm fuzzy glow for copywriting.”— Lumen & Fox, attendee write-up
The Barbican year
London
11 October · The Barbican
A step up in venue and ambition. Joanna Wiebe and Richard Shotton headlined, with breakouts from Glenn Fisher, Kelvin Newman, Laura Parker (UX), Rachel McConnell (Deliveroo), Ben Dudley (Adidas), Steve Howe (Typeform) and Harry Kapur. Hosted by David McGuire.
“A room full of people who don’t think you’re an expert in copyright law.”— Copybee, on what makes CopyCon CopyCon
The Crystal returns
London
12 October · The Crystal
200+ commercial writers in the room. Five breakout sessions added to the main programme. Doug Kessler on the power of metaphor, Anna Gunning on interrogating client briefs, Jade Goldsmith and Francesca Catanuso visiting from Booking.com Amsterdam, and Ryan Wallman flying in from Australia to skewer marketing jargon.
Comeback year
London
13 October · The Crystal
A new chapter under new leadership. Sold out three weeks before the date. Sarah Richards (GOV.UK content lead) on the science of ordinary words. Nick Parker got delegates writing on bananas. Plus Amy Harrison, Sasha Damjanovski, Katherine Wildman, Tim Fidgeon and Richard Owsley.
“A thoroughly enjoyable fiesta of good-natured word nerdery.”— Dawn Kofie, attendee review
Transition year. Leif Kendall took over as Director of ProCopywriters from co-founders Tom Albrighton and Ben Locker. No conference held.
#copycon15
London
9 October · Haberdashers’ Hall
Three headline speakers and four breakout sessions, including Sue Keogh on creating shareable content. The last edition of the original Haberdashers’ run before the venue change.
Second year, bigger room
London
26 September · Haberdashers’ Hall
150+ copywriters, marketers and clients. Rory Sutherland on behavioural economics, Bill Hilton on Kahneman’s System 1 and 2, Jillian Ney on social intelligence, plus Andy Maslen, Liz Doig, Ros Sinclair and Tim Rich.
Where it started
London
The first PCN Conference · Haberdashers’ Hall
Tom Albrighton and Ben Locker put copywriters in a room together for the first time. Dave Trott went old-school with an overhead projector on creativity as the last legal unfair advantage. Andy Maslen, Sonja Jefferson and Sharon Tanton also on the bill.
Get in touch.
Email us: events@procopywriters.co.uk
Send us a gift: CopyCon @ ProCopywriters, Bayside Business Centre, Willis Way, Poole, BH15 3TB
Call us: 01202 979088