Fast Forward
Run by NABS for over 20 years, Fast Forward has helped hundreds of future leaders find their voice and their path.
What is Fast Forward?
Fast Forward is a six-week pitch training course in February - March 2026 that helps you grow your skills, thinking, and network. You'll work in a team to tackle a live brief focused on a real-world social issue - building strategy, crafting ideas, and sharpening your storytelling as you go. With guidance from top industry voices and support from a team mentor, you'll bring everything together in a final pitch that puts your learning into action.
Book Fast Forward 2026
Who is Fast Forward for?
The Fast Forward programme will most benefit professionals from the advertising and media industry -whether from media owners, media agencies, tech companies, or creative agencies- who are junior to mid-level talent with one to five years’ experience. With over 1600 rising stars trained, you’re in good company.
What you'll learn
With guidance from top industry voices and support from a team mentors, you'll bring everything together in a final pitch that puts your learning into action
The Fast Forward programme
Week one: The brief & insights
Client presents the brief on launch night.
Speaker session: Learn how to analyse strategic insights to create the foundations of your pitch.
Online working session with team
Week two: Connections and Storytelling
Speaker session: Media channel planning, prioritising different channels to reach target audience from insights, and learn all about storytelling and how to craft the narrative of a response to a brief
Online or in-person working session with team
Week three: what makes a good idea?
Speaker session: Explore what makes a good idea and how to craft captivating presentations.
In-person working session with team
Week four: your tissue session & how to pitch
Tissue session with the client to check your ideas match their expectation.
Speaker session: Top tips on how to pitch – the little details that make all the difference.
In-person working session with team
Week five: your pitch
Online or in-person working session with team
Pitch rehearsals
Pitch night - Present your pitch to the judging panel and fellow delegates.
Online or in-person working session with team
Week six: winning (& losing) & why
Results night
Win or lose, leave with extensive knowledge you didn't think you could learn in just six weeks along with lifetimes connections to others in the industry.
Winners Announcement
After a final pitch judged by the client and senior industry figures, the winners are revealed
Watch highlights from Fast Forward
What delegates say about Fast Forward
I can't recommend it enough. It's more than a course; it's a transformative experience that creates lifelong friendships and growth Iman Sid, Fast Forward 2024 winner
The opportunity to talk in front of such senior clients and senior judges was incredible. Oscar Beach, Fast Forward 2024 delegate
A jam-packed six weeks where I learned so much beyond the scope of my usual role. It’s an amazing course for anyone looking to advance their career, Fast Forward 2025 delegate
What mentors say about Fast Forward
The delegates were great, the experience was so rewarding and it actually energised me, reminded me why I am in media and love pitching. Fast Forward 2025 Mentor
Such a good chance to work with a range of people across the industry Fast Forward 2025 Mentor
It's so rewarding to identify the superstar or two in the group and see them develop over such a short space of time. Fast Forward 2025 Mentor
Benefits of Fast Forward:
- Reward or incentivise staff and increase retention.
- Delegates gain invaluable experience working on a live brief from a topical social issue client in a competitive pitch process.
- Delegates meet a new network from across the industry.
- The course includes vital content on supporting mental wellness, shaped by NABS’ unique insights.
- All profits go back to helping NABS support our community.
- IPA-accredited training time.
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