OWB Creative MD appointed to University College Birmingham business advisory board

The managing director of brand agency OWB Creative has been appointed to the prestigious Business School Advisory Board at University College Birmingham.

Andy Wilkinson, a founding partner of the agency based in St Paul’s Square in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, will bring a wealth of experience to his role on the board having also recently been appointed as group sales director at creative group DRPG, which acquired OWB Creative in 2024.

The new advisory role reflects Andy’s longstanding relationship with University College Birmingham and its focus on putting knowledge to work, ensuring students graduate with the confidence, skills and real-world readiness employers expect from day one.

Branded as “the craft agency with global reach”, OWB Creative works with a range of leading brands to deliver impactful marketing campaigns, with specialisms including the financial services and charity sectors.

Based in the heart of the UK’s second biggest city, with more than 10,000 students from around 90 countries, University College Birmingham has built its reputation for providing career-focused education and training.

Central to the Business School’s mission is widening participation, backed by meaningful investment in student support, including a £5,000 cost-of-living allowance for incoming UK students in both 2025 and 2026, funded directly from the university’s own reserves.

Industry involvement sits at the heart of University College Birmingham’s approach, shaping the curriculum and quality standards to ensure teaching remains aligned with current and future employer needs.

At a time of shifting government policy and rapid change in how technology and AI are influencing the workplace, the Business School Advisory Board will play a vital role in preparing students for successful professional careers.

Andy will contribute sector insight across the Business School’s departments, supporting courses spanning business and enterprise, hospitality and tourism, creative industries and the Birmingham College of Food.

The board will meet four times each year, combining in-person sessions hosted by different departments with one virtual meeting.

Commenting on the appointment, Andy said: “This appointment means a great deal to me. University College Birmingham has a genuine belief in people and their potential, and that really resonates with me.

“I’m looking forward to supporting students as they take their first steps into the world of work, helping ensure they feel confident and proud of what they can achieve.”

With more than 400 experts in marketing, events and creative around the globe, including OWB Creative, DRPG delivers outstanding creative solutions for clients based on its philosophy of “anything’s possible”. DRPG’s head office is in Hartlebury, Worcestershire.