Like many creative agencies, Foundry34 did it’s fair share of free work in the early days, trying to build up our folio or simply trying to get our work out there. Unfortunately free work does usually generate more … requests for free work.

The problem tends to be that rather than clients having an appreciation for the service they are getting for free, the service becomes devalued and we guarantee if you are going to have client relationship problems, it is always with people who do not value your service.

Fast forward a few years and we don’t have to offer work for free but, as always, the team have discussions about the direction of the company and our ethical policy. Although we work with charities and social enterprises on a commercial basis and make donations to charity (our chosen charity is the British Red Cross) we have discussed the idea of helping an organisation out with their advertising on a pro bono basis.

Step forward James Hirst who is about to do a worldwide cycling tour in the aid of Cancer Research. James is a friend of one of the team who mentioned it in one of our discussions and the timing seems to be about right. So James will be off on his tour next year and Foundry34 are going to be helping him out with his website (The Ride Round) and marketing to raise the profile of his undertaking. It gives us a chance to do some experimental work, help out with some great causes and show advertising isn’t the root of all evil.