Seasons Greetings & Happy Holidays from everyone at DMS

As 2021 draws to a close, we can look back on the year with much more confidence and positivity than the previous year and with optimism and excitement for 2022.
 
2020 was incredibly hard for everyone with the extraordinary and dramatic effect that the pandemic had on us all on our, with tragic loss of life and enormous change and challenges to our everyday lives.
 
At DMS, we moved to remote working incredibly quickly and continued to deliver to our clients with determination and commitment, displayed by every one of the talented people in our core working group whilst others remained on the furlough scheme as we ensured that we looked after our people and would be ready when the industry returns.
 
They were incredibly hard times, but we now come to the end of 2021 with incredible energy, positivity and genuine optimism for what lies ahead.
 
We began our return in the late Spring as the industry wheels started to turn and the sheer energy of everyone being back was palpable as our people returned to our home in Shand Street.
 
And we have been flat-out since then, delivering huge global campaigns and supporting our clients and brands with creative content, insights and strategy, syndicated broadcast and online content and huge volumes of localised content to over 60 territories across the globe.
 
And this year has seen us grow to an agency of nearly 200 people as we further enhanced our services. It was not an easy growth as it had to be done at speed with over 80 new hires across all our key service areas to support the rapid return of the film industry.
 
I would like to thank you all for bearing with us as we tried to deliver on this challenge. We had a few bumps along the way but I know that we are now positioned better than we have ever been to deliver to you, our clients.
 
As a people-driven agency, we have also been investing in our teams with our recent Culture Week enabling us to celebrate our people whilst also recognising and talking about the mental health and wellbeing challenges that the pandemic brought. And we have a commitment to continuing this dialogue and support of our people in the years ahead.
 
We are overall still an agency full of film fans who have been enthusiastically throwing themselves into their work and once again experiencing the sheer joy of seeing films on the big screen

We all look forward to that continuing in 2022 as we hope to finally come out the other side of the pandemic. 

But whilst we have been on the road out of the pandemic since before the summer, we do remain on the journey, and we know that we have a challenging winter ahead of us. The human impact of the pandemic continues to affect lives and families so this Christmas we will continue to do our bit to give something back to those affected by it. 

Once again, as we did last Christmas, rather than giving gifts this year, DMS will be donating on your behalf to the below charities that continue to support those affected by Covid.   

We hope you will agree that this is the right thing to do in what has again been a challenging year. 
 
Crisis

National charity for homeless people working to get ‘vital care and protection’ to people who are homeless during the coronavirus pandemic.
 
We make this donation in loving memory of Abi Talabi, a friend of DMS who sadly passed earlier this year. We know that this charity was very close to her heart, and we are honoured to make this donation on her behalf. 
 
For those of you who knew Abi and would like to donate, or if you would like to support Crisis this year then please go to this link and make a donation – https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/inmemoryof-abi
  
Film & TV Charity

Our partner charity offering national support, investment, and a listening ear 24/7 to professionals in the film and television industry.
 
Mind

Mental health charity that has continued to help protect, support, and save lives during the pandemic.
 
Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation

Providing financial assistance and supportive counselling to those who work in theatrical exhibition and are experiencing hardship due to illness, accident, or unemployment.
 
 
Everyone at DMS wishes you a very happy and healthy holiday season and we look forward to working with you again in the new year.
 
 
And let’s all look forward to a very positive 2022.
 
Simon Briggs

Managing Director