PR students honoured at 2017 #CIPRgrad ceremony
More than 80 individuals, including 32 graduates, gathered at London's South Bank for a rooftop graduation ceremony hosted by PR agency, Ketchum on Friday 7 July.
The annual showpiece attracted graduates from as far as Qatar and united former students from all seven CIPR qualifications courses, including the Public Relations Diploma.
In a keynote speech ahead of the ceremony, Former CIPR President Stephen Waddington Found.Chart.PR, Hon.FCIPR congratulated students and urged businesses to prioritise public relations ahead of profit.
"Organisations need to cease trying to fix their reputation with a veneer of public relations lipstick. A value is only a value if an organisation is prepared to defend it," said Waddington, before encouraging attendees to continue their educational journey through Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
CIPR Chief Executive, Alastair McCapra commended graduates for their contribution to the profession and pointed to research that showed CIPR graduates are "paid more and promoted faster".
Last week the CIPR announced a new suite of professional qualifications, ahead of a launch event where attendees can win a free place on a CIPR qualification course.
The full selection of photos is available via the CIPR's Facebook page.
