CIPR Excellence Awards – winners showcase outstanding public relations talent across the UK
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has announced the results of the 2014 CIPR Excellence Awards to an audience of over 800 public relations professionals at Old Billingsgate, London.
The awards night brought together over 150 leading public relations consultancies, freelancers and in-house teams competing for the 30 individual awards.
The night was a success in recognising outstanding public relations talent across the country, with a third of the trophies being handed out to public relations teams, consultancies and individuals from outside London, including two of the three major team prizes.
Edinburgh-based Stripe Communications claimed the revered ‘Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy’ prize, with judges commending their ‘excellent internal culture, mentoring scheme and delivery on its objective to be the industry leader for working parents’, and in doing so became the first Scottish consultancy to receive one of the Institute’s biggest and most prestigious awards.
Manchester’s SkyParlour PR, a bespoke consultancy, operating as a specialist in the international e-commerce, m-commerce and payments industries, were handed the title of ‘Outstanding Small Consultancy’.
BDO, the world's fifth largest accountancy and business advisory firm, took away the accolade of ‘Outstanding In-house Public Relations Team’, after showcasing how it overcame significant business challenges and internal attitudes in a three-year journey to deliver quantifiable success.
markettiers4dc won the most trophies of the night, scooping three awards including ‘Best Broadcast Campaign’ for their work with Slater & Gordon, and the ‘Healthcare Campaign’ award (alongside Pegasus) for client, Bayer Animal Health, which also picked up the coveted ‘Best Use of Research, Planning, Measurement and Evaluation’ prize.
Another multiple-winner on the night was Brands2Life, winning ‘Best Event’ and ‘Consumer Relations Campaign’. Its ‘Pop-up Pestaurant’ served an array of food made from animals that client Rentokil is better known for exterminating, delivering an engaging way for the brand to interact with new customers and stakeholders.
M&C Saatchi PR also received dual recognition by claiming the ‘Corporate and Business Communications Campaign’ and ‘Best Technology Campaign’ awards for ‘The world’s first smartwatch bank’ for client, Intelligent Environment.
Sally Aston of Diabetes UK and Karen Tippett-Lehane MCIPR were highlighted for their individual expertise, earning the titles of ‘Outstanding Young Communicator’ and ‘Outstanding Freelance Practitioner’ awards respectively.
The standard of winners and strength of the competition tonight are proof that there has never been such an exciting time to work in public relations, wherever you are in the UK. Our reputation as a profession is built by the kinds of campaigns, teams and professionals receiving these accolades. Congratulations to the winners; they should be proud that their award-winning expertise plays a key role, and delivers business benefit, within every area of a modern organisation.
CIPR 2014 Excellence Awards winners
- Corporate and Business Communications Campaign: M&C Saatchi PR, The world's first smartwatch bank
- Financial and Investor Relations Campaign: Santander, Winning the Current Account Switching War
- Internal Communications Campaign: Royal Mail, Royal Mail Employee Share Offer
- Consumer Relations Campaign: Brands2Life, PESTAURANT - The world's first pest only restaurant
- Public Sector Campaign: Royal College of Physicians, Launch of Future Hospital: Caring for medical patients
- Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign: Central England Co-operative and Saffron Lane Neighbourhood Council, The Saffron Acres Project
- Inclusive Communications Campaign: Grayling / Anchor Care Homes, Anchor On Song
- Public Affairs Campaign: Association of Colleges, No Free Lunch?
- Not-For-Profit Campaign: RAF Museum, Raising the Dornier' campaign
- Healthcare Campaign: Bayer Animal Health, markettiers4dc and Pegasus, Slime Watch
- Integrated Campaign: Ovo Energy, Feel Loved Again campaign
- Global Public Relations Campaign: Smarts Communicate, Bushmills Live
- Issues or Crisis Management: Westminster City Council, Food labelling
- Automotive Campaign: Performance Communications for Accident Exchange, Flash for Crash
- Low Budget Campaign: National Railway Museum, Mallard 75
- Best Technology Campaign: M&C Saatchi PR, The world's first smartwatch bank
- Best Use of Media Relations: Leonard Cheshire Disability, 15 minute care campaign - A water-cooler moment
- Best Broadcast Campaign: Slater & Gordon and markettiers4dc, Slater & Gordon
- Best Use of Digital: iris Worldwide, #NEOsneakpeek for adidas NEO Label
- Best Use of Social Media: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Cat Takeover
- Best External Publication: Word Association, The Home that Jack Built
- Best Internal Publication: East Coast with scarlettabbott, Coastlife
- Best Sporting Campaign: Mischief PR / The Football Association, The Football Association's 150th Anniversary
- Best Event: Brands2Life, PESTAURANT - The world's first pest only restaurant
- Outstanding Young Communicator: Sally Aston, Diabetes UK
- Outstanding Freelance Practitioner: Karen Tippett-Lehane MCIPR, TippettPR
- Outstanding In-House Public Relations Team: BDO
- Outstanding Small Consultancy: SkyParlour PR
- Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy: Stripe Communications
- Best Use of Research, Planning, Measurement and Evaluation: Bayer Animal Health, markettiers4dc and Pegasus, Slime Watch
Also awarded on the night
CIPR and IoD PR Director of the Year: David Hamilton MCIPR, Head of Public Relations and Engagement for Action for Children.
Notes to editors
About the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is the Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK and overseas. The CIPR is the largest membership organisation for PR practitioners outside of North America. By size of turnover and number of individually registered members, we are the leading representative body for the PR profession and industry in Europe.
The CIPR advances professionalism in public relations by making its members accountable to their employers and the public through a code of conduct and searchable public register, setting standards through training, qualifications, awards and the production of best practice and skills guidance, facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and awarding Chartered Public Relations Practitioner status (Chart.PR).