The best of Northern Irish public relations unmasked at CIPR PRide Awards
Outstanding achievers among the nation’s public relations professionals were honoured last night (Fri 5 Oct) at the prestigious 2012 CIPR Northern Ireland PRide Awards.
Among winners and finalists at the black-tie dinner at Titanic Belfast, Smarts collected the most awards of the night with nine golds, five for their work for Bushmills Irish Whiskey, including the grand-prix for ‘Best Use of Measurement and Evaluation’.
Morrow Communications picked up four gold awards in categories including ‘Community Relations’ and the award for ‘Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy’, and Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland won gold awards for their ‘Corporate Responsibility’ and ‘Internal Publication’ campaigns, whilst also winning the ‘Outstanding In House Public Relations Team’ award.
Approximately 200 of the region’s leading public relations practitioners attended the annual awards ceremony, sponsored regionally by agendaNi, Coca-Cola, Harrison Photography, The Irish News, The Lyric Theatre and Origin Partners, which also saw money raised for the Children’s MRI Scanner Appeal.
Chair of the CIPR Northern Ireland Group, Gillian Shields MCIPR, commented:
On behalf of the CIPR I would like to thank everyone who has entered and supported these awards. Congratulations to all the winners, who have demonstrated a high standard of professionalism, creativity and dedication in their work. This has been a hugely significant year for our industry locally, with major events attracting worldwide attention and our profession telling the stories that placed Northern Ireland on the map for all the right reasons.
The full list of the 2012 Wessex & Channel Islands PRide Awards winners is as follows:
- Corporate and Business Communications: Morrow Communications – Moy Park - Well regarded, not just well known
- Not-for-Profit: Morrow Communications – Fareshare - Giving FareShare a Fair Share of Voice
- Internal Communications: Smarts - Johnnie Walker Pioneer Awards
- Community Relations: Morrow Communications - Tellus Border Survey: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
- Public Sector: Translink - Metro Smart Saturdays
- Best Campaign £10,000 and Under: Smarts - Marie Curie bets on NI backing Great Daffodil Appeal
- Best Sporting Campaign: Smarts – Milk in Action
- Healthcare: JPR – Raising Awareness of Almac as a Global Leader Role in Advancing Human Health in Northern Ireland
- Consumer Relations: Smarts – Bushmills Irish Whiskey - Bushmills Live
- Best Use of Media Relations: Smarts – Putting Belfast Centre Stage at the MTV EMA
- Integrated Communications: Smarts – Bushmills Irish Whiskey - Bushmills Brothers
- Best Use of Social Media: Smarts – Bushmills Irish Whiskey - Bushmills Live
- External Publication: Aiken PR – Diageo Northern Ireland Corporate Responsibility Report
- Internal Publication: Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland – Liquid News
- Best Digital Campaign: Smarts – Bushmills Irish Whiskey - Bushmills Live
- Best Event: Arts & Business Northern Ireland – Allianz Arts & Business Northern Ireland Awards 2012
- Public Affairs: Patient and Client Council – The People's Priorities 2011
- Corporate Responsibility: Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland – Refreshing Responsibly
- Best Use of Photography or Design: JPR – Launch Of Age Of The Dinosaur Exhibition At The Ulster Museum
- Best use of Measurement & Evaluation: Smarts – Bushmills Irish Whiskey - Bushmills Live
- Best Freelance Practitioner: Jeff Robinson PR
- Outstanding Young Communicator: Lisa Hamilton- Sturdy MCIPR – MCE Public Relations
- Outstanding Small Consultancy: Birdsong Communications
- Outstanding In-House Public Relations Team: Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland
- Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy: Morrow Communications
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).