There are 28 Excellence award categories in total, grouped into four distinct areas:
- Campaign
- Special
- Individual
- Team.
Full definitions for each category are given below.
Campaign
1. Corporate and Business Communications
This award includes business and trade campaigns which build awareness, enhance company reputation or generate business.
2. Financial and Investor Relations
A campaign in support of a major initiative in either the retail, corporate or institutional financial markets – domestic or international.
3. Internal Communications
Communication with, or involvement of, employees designed to promote corporate objectives, whether in the public or the private sector.
4. Consumer Relations
A campaign supporting the marketing of consumer products or services in all industries – including arts, leisure and tourism.
5. Best Sporting Campaign - new
A campaign that demonstrates the best use of public relations to promote sport and/or a sporting event.
6. Public Sector
A campaign designed to promote the policies, achievements and services of a public sector organisation to its stakeholders.
7. Corporate Responsibility
A campaign designed to promote sustainability and environmental values in community, social, ethical and reputational issues.
8. Public Affairs
A campaign designed to inform the public policy agenda or influence the legislative process.
9. Not-For-Profit
A campaign based in the charitable and Not-for-Profit sectors.
10. Healthcare
A campaign designed to promote a healthcare issue, product, service or initiative to stakeholders.
11. Integrated & Marcomms Campaigns
A campaign demonstrating integrated use of communications, including marketing, advertising and public relations techniques, to achieve its objectives.
12. Best Use Of Media Relations
A campaign that captures the imagination of targeted media and meets client/project objectives.
13. Best Use Of Social Media
A campaign that effectively uses social media, including Apps, to reach its target audiences and achieve its objectives.
14. Broadcast Campaign
A campaign that uses broadcast media to reach its target audiences and achieve its objectives with best effect.
15. Global Public Relations
An international public relations campaign covering more than one country, either based in the UK or originating overseas.
16. Crisis Communications
A campaign demonstrating how a crisis was successfully managed from a communications perspective.
17. Best Automotive Campaign
A campaign designed to promote an automotive product, service or initiative to its stakeholders.
18. Low Budget
A campaign that demonstrates the best use of a budget less than £10,000 to achieve its objectives.
The winners in the above categories will automatically be considered for the Judges' Special Award – The Best Use of Measurement and Evaluation.
Special
19. External Newspaper, Magazine or Publication
A publication aimed at an organisation's stakeholders or shareholders, including an annual report, leaflet, brochure or similar hard copy publication.
20. Internal Newspaper, Magazine or Publication
An in-house magazine or newspaper produced at least twice a year, aimed at an organisation's employees.
21. Website
A website that successfully reflects its aims, objectives and culture, and that interacts with stakeholders. No timescale applies to this category.
22. Event
An event that meets its objectives and is delivered within budget and on time, including a conference, product launch, specialised dinner, awards ceremony, or any other event designed to meet a campaign objective.
Individual
23. Outstanding Young Communicator
This award recognises the achievements, performance and excellent work of young professionals making a valuable contribution to the organisations they work for and showing considerable promise as future leaders of the industry. Entrants must be aged 30 or under on 20 February 2012 and working full-time in communications.
24. Best Freelance Practitioner
This award recognises the achievements, performance and excellent work of a freelance PR practitioner over the past three years (discounted fee applies).
Team
25. Outstanding Small Consultancy
This award recognises the achievements, performance and excellent work over the past three years of a small consultancy which has no more than five people working together (discounted fee applies).
26. Outstanding In-House Public Relations Team
This award recognises the achievements, performance and excellent work of an in-house public relations team over the past three years.
27. Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy
This award recognises the achievements, performance and excellent work of a consultancy over the past three years.
Don't forget that charity, public sector and other not-for-profit organisations receive a 20% discount on entry fees in any of the above categories.
Special award made by the judges
28. Best Use Of Measurement and Evaluation
The chairs of judges special award will assess all the winners in the campaigns above and select a winner that best demonstrates excellent use of measurement and evaluation in the campaign (judges' choice only).
