Below are the North West PRide Awards results for 2011. You can also view photos from the North West PRide event.
Corporate and Business Communications
Gold winner
- Souter PR
PCS gets its green card
Excellent grasp of reputation management, integrating green policies in to the client's wider business agenda - ensuring the client's green credentials and commitments were communicated effectively. Strong news hooks leveraged resulting in appropriate media coverage. Sales leads demonstrated real impact of the PR campaign, endorsed by the client.
Corporate and Business Communications: Souter PR
Silver winner
- Tangerine PR
Glidden Trade - reaching new audiences
Finalists
- Cameron Wells Communications
Big Fish: PMI Health Group - Context Public Relations
Check Point: Total Security Leadership - IAS b2b Marketing
Green Fleet - Lex Autolease - Peppermint PR
Top Gear - addressing the driver shortage
Not-for-Profit
Gold winner
- University of Salford and SKV Communications
The Salford Energy House
The campaign managed to use all the key messages around energy and therefore developing the partnerships within the regional community and businesses around the UK. Excellent exposure for the University. Good tie in with Coronation Street adding colour and creativity to a well-documented issue.
Not-for-Profit: University of Salford and SKV Communications (PDF)
Silver winner
- IPB Communications
Building a new hospice for Bury - capital fundraising appeal
Finalists
- Keep Britain Tidy
There's no such thing as the Dog Poo fairy - McCann Manchester
'Take 7 Steps Out' - NHS North West
Flu Fighters - Staff Flu Campaign - Peppermint PR
Genesis: fighting to make one in ten, none in ten
Internal Communications
Gold winner
- AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca's inspire to innovate week
Good evaluation, met all objectives. Campaign was very creative and it engaged with its audience.
Internal Communications: AstraZeneca
Silver winner
- AstraZeneca
Co-creating our DNA and Spirit
Finalists
- MAG Internal Communication Team
Making It Happen
Crisis Communications
Gold winner
- IPB Communications
Irlam Gas Explosion
Text book case study on how to handle a crisis. The campaign was very honest, proactive and in control of the situation with good feedback in traumatic circumstances. The campaign demonstrated good communication throughout the crisis.
Crisis Communications: IPB Communications
Community Relations
Gold winner
- Tangerine PR
Launching the Sharston Depot
Understood key issues at the heart of the community. Honoured the old depot and raised awareness for the new site. Good coverage, outcomes and media strategy.
Community Relations: Tangerine PR
Silver winner
- De Winter PR with Golden Square Shopping Centre
Growing Up Green Together at Golden Square
Finalists
- IPB Communications
Reinventing Community Consultation - Staniforth
Learning to Love Energy from Waste - United Utilities
What Not To Flush - West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership
A nuclear repository in West Cumbria?
Public Sector
Gold winner
- McCann Manchester
'Take 7 Steps Out'
Well executed and evaluated with good results and behavioural change measurement. Clear campaign strategy and implementation.
Public Sector: McCann Manchester
Silver winner
- NHS Blood and Transplant
National Blood Week
Finalists
- Stockport Council
Cutting the Carbs - Tangerine PR
Time for a Creative Break
Best Campaign £10,000 and Under
Gold winner
- Euro RSCG PR UK
GreenBottle launches in Cornwall
Researched and infiltrated the region well. PR element gave impact of a much bigger budgeted campaign. Good use of celebrity endorsement within budget.
Best Campaign £10,000 and Under: Euro RSCG PR UK
Silver winner
- RMS
Sweet tribute to Wills & Kate
Finalists
- Brazen PR
Magnet trade - Britain's best builder's breakfast - Marketecture
Raising the Curtain on Rosenthals - Staniforth
Dalby Mountain Bike World Cup - Triangle Public Relations
The World's Oldest Netball Team
Consumer Relations
Gold winner
- Brazen PR
Cheesy celebrations for Long Clawson Dairy's centenary
Understood the market. Clever use of very credible chef on board. Good demonstration of different applications of cheeses with excellent media tactics. Engaged all key stakeholders, achieved objectives and showed sales uplift.
Consumer Relations: Brazen PR
Silver winner
- RMS
Sweet tribute to Wills & Kate
Finalists
- Brazen PR
Brazen waxes lyrical with Madame Tussauds - Mason Williams Communications
Schwarzkopf Street Dance The Search - Peppermint PR
Dr Bessam Farjo - Battling Balding Britain - The Co-operative Insurance Press Office
The Co-operative Young Driver Insurance
Best Use of Media Relations
Gold winner
- Fido PR
For the bride who has everything, and wants to keep it that way
Excellent demonstration of taking someone from a crowded industry and positioning them as a media expert. Clear target audience, great partner link ups and achieved excellent coverage.
Best use of Media Relations: Fido PR
Silver winner
- Brazen PR
Bums, boobs & botox
Finalists
- Manchester Airport and Bell Pottinger - Business and Brand
Emirates A380 launch - Peppermint PR
Dr Bessam Farjo - Battling Balding Britain - The Co-operative Insurance Press Office
The Co-operative Young Driver Insurance - United Utilities
What Not To Flush
Integrated Communications
Gold winner
- United Utilities
What Not To Flush
Strong interactive tactics using both traditional and contemporary channels of communication – from web and phone applications to posters and face to face communication. Result was impactful, well-handled campaign.
Integrated Communications: United Utilities
Silver winner
- Brazen PR
Giving Chicago Town the x factor
Finalists
- Cameron Wells Communications
Big Fish: PMI Health Group - IAS b2b Marketing
Kingspan Benchmark Launch - RMS
Save Our Seafarers - Stockport Council
Safer in Stockport
Best Use of Social Media
Gold winner
- Juice Digital
No Fear - The Extreme Lineup
The extreme fear campaign engaged with its audiences and used Facebook, particularly to its best ability.
Best Use of Social Media: Juice Digital
Silver winner
- Brazen PR
Expansys & Brazen strike fool's gold
Finalists
- Fido PR
It's Hot up North - IAS b2b Marketing
Kingspan Benchmark Launch - McCann Manchester with Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer
Ticketyboo Talk - Smoking Gun PR
Panda Liquorice - giving nasties the blues
Best Use of Photography or Design
Gold winner
- McCann Manchester
Hotter commissions hat for Royal Ascot
Hats off to McCann's for developing a creative picture opportunity that helped them secure national coverage in such a highly competitive media window as Ascot. The decision to commission a hat could have been a risky strategy but McCann's pulled it off for their client attending on ladies day and securing the prestigious opening credit on the BBC, as well as national newspaper coverage. As well as being an excellent photo opportunity, the judges were also impressed by McCann's decision to have one of their clients model the hat in order to have more detailed conversations with the press and bring in key messages about the Hotter brand.
Best Use of Photography or Design: McCann Manchester
Silver winner
- Staniforth
"It's Justin Ski-ber!"
Finalists
- Brazen PR
Brazen Rewrites the Book for Long Clawson Dairy - Creative Concern with photographers Graeme Cooper and Ant Clausen
Living Worlds, Manchester Museum
External Newspaper or Magazine
Gold winner
- BJL
Sage - The Accountancy Business Talks Back
Well done to BJL for producing an engaging publication that meets the requirements of its accountancy audience perfectly. Thanks to thorough research conducted before developing the look, feel content of Exchange magazine, on behalf of their client SAGE, BJL clearly understood its target audience perfectly. By identifying the need for an inspirational 'table top' accountancy magazine, which any accountant would be proud to have on their desk, the agency has succeeded in delivering a publication with the look and feel of a Sunday supplement with each issue planned carefully around a core theme. The judges were particularly impressed by BJL's decision to introduce a monthly e-newsletter to keep readers of Exchange right up to date with latest news in between quarterly issues of the printed publication.
External Newspaper or Magazine: BJL
Silver winner
- Stockport Council
The Stockport Review
Finalists
- Mersey Care NHS Trust
Mersey Cares - Salford City College
Salford City College Community News - Stockport College
The Beacon
Internal Newspaper or Magazine
Gold winner
Souter PR
W magazine for Warburtons
Souter PR responded to Warburton's brief to communicate a fresh new look and feel for the brand by successfully utilising it's company magazine - which had been produced since the 1930's – and bringing it right up to date. Designed to bring the brand's proposition of 'we care more' to life for employees, Souter's updated magazine simply looks great and has just the right balance of content – all delivered in an easy to read style. The judges particularly liked the fact that Souter has never lost sight of its target audience when developing content and they clearly understood how best to engage with the Warburton's readership. Extremely readable and refreshing to see less copy on the page than perhaps would be found in other corporate publications, W magazine not only embraces the Warburton family values but successfully brings the refreshed Warburton's brand to life. Well done Souter PR.
Silver winner
- Stockport Council
The Reporter
Finalist
- A.G.Barr
The Quencher Magazine
Best Website or Microsite
Gold winner
- Brazen PR
Brazen's Got Great British Spirit
The judges loved Brazen's creative approach to supporting Greenhall's Gin's 250th anniversary celebrations with the creation of a year-long campaign – 250 Years of Great British Spirit – and the creation of a bespoke microsite designed to engage with Greenhall's audience. Brazen not only succeeded in making the microsite look visually appealing, with vibrant colours reflective of the Greenhall's brand, but the consultancy also made the site work hard for the client by introducing a number of creative 'hooks' to encourage people to become fans of the site and secure those all-important click-through's. From running a 'Great British Poll', which delivered coverage off line in some of the major nationals, to hosting competitions on the site, Brazen has secured around 18,000 visitors to the microsite since it was launched in early 2011 and over 5,000 visitor registrations, which is no mean feat for a microsite. Congratulations Brazen.
Best Website or Microsite: Brazen PR
Silver winner
- Stockport Council
www.stockport.gov.uk
Finalists
- BDB (Barrett Dixon Bell)
Turning the web cranberry red - Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service
Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service website - IAS b2b Marketing
Kingspan Benchmark Launch
Best Event
Gold winner
- Staniforth
Snow Stars
Staniforth's creative approach to driving footfall to its client's indoor ski venue - Chill Factor - was an inspired move by the consultancy, as they transformed a traditionally off-peak season into 'on-piste' season with the launch of a talent competition for young people in the area – Snow Stars. With very clear objectives from the outset, Staniforth delivered a PR programme that tackled perceptions of skiing and snowboarding as elitist sports by widening the net to encourage families and children into the venue. The two day Snow Stars competition / event allowed the consultancy to position Chill Factor as a venue for Snowsport excellence whilst generating a 20% increase in footfall over the event period. Bringing Olympic skiers Alain Baxter and Graham Bell into the mix to front the campaign also presented excellent media opportunities. More than 550 youngsters took part in the competition and Snow Stars has now become an annual event for Chill Factor. A job well done!
Best Event: Staniforth
Silver winner
- De Winter PR with Golden Square Shopping Centre
Get Sorted at Golden Square
Finalists
- Brazen PR
Jockey - International Fashion Show - Brazen PR
Monopoly: 75 Years Young - Pip Cockeram PR
Anglesey: One Big Day - The Co-operative Insurance Press Office
The Co-operative Young Driver Insurance
Outstanding Young Communicator
Gold winner
- Nikki Poyser
IAS b2b Marketing
Nikki demonstrated a great understanding of PR spanning trade, consumer, digital and social media. She has worked her way quickly up the ranks at IAS B2B to become PR and Social Media Account Manager, and is clearly thriving in a position which holds a great deal of responsibility. In addition to managing nine accounts, regularly being part of new business pitches and discussing examples to back up her broad skills set, Nikki was able to demonstrate the impact that her PR campaigns have had on her clients too. Moreover, her passion for PR and her honest work ethic shone through.
Finalists
- Carla Burns
Roland Dransfield - Gemma Peers
Fido PR - Heather Kenny
Brazen PR - Robyn Percy ACIPR
One Marketing Communications
Outstanding Small Consultancy
Gold winner
- JAMpr
This is an impressive account of a business that has grown from a one-woman-band from a kitchen table to a five person team with ambitious objectives. Revenue and profit targets have been exceeded and investment in personal development and training has paid dividends. Outstanding achievements covered revenue growth, client retention, awards and evaluation. An impressive entry!
Outstanding Small Consultancy: JAMpr
Silver winner
- Judge & Howard
Finalists
- Label PR
- Osprey Communications
- Smoking Gun PR
- Triangle Public Relations
Outstanding In-House Public Relations Team
Gold winner
- Stockport Council
Time for Action
This team has worked skilfully and successfully to better inform residents about local initiatives and thereby improve satisfaction levels. In strengthening the Council's reputation, it has demonstrated greater accountability. Smart use of social media and online communications has all contributed to the Council's 4 star award from the government watchdog.
Outstanding In-House Public Relations Team: Stockport Council
Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy
Gold winner
- Brazen PR
The team has completed a successful three year journey to revolutionise every aspect of the business and improve growth and profit levels across the board. At the heart of this was multi-platform brand consultancy positioning. Digital has delivered significant returns now accounting for 25% of revenue. Investment in staff is impressive and staff retention is high at 87%. The campaign example for Monopoly was highly creative and effective.
Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy: Brazen PR
Silver winner
- Peppermint PR
Finalists
- IAS b2b Marketing
- IPB Communications
- Roland Dransfield PR
- Staniforth
- Tangerine PR
Public Affairs
Gold winner
- Manchester Airports Group
Aviation under 'atax'
Very strong brief, clear objectives and excellent strategy. The message was clearly aligned to the market and didn't overtly push their own agenda. Influenced publics well and achieved all the objectives set out.
Public Affairs: Manchester Airports Group
Corporate Responsibility
Gold winner
- Euro RSCG PR Manchester
Support Adoption for Pets
Strong grass roots campaign. Helped brand engage with its communities and show off its good work whilst still being relevant to the core corporate responsibility objectives. Gave the brand a core presence in this area of interest.
Corporate Responsibility: Euro RSCG PR Manchester
Silver winner
- Euro RSCG PR UK
Asda: Creating a sporting legacy for Sporting Chance
Finalist
- Manchester Airports Group
Together, we create our sustainable future
Publication
Gold winner
- National Museums Liverpool
Annual Review 2010
Absolutely inspired and by far the most outstanding entry in the best publication category for the North West this year as far as the judges were concerned! The decision by the National Museums Liverpool team to go for a 'cheap' look to reflect these austere times was a brave move but one that has really paid off, with the resulting annual review achieving stand and far more impact as a result of its tabloid appearance. With information presented in an easy to digest way, combining serious content with the capacity to make the reader smile at the same time, the publication more than lives up to the organisation's corporate identity as a 'risk taker', with a different approach to other national museums. So refreshing and so on brief – a well deserved GOLD!
Publication: National Museums Liverpool
Silver winner
- MAG Internal Communication Team
2010: A Remarkable Year
Finalists
- Manchester Airports Group
Together, we create our sustainable future - Mersey Care NHS Trust
Annual Report 2009-2010 - Staniforth
Lostock Update - University of Chester
Annual Review 2010
Best Freelance Practitioner
Gold winner
- Jane Hunt MCIPR
Catapult PR
Jane has established a profitable and sound business rooted in a tourism client base but successfully broadened to include clients across the country in finance, retail property, food and health. The marmalade festival campaign example was very creative and effective and client endorsements were powerful.
Best Freelance Practitioner: Jane Hunt MCIPR
Silver winner
- Jo Quinney MCIPR
Q Marketing & PR
Best Use of Measurement and Evaluation
- AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca's inspire to innovate week
Strong use of evaluation using both qualitative and quantative techniques – demonstrates care for campaign and engagement with internal staff to make the Inspire to Innovate events work effectively.
Best use of Measurement and Evaulation: AstraZeneca
Communicator of the Year
- Geoff Muirhead
PR Professional of the Year
- Tony Ingham, Chief Executive of IPB Communications
