Region’s top PR firms honoured

The top public relations campaigns, practitioners and organisations from across Yorkshire & Lincolnshire gathered at the 2014 CIPR Yorkshire & Lincolnshire PRide Awards.

More than 250 public relations professionals from the region attended the awards event at The Queens, Leeds, which was hosted by BBC Look North’s Harry Gration MBE.

Leeds-based companies Acceleris, Finn and Umpf were the three double Gold Award winners on the night, with Finn taking away the title of Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy.

Acceleris’ Ellie Smith was awarded the title of Outstanding Young Communicator, with judges giving special mention to Ellie’s ability to “demonstrate a clear understanding of the wider remit of public relations – going beyond the tactics (of traditional and social) to provide effective counsel for clients and stakeholders.”

Regional Campaign of the Year was awarded to Approach PR for their work in reinvigorating Ilkley Carnival. Judges commended Approach PR for “stepping in on a voluntary basis to increase ticket sales, footfall, number of exhibitors and volunteers supporting the event” and for their “strategic, high profile, and creative PR and social media campaigns that were instrumental in the rebirth of the community event”.

Gary Taylor MCIPR, Chair of CIPR Yorkshire & Lincolnshire, said: “The PRide Awards continue to highlight the best work of the region’s talented individuals and agencies. Everyone nominated for an award tonight should be proud of their work and the contribution they have made to the region’s success. My congratulations go to our Gold winners this evening, all of whom have demonstrated the highest professional standards of public relations practice.”

The Gold Award winners from the 2014 CIPR Yorkshire & Lincolnshire PRide Awards were:

Corporate and Business Communications Campaign: GDHA: From Prescot to Poland, The Right Agency

Not-for-Profit Campaign: Harrogate Homeless Project - No Second Night Out, Amplify Communications

Internal Communications Campaign: Arco Conversation Cascade, H&H / Arco

Community Relations Campaign: Plan A - because there is no Plan B, Grayling

Public Sector Campaign: Hull - UK City of Culture 2017, Hull City Council

Low Budget Campaign: Going for Gold, HR Media

Consumer Relations Campaign: Launching Fab Minis, Finn

Best Use of Media Relations: Winter Wellness, Umpf for Bupa Care Services

Integrated Campaign: Women of Steel Appeal, John Palmer

Best Use of Social Media: Helping Belling Bring a Festive Buzz to BBC Good Food Show, Umpf for Belling

Best Publication: Purple, Anchor with scarlettabbott

Best Use of Digital: Laying the digital foundations for winning new business, Engage Comms

Best Event: All Aboard: East Coast Trains Celebration Event, East Coast

Issues or Crisis Management: Championing Sustainable Fishing, Acceleris

Regional Campaign of the Year: Ilkley Carnival takes on the Yorkshire Tour, Approach PR

Outstanding Freelance Practitioner: Matthew Ridsdale MCIPR, Cannon PR

Outstanding Young Communicator: Ellie Smith, Acceleris

Outstanding Small Consultancy: Quest PR

Outstanding In-House Public Relations Team: Welcome to Yorkshire

Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy: Finn