The CIPR announced the results of the 2015 Excellence Awards on Wednesday 3rd June during a gala dinner event at London’s Old Billingsgate, attended by over 700 communications professionals. More than 110 leading PR consultancies, teams and individuals competed for 29 coveted Awards.
Amongst the categories, the Public Affairs Campaign - proudly sponsored by PubAffairs - recognised “a successful public affairs campaign designed to inform or change public policy, or to influence the legislative process”. The Award was won by Cancer Research UK for their campaign for plain, standard packaging of tobacco products. The results of their efforts will be implemented in May 2016.
This integrated campaign was underpinned by international research and involved 'Cancer Campaign Ambassadors', Cancer Research UK's most successful-ever video content, mock-up packs adorned with children's names, and constituency briefings and visits. Cancer Research UK worked closely with Action on Smoking & Health (ASH) and within the Smokefree Action Coalition (SFAC). You can read more details of their campaign online here.
Layla Theiner, Cancer Research UK’s Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns, said: “We’re very pleased to have won this award. It reflects the clear success of a hard fought but well executed campaign. We used an effective combination of public affairs, action from our supporters and press and PR activities to highlight the case, and public support, for standard packs. We demonstrated that standard packs were needed, wanted and practical to implement. From the success of our campaigning, and working in coalition with Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and others, plain, standardised packs of cigarettes will be introduced into the UK in May 2016. This will make us only the second country in the world, after Australia, to bring in the policy. Two thirds of smokers start before the age of the 18, and up to two in three long-term smokers will die of a smoking related cause. There was a strong evidence base that these packs reduce the appeal of smoking and will give young people one less reason to start a deadly habit.”
Sarah Pinch FCIPR, CIPR President 2015, commented on the Awards overall saying: “Recent criticism of public sector and public facing communications is unwarranted and divisive, and we should be proud that the reputation of our sector is built by the high standards of professionalism, skill, creativity, integrity, and tenacity demonstrated by the campaigns and teams winning tonight’s awards.
“Over the next 12 months we will shine a light on these exemplars of best practice, not only because they are at the cutting edge of truly integrated communications, but also because they collectively are taking professional PR practice to the next level, delivering value for money, for Chief Executives, Directors, the public, and across their organisations.”
The full list of Award Winners:
- Corporate and Business Communications Campaign: Lansons, Lansons for The Co-operative Bank: “Stabilisation and fightback”
- Internal Communications Campaign: Aircraft Carrier Alliance, One team delivering the nation's flagships
- Consumer Relations Campaign: Tin Man, The 'Real' Apple Store at Borough Market
- Public Sector Campaign: Kirklees Council, Domestic Abuse Awareness: It’s Never OK
- Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign: Cow, MORE TH>N Return of the Green Cross Code Man
- Diversity and Inclusion in Communications Campaign: HSBC, HSBC Ability Stories
- Public Affairs Campaign: Cancer Research UK, Campaign for plain, standard packaging of tobacco products
- Not-for-Profit Campaign: Cow, Send a Cow: The Most Important Meal of Their Lives
- Healthcare Campaign: St John Ambulance, The Chokeables
- Integrated Campaign: iris, Launch of Robinsons SQUASH'D
- Global Public Relations Campaign: Vodafone Group supported by Golden Goose PR, The 30th Anniversary of the UK’s first mobile phone call
- Issues or Crisis Management: Department of Health, NHS England, Public Health England and The Royal Free Hospital, Ebola Health Communications
- Automotive Campaign: Frank PR, Hotel VW California
- Low Budget Campaign: HTC and Hope&Glory, #phonies
- STEM Campaign: Proof Communication, Helping the Solar Cloth Company shine with £1 million crowdfunding success
- Arts, Culture or Sport Campaign: The British Library, Bringing together the four original surviving Magna Carta manuscripts
- Best Use of Media Relations: Unity, #FollowTheFairies – Unity and Marks & Spencer (M&S)
- Best Use of Digital: Unity, #FollowTheFairies – Unity and Marks & Spencer (M&S)
- Best Use of Social Media: MSLGROUP, Always #LikeAGirl
- Best Publication: Royal Bank of Scotland and Beetroot, Outside>In
- Best Event: 3 Monkeys Communications, The Jacob’s #SnackHappy Savoury Ice Cream Parlour
- Outstanding Young Communicator: Lansons, Valentina Kristensen MCIPR
- Outstanding Independent Practitioner: Rumour Mill PR, Samantha Livingstone MCIPR
- CIPR IoD Public Relations Director of the Year: Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, Bridget Aherne MCIPR
- Outstanding In-House Public Relations Team: Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust
- Outstanding Small Public Relations Consultancy & Winner of Special Award for Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy: Popcorn PR
- Outstanding Mid-sized Public Relations Consultancy: Man Bites Dog
- Outstanding Large Public Relations Consultancy: Hotwire