Creativebrief was delighted to judge and attend the 3rd Annual Fresh PR Awards on Thursday 3rd March 2011 at the Deansgate Hilton Hotel in Manchester.

In particular, Willoughby PR, the Birmingham based agency, won several accolades for their “Christmas at Warwick Castle” campaign which was also awarded the Grand Prix for the best overall entry by the judges.

Other success stories included Bristol based Bray Leino, Glasgow agency 3×1 and Newcastle shop Cool Blue Brand Communications Ltd.

The evening was hosted by Andy Green who had to stand in on behalf of Mark Borkowski.

The Awards, recognising creativity and innovation in Public Relations and Communications were announced following a two stage judging process chaired by Ketchum Pleon Executive Chairman, David Gallagher who commented “I have to say I was impressed and even surprised by the quality of the entries, the creativity and effectiveness of the work, and the breadth of entrants from around the country.”

The Fresh PR Awards Results 2011

Grand Prix

• Willoughby Public Relations – Christmas at Warwick Castle, Warwick Castle

Promotional Section

PR Stunt or Event

• Willoughby Public Relations – Christmas at Warwick Castle, Warwick Castle - Gold
• SO PR – Tomica –The world’s tallest toy train track, Tomy UK - Silver
• Staniforth – Driving Britain Forward: Nissan’s 36ft Extended Vehicle, Nissan - Bronze
• de Winter – de Winter Goes Nuts, Big D Nuts
• Pegasus – Fitball Fundraiser, Simplyhealth
• Smith & Smith PR – Pineapple Eyewear Launch – A Sparkling Spectacle, Brulima Optical Group

Use of Celebrity

• 3×1 – Water on the Web, Highland Spring - Gold
• Bird Consultancy – Build and Launch PR Campaign for The Point at Lancashire County Cricket Club, Lancashire County Cricket Club
• Gardiner Richardson Ltd - NEIEP – North East Home Composting Campaign, North East Improvement and Efficiency Partnership
• SKV – Pure Genius, MOSI
• Smith & Smith PR – Pineapple Eyewear Launch – A Sparkling Spectacle, Brulimar Optical Group / Pineapple Eyewear Broadcast

Media Section

Media Relations

• Grayling North – ‘Who Cares?’ – NHS Carers Direct - Gold
• Euro RSCG PR UK – The Home of Fresh Baking, Greggs - Silver
• Gardiner Richardson Ltd – ‘Stop selling alcohol at pocket money prices’ – a campaign for a minimum price, Balance – North East Alcohol Office - Bronze
• Grayling – Talisker Bounty Boat, Diageo
• JAMpr Ltd – Cluckin’ Good Relations, Rectory Food Group
• Peppermint PR Ltd – Rooney Is England’s Best Snorer for Sound Asleep, Sound Asleep

Digital Media

• Willoughby PR – Christmas at Warwick Castle, Warwick Castle - Gold
• Democracy PR – Get Your Rocks Off, The Rock, Bury - Silver
• Public – Bringing Merchant Gourmet to The Masses, Merchant Gourmet - Bronze
• SKV – Pure Genius, MOSI - Bronze
• 3×1 – Water on the Web, Highland Spring
• Cirkle – Pink Energy Pledge, Energizer
• Cool Blue Brand Communications – DX2 Darlington Experiment 2.0, Darlington Partnership

Communications Section

Internal Communications

• RS Components Ltd – Face2Face, RS Components - Gold
• KC – KC: proud to be part of local life, KC - Silver
• Comms Team Ltd – Spectrum, Carillion plc
• Marick Communications – i4 Innovation Campaign 2010, Magnox North & Magnox South

External Communications

• Stockport Council – Giving Stockport a BOOST, Stockport Council - Gold
• JBP – More than just an agriculture show, Royal Bath & West Show - Silver
• Willoughby PR – Christmas at Warwick Castle, Warwick Castle - Silver
• Bray Leino – The Rye Smile Campaign, The Village Bakery, Melmerby
• Grayling – Reviving Lloyds Corporate Reputation, Lloyds Banking Group Corporate Division
• O Communications – Time to Change – Let’s end mental health discrimination in the North East, NHS North East Strategic Health Authority, Big Lottery & Comic Relief

Integrated Communications

• Bray Leino – Love Toast Love Vogel’s, Vogel’s - Gold
• 3×1 – Water on the Web, Highland Spring - Silver
• Staniforth – Driving Britain Forward: Nissan’s 36ft Extended Vehicle, Nissa - Bronze
• Gardiner Richardson Ltd – Extraordinary Measures, English Heritage
• Lava – We Do Love To Be Beside The North SEAS, East Lindsey District Council
• Lava – Putting Skegness On The Arts Map! East Lindsey District Council
• Stockport Council – Giving Stockport A BOOST, Stockport Council

Action Section

Green PR

• Cool Blue Brand Communications Ltd – Trees4Trees, Barker and Stonehouse’s not-for-profit re-forestation scheme, Barker and Stonehouse - Gold
• Gardiner Richardson Ltd – NEIEP – North East Home Composting Campaign, North East Improvement and Efficiency Partnership - Silver
• Footprint Communications – Turning Over A New Leaf: Green Office Week, Avery Office Products
• SKV Communications – Building Reputation – The Salford University Energy House, University of Salford
• Stockport Council – Stockport Cutting The Carbs, Stockport Council

Not for Profit

• Peppermint PR Ltd – Genesis: fighting to make one in ten, none in ten, The Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Appeal Silver
• SKV Communications – Nudes at Ten, The Lowry - Bronze
• Catapult PR – Spreading The Love, The World’s Original Marmalade Festival
• NHS North West – Flu Fighters – Staff Flu Campaign, NHS North West
• Proof Communication – Cyber Security Challenge UK Launch, Cyber Security Challenge UK

Issues or Crisis Management

• IPB Communications Ltd – Irlam Gas Explosion, City West Gas Explosion - Bronze
• Staniforth – Snow Closes Chill Factore, Chill Factore - Bronze
• HR Media Ltd – Sheffield Forgemasters – Government Loan Decision, Sheffield Forgemasters International Ltd

Public Arena Section

Public Sector

• Grayling North – ‘Who Cares?’ – NHS Carers Direct - Gold
• Stockport Council – Giving Stockport a Boost, Stockport Council - Silver
• Lava – Putting Skegness On The Arts Map! East Lindsey District Council - Bronze
• BCS PR – National Apprenticeship Week, East Midlands Regional, National Apprenticeship Service
• Ware Anthony Rust – BACS London Local Authority Campaign, BACS Payment Schemes Limited

Public Affairs or Lobbying

• Gardiner Richardson Ltd – ‘Stop Selling Alcohol At Pocket Money Prices’ – A Campaign For A Minimum Price, Balance North East Alcohol Office Silver
• Pelican Public Relations – Scrapping The Red Tape, BMRA
• Willoughby Public Relations – Getting A Seat At The Top Table, Worcester Bosch Group

Community Relations

• IPB Communications Ltd – Reinventing Community Consultation, Tesco - Silver
• de Winter – Get Sorted, Golden Square Shopping Centre - Bronze
• Euro RSCG PR UK – Euro RSCG PR UK: Creating a Sporting Legacy for Asda Sporting Chance, Asda - Bronze
• Insight With Passion – The Charity Dreamgirls – Giving A Community Soul, Smaller, lesser known charities including the Retail Trust, Overgate Hospice, the Willow Foundation, Leonard Cheshire Disability and many more.
• SKV Communications – Winning Back The Old Trafford Ashes, Lancashire County Cricket Club
• Tricker PR – Aberdeen Asset Management Universities’ Boat Race, Aberdeen Asset Management

Corporate & Consumer

Business to Business or Trade Marketing

• Peppermint PR Ltd – The Rehabilitation of Styles&Wood, Styles&Wood - Silver
• Ware Anthony Rust – BACS Late Payment Campaign, BACS Payment Schemes Limited - Bronze
• Bird Consultancy – Build and Launch PR Campaign for The Point at Lancashire County Cricket Club, Lancashire County Cricket Club
• Cirkle – Walkers Flavour Cup, Walkers
• JAMpr Ltd – Cluckin’ Good Results, Rectory Food Group
• O Communications – Putting Quorum on the Map, Quorum Business Park
• Pelican Public Relations – Making A Cool Profit, British Frozen Food Federation

Consumer

• Peppermint PR – Rooney Is England’s Best Snorer For Sound Asleep, Sound Asleep - Gold
• Pegasus PR – A Helping Hand For Hair Loss, Lifes2good/Viviscal - Silver
• de Winter – de Winter goes nuts, BigD Nuts - Bronze
• Cirkle – Typh-OO-Along, Typhoo Tea Ltd
• Euro RSCG PR – Mecca Bingo Buddy of the Year 2010, Mecca Bingo
• Osprey Communications – Putting Hadrian’s Wall In The Spotlight, Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Limited
• Pegasus PR – My Pet Superstar – Making The Drontal Brand Bark Louder, Bayer Animal Health

Corporate

• Bottle PR – Poundland Gets the Middle Class Vote, Poundland - Gold
• Peppermint PR – The Rehabilitation of Styles&Wood, Styles&Wood - Silver
• Cool Blue Brand Communications Ltd – Launch of Temenos, Tees Valley Unlimited
• HR Media – Funding to Grow – the Launch of Finance Yorkshire, Finance Yorkshire

Other

Low Budget

• Peppermint PR Ltd – Rooney Is England’s Best Snorer For Sound Asleep, Sound Asleep - Gold
• Pegasus PR – Fun Facts Sun Safe 2010, sk:n - Silver
• Rave Communications – Graco Ambassador Competition, Graco - Bronze
• BCS PR – Nottingham Food & Drink Festival, We Are Nottingham
• Catapult PR – Spreading The Love, The World’s Original Marmalade Festival
• Cirkle – Typh-OO-Along, Typhoo Tea Ltd
• The Write Angle PR & Marketing – ‘What’s The G?’ Preston Guild 2012

Research & Response

• Kelso Consulting – 2010 Expenses Benchmark Report, GlobalExpense - Gold
• Pegasus PR – Getting Ahead of Headlice, Hedrin (Thornton & Ross) - Silver
• Kelso Consulting – Data throws spotlight on local government inefficiencies – innovative use of recycled data gives low-profile consultancy front page headlines, Knox D’Arcy (management consultants)

Austerity Marketing

• Kelso Consulting – “Spotlight thrown on local government inefficiency – innovative use of media & recycled data lets unknown consultancy create front page headlines”, Knox D’Arcy Bronze
• Azzurri Communications – 10:000 to 1: proving the ROI of PR, Azzurri
• Comms Team Ltd – Spectrum, Carillion plc

People & Teams

Young Professional

• Victoria McGovern – Bottle PR Winner
• Katherine Shenton -The Sky’s the Limit, Gardiner Richardson
• Rich Leigh – submission for Young Professional, 10 Yetis

Sole Practitioner or Small Team

• Footprint Communications – Stepping Up to the Mark Winner
• Azzurri Communications
• Osprey Communications
• Rave Communications – The Small Team with Big Ambitions

In House Team

• Stockport Council – Stockport Council’s Marketing & Communications Team

Consultancy Team

• Peppermint PR Ltd - Winner
• Cool Blue Brand Communications Ltd
• Gardiner Richardson Ltd
• Lava PR – A Midlands PR Success
• Pegasus PR
• Pelican Public Relations
• SKV communications

The Judges

Stage One

• Lis Anderson, JBP Public Relations
• Michael Bennett, Pelican PR
• Gary Bramwell, Brazen
• Caraline Brown, Midnight Communications
• Di Burton, Cicada Communications
• Mark Carton, Addessi PR
• Mark Clare, Clear Communications
• Richard Cobourn, OnScreen Productions
• Nancy Collantine, Fido PR
• Jon Cope, University of Falmouth
• Kate Cox, DeWinter PR
• Jane Cumming, Platform PR
• Bron Eames, Haslimann Taylor
• Wynford Emanuel, Warwick Emanuel
• Lisa Ferneyhough, DigforFireDMG
• Roberta Fluke, Bray Leino
• Lucy Gardiner, Gardiner Richardson
• Vaness Gardner, Footprint, Communications
• Andy Green, Green Communications
• Rick Guttridge, Smoking Gun PR
• Simon Hackett, Pegasus PR
• Rebecca Hardy, BJL Group
• Chris Harrison, JPR NI
• Laurel Hetherington, Hetherington Consultants
• James Hickman, Hatch PR
• Jane Hunt, Catapult PR
• Mike James, Southern Water
• Lee-ann Kaufman, isee PR
• Caroline Kenyon, Kenyon Communications
• Caroline Kinsey, Cirkle
• Stefan Lepowski, Karol Marketing
• Lis Lewis Jones, Liquid PR
• Martin Long, Golley Slater
• Jaime Markey, Jam PR
• Claire Mason, Man Bites Dog
• Paul McErlan, MCE PR
• Julie McGarvey, 3×1
• Julie McGuckian, BissLancaster
• Justin McKeown, Grayling
• Kari Owers, O Communications
• Richard Rawlins, Finn Communications
• Ian Ratcliffe, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
• Phil Reed, Brahm
• Dave Sanders, Dave Sanders & Associates
• Neal Smith, East Coast Rail
• Jenifer Stirton, NHS Lothian
• Alison Taylor, Ware Anthony Rust
• Tony Tighe, Mere Communication
• Jenny Tozer, Derbyshire County Council
• Beverley Tricker, Tricker PR
• Geraldine Vesey, SKV
• Chrissie Walker, BCS PR
• Julie Willoughby, Willoughby PR
• Tamarind Wilson, Lucre Communications
• Chris Woolford, Public

Stage Two

• Alex Aitken, Westminster Council
• Andy Green, Green Communications
• Paul Duncanson, Creativebrief
• Francis Ingham, PRCA
• Brian Merron, Kantar Media
• Claire Myers, IPC
• Dotti Irving, Colman Getty
• David Gallagher, Ketchum Pleon (Chair)