Best handling of a de/merger and/or acquisition deal

Recognises the best handling of a merger or acquisition deal from a communications perspective. The winning entry will need to show the steps it took to implement an effective comms strategy around the deal, including how it worked with other parties (eg: investors, employees and other stakeholders) and dealt with challenges along the way, including possible negative publicity. It would be a benefit if the entry can show how the comms strategy improved the client’s reputation after the deal.

Best handling of an IPO

Recognises the best handling of a company’s stock market flotation from a communications perspective. The winning entry will need to show the steps it took to implement an effective comms strategy around the IPO, including how it worked with other parties (eg: investors, employees and other stakeholders) and dealt with challenges along the way, including possible negative publicity. It would be a benefit if the entry can show how the comms strategy benefited the client’s reputation.

Best crisis comms

Recognises the most effective management of an issue or crisis by a consultancy or corporate in-house team, or a combination of both. The objectives, strategy and method deployed should be clearly set out. Because of the sensitive nature of this type of work, entrants may mark parts of their submission as strictly confidential and not for publication. The campaign may or may not focus on challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Best pro-active lobbying campaign on an issue or cause

Recognises the best pro-active lobbying campaign with a specific public affairs objective related to a cause or an issue; eg: introducing a new law or policy. The campaign can feature a number of different disciplines, including (but not limited to) media relations, content/social media activity and lobbying. The winning entry will need to demonstrate that the campaign met or exceeded its objectives. Evidence of original, creative thinking as part of the campaign would be a benefit.

Best public affairs campaign for an NGO, charity or campaigning organisation

Recognises the best campaign by or on behalf of a charity, NGO or campaigning organisation* with a specific public affairs objective; for example, a change in law or new approach by a government or another public body. The campaign can feature a number of different disciplines, including (but not limited to) media relations, content/social media activity and lobbying. The winning entry will need to demonstrate that the campaign met or exceeded its objectives. Evidence of original, creative thinking as part of the campaign would be a benefit.

*The campaigning organisation must campaign on behalf of a social or environmental cause, rather than a commercial one.

Best use of media relations in a campaign

Recognises the best use of media relations as part of a campaign by, or on behalf of, a corporation. It could include reactive or proactive media relations activities, or a combination of both. Judges will be looking for evidence of how media coverage and media relations activities helped achieve specific goals, eg: changing public sentiment towards a company, selling more products, supporting a specific cause. Entrants can show how media relations was used as part of a wider campaign that could include other elements, such as lobbying or advertising; however, the winning entry will be able to demonstrate how media relations specifically was crucial.

Best use of social media and/or influencers in a campaign

Recognises the best use of social media or social media ‘influencers’ as part of a campaign by, or on behalf of, a corporation. Judges will be looking for evidence of how social media and/or influencer activity helped achieve specific goals, eg: changing public sentiment towards a company, selling more products, supporting a specific cause. Entrants can show how social media and/or influencer activity was used part of a wider campaign that could include other elements, such as lobbying or advertising; however, the winning entry will be able to demonstrate how social media and/or influencer activity specifically was crucial to achieve outcomes (rather than merely social media analytics data). The idea must be PR-led, although we will not exclude entries that involve payment or other incentives to influencers; however, please detail these in your entry. For this award, we are defining a social media influencer as an individual or group that has become influential off the back of their own social media platform or platforms. It excludes anyone with pre-existing fame (eg: actors or sports people).

Best corporate internal comms or employee engagement campaign

Recognises the most effective campaign for a corporation that engages internal stakeholders such as managers, employees, and trade unions. Judges will be looking for clear outlines of the campaign’s specific objectives and the steps taken to meet them, alongside the results of the campaign, preferably supported with data (eg: employee satisfaction levels, staff retention etc). Evidence of original creative thinking as part of the campaign would be a benefit. The campaign may or may not focus on the unique challenges of adapting to working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Corporate and/or financial comms newcomer of the year

Open to PR professionals in corporate and/or financial comms who have worked in the sector for no more than three years. Nominations are accepted from employers, who should include the details of the nominee’s career history and professional qualifications. Along with the submission, please attach a 200 word statement or short video from the person nominated, outlining why they feel they should win this award. Judges will be looking for: evidence of outstanding achievement in handling projects and campaigns; creativeness in relevance to brief and results; influence and contribution to the company and colleagues; and evidence of the nominee’s ability and willingness to extend their range of skills and expertise. Please note: the video does not need to be high production quality; it can be recorded using your smartphone. There will not be extra points given for high production quality videos. This is an opportunity for the nominee to express themselves and their personality within the entry.

Public affairs newcomer of the year

Open to professionals working entirely or primarily in public affairs who have worked in the sector for no more than three years. Nominations are accepted from employers, who should include the details of the nominee’s career history and professional qualifications. Along with the submission please attach a 200 word statement or short video from the person nominated, outlining why they feel they should win this award. Judges will be looking for: evidence of outstanding achievement in handling projects and campaigns; creativeness in relevance to brief and results; influence and contribution to the company and colleagues; and evidence of the nominee’s ability and willingness to extend their range of skills and expertise. Please note: the video does not need to be high production quality; it can be recorded using your smartphone. There will not be extra points given for high production quality videos. This is an opportunity for the nominee to express themselves and their personality within the entry.

Corporate and/or financial comms professional of the year (agency)

This award will go to the agency-side professional in a leadership role who is judged to have achieved the most in corporate and/or financial comms in the past 12 months. Judges will be looking for evidence of exceptional client handling, use of innovative ideas and techniques, successful execution of projects and/or campaigns, and strong leadership qualities. Please give examples of the most effective project work in corporate and/or financial comms undertaken by the individual over the past 12 months (maximum of five examples), including, where relevant, data to support the impact (eg: sales or share price lifts, amount of positive coverage etc).

Corporate and/or financial comms professional of the year (in-house)

This award will go to the in-house professional in a senior role who is judged to have achieved the most in corporate and/or financial comms in the past 12 months. Judges will be looking for evidence of successful execution of projects and/or campaigns, use of innovative ideas and techniques, and strong leadership qualities. Please give examples of the most effective project work in corporate and/or financial comms undertaken by the individual over the past 12 months (maximum of five examples), including, where relevant, data to support the impact (eg: sales or share price lifts, amount of positive coverage etc).

Public affairs professional of the year (agency)

This award will go to the agency-side professional in a senior role who is judged to have achieved the most in public affairs in the past 12 months. Judges will be looking for evidence of exceptional client handling, working effectively with other parties (eg: in-house comms teams, campaign groups), use of innovative ideas and techniques, successful execution of projects and/or campaigns, and strong leadership qualities. Please give examples of the most effective project work in public affairs undertaken by the individual over the past 12 months (maximum of five examples), including, where relevant, data to support the impact (eg: change of law or government policy, amount of positive coverage etc).

Public affairs professional of the year (in-house)

This award will go to the in-house professional in a senior role who is judged to have achieved the most in public affairs in the past 12 months. Judges will be looking for evidence of successful execution of projects and/or campaigns, working effectively with other parties (eg: agencies, campaign groups), use of innovative ideas and techniques, and strong leadership qualities. Please give examples of the most effective project work undertaken by the individual over the past 12 months (maximum of five examples), including, where relevant, data to support the impact (eg: change of law or government policy, amount of positive coverage etc).

New for 2021! - Best in-house team for corporate comms

Open to any in-house comms team, focussing on work related to corporate communication campaigns. In your entry please include the number of staff employed within the team (split executive and support staff) and annual PR budget (broken down into areas of marketing activity directly under the team's control). The judges will look for evidence of success in executing campaigns or programmes during the period covered by the awards as part of an overall PR strategy, in particular to corporate communications work. They will also look for cost-effective use of both in-house and external resources. Teams will also be commended for their dedication to diversity. Please outline the proportion of employees who are women, and who are black/Asian/or of other minority ethnic backgrounds, both across the team and in senior leadership roles. Please also outline any initiatives in place to encourage under-represented groups, and information on the team’s flexible working policies to help staff work part time.

Best in-house team for public affairs

Open to any in-house comms team, focussing on work related to public affairs campaigns. In your entry please include the number of staff employed within the team (split executive and support staff) and annual PR budget (broken down into areas of marketing activity directly under the team's control). The judges will look for evidence of success in executing campaigns or programmes during the period covered by the awards as part of an overall PR strategy, in particular to public affairs work. They will also look for cost-effective use of both in-house and external resources. Teams will also be commended for their dedication to diversity. Please outline the proportion of employees who are women, and who are black/Asian/or of other minority ethnic backgrounds, both across the team and in senior leadership roles. Please also outline any initiatives in place to encourage under-represented groups, and information on the team’s flexible working policies to help staff work part time.

Best agency for internal comms or employee engagement

This category is open to any consultancy that offers internal communications or employee engagement services on behalf of clients. Judges will be looking for evidence of growth in this discipline in the past 12 months, ideally in terms of both new briefs and expansion in the workforce. Please give examples of the most effective internal communications or employee engagement work undertaken by the agency in the past 12 months (maximum of five examples), including data to support the impact (eg: data on employee retention or staff satisfaction). Evidence of a willingness to use innovative techniques and implement creative campaigns, where relevant, will be a benefit in the application. Agencies will also be commended for their dedication to diversity. Please outline the proportion of employees who are women, and who are black/Asian/or of other minority ethnic backgrounds, both across the company and in senior leadership roles. Please also outline any initiatives in place to encourage under represented groups, and information on the agency’s flexible working policies to help staff work part time.

New for 2021! - New consultancy of the year

This award is open to any consultancy that has been trading for up to 24 months. The consultancy must operate in at least one of the following disciplines: corporate comms, financial comms, public affairs. Judges will be looking for evidence of market share and financial growth at the agency. They will be looking at client list growth and client retention. Please give examples of the most effective work in corporate and/or financial comms undertaken by the agency in the past 12 months (maximum of five examples), including data to support the impact (eg: sales or share price lifts, amount of positive coverage etc). Evidence of a willingness to use innovative techniques and implement creative campaigns, where relevant, will be a benefit in the application. Agencies will also be commended for their dedication to diversity. Please outline the proportion of employees who are women, and who are black/ Asian/or of other minority ethnic background, both across the company and in senior leadership roles. Please also outline any initiatives in place to encourage under-represented groups, and information on the agency’s flexible working policies to help staff work part time.

Best agency for corporate and/or financial comms

This category is open to any consultancy that offers corporate and/or financial comms services. Judges will be looking for evidence of market share and financial growth at the agency, particularly in relation to corporate and/or financial comms. They will be looking at client list growth and client retention. Please give examples of the most effective work in corporate and/or financial comms undertaken by the agency in the past 12 months (maximum of five examples), including data to support the impact (eg: sales or share price lifts, amount of positive coverage etc). Evidence of a willingness to use innovative techniques and implement creative campaigns, where relevant, will be a benefit in the application. Agencies will also be commended for their dedication to diversity. Please outline the proportion of employees who are women, and who are black/Asian/or of other minority ethnic backgrounds, both across the company and in senior leadership roles. Please also outline any initiatives in place to encourage under represented groups, and information on the agency’s flexible working policies to help staff work part time.

Best agency for public affairs

This category is open to any consultancy that offers public affairs services. Judges will be looking for evidence of market share and financial growth at the agency, particularly in relation to public affairs work. They will be looking at client list growth and client retention. Please give examples of the most effective public affairs work undertaken by the agency in the past 12 months (maximum of five examples), including data to support the impact (eg: change to law or government policy, amount of positive coverage etc). Evidence of a willingness to use innovative techniques and implement creative campaigns, where relevant, will be a benefit in the application. Agencies will also be commended for their dedication to diversity. Please outline the proportion of employees who are women, and who are black/Asian/or of other minority ethnic backgrounds, both across the company and in senior leadership roles. Please also outline any initiatives in place to encourage under represented groups, and information on the agency’s flexible working policies to help staff work part time.

New for 2021! - Best integrated agency for corporate and public affairs

This category is open to any consultancy that offers both corporate and public affairs services and excels at integrated work covering both disciplines. Judges will be looking for evidence of market share and financial growth at the agency, particularly in relation to briefs covering both corporate and public affairs. They will be looking at client list growth and client retention. Please give examples of the most effective integrated corporate/public affair work undertaken by the agency in the past 12 months (maximum of five examples), including data to support the impact (eg: sales, change to law or government policy, amount of positive coverage etc). Evidence of a willingness to use innovative techniques and implement creative campaigns, where relevant, will be a benefit in the application. Agencies will also be commended for their dedication to diversity. Please outline the proportion of employees who are women, and who are black/Asian/or of other minority ethnic backgrounds, both across the company and in senior leadership roles. Please also outline any initiatives in place to encourage under represented groups, and information on the agency’s flexible working policies to help staff work part time.