FOR the second time in four years, one of the top PR prizes in the country has gone to Edinburgh-based consultancy, Stripe Communications.
The agency repeated its 2009 triumph to be again named Outstanding PR Consultancy of the Year at the Scottish awards of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
At the awards ceremony, also among the winners were the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Outstanding In-house Public Relations) and the Scottish Government (Scottish Public Sector Team of the Year)
Also among the winners at the black-tie event in Edinburgh were Consolidated PR whose work with the Scottish Government picked up three gold awards for campaigns including My Marriage, My Prison and The Gift of Life.
Martha Payne, a primary school pupil who caused a storm earlier this year when she posted pictures of school lunches on the NeverSeconds blog, which her local council then tried to ban, was named Scotland’s ‘Inspiring Communicator of the Year’.
Over 300 people attended the annual awards ceremony, which recognised 21 different gold award winners and was hosted by BBC Scotland’s Catriona Shearer.
Said the judges of Stripe: “Stripe has proved that even during an economic recession agencies can develop and grow, delivering impressive fee income increases and enviable margins, whilst keeping teams happy and clients delighted. Happy clients are great news but happy clients who refer new business are a dream, and that is what Stripe has achieved.”
In a CIPR Scotland media release, Laura Sutherland, chair of the CIPR Scotland, is quoted, as saying: “Scotland can boast success amongst the plethora of consummate professionals in the communications world – this is a true accolade in itself and one to be celebrated and applauded. As the industry develops, more and more we are being held accountable for value, measurement and best practice. Tonight’s awards have confirmed the wealth of talent in Scottish communications.”
Several of the winners – such as Stripe, Holyrood Partnership, Pagoda, Shelter Scotland, Smarts and Frasermedia – use allmediascotland.com to promote the work of their clients, via media releases posted on the site.
Pic: John Linton.
The winners’ list reads, as follows:
Corporate and Business Communications
Grayling / Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets – Oil & Gas: Rising Fortunes
Not-for-Profit
Shelter Scotland: No Room at the Inn for Scotland’s Homeless Children
Internal Communications
Scottish Enterprise – Becoming a Great Place to Work
Community Relations
Consolidated PR and the Scottish Government – My Marriage, My Prison
Public Sector
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – Standing Together Against Homophobia
Best Campaign £10,000 and Under
Union Square / Grayling – The Summer Hub
Best Sporting Campaign
Holyrood Partnership – US Kids Golf European Championships – Junior Golf Tees off in the Media
Healthcare
Stripe Communications and the Scottish Government – Alcohol Behaviour Change 2011/12
Consumer Relations
3×1 Public Relations – Garner’s – PR in a Pickle
Best Use of Media Relations
Consolidated PR and the Scottish Government – The Gift of LIfe
Integrated Communications
Midlothian Council – Local carers for local kids
Best Use of Social Media
Smarts – Bikeability Scotland – Call for volunteers
External Publication
Think – Escape, First Great Western
Internal Publication
West Dunbartonshire Council – Talk Newspaper
Best Digital Campaign
3×1 Public Relations – Garner’s – PR in a Pickle
Best Event
Wave PR / East Kilbride Shopping Centre – Stars of Service
Outstanding Young Communicator
Jo-Anne Hamilton MCIPR – Action for Children
Outstanding Small Consultancy
Frasermedia
Outstanding In-house Public Relations Team
Scottish SPCA – The Scottish SPCA: Success Through Outstanding Public Relations
Scottish Public Sector Team of the Year
Scottish Government PR and International Marketing – Small country, big ambitions – realising Scotland’s potential
Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy
Stripe Communications
Public Affairs
Pagoda Public Relations – Waitrose: winning minds… then hearts
Corporate Responsibility
Aberdeen Asset Management and Tricker PR – Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Traditional Boat Festival
Best Use of Measurement and Evaluation
Consolidated PR – The Gift of Life
Inspiring Communicator of the Year
Martha Payne
