Weber Shandwick Northern Ireland Strikes Gold

Weber Shandwick Northern Ireland clinched five awards for communications excellence at the recent 2011 Chartered Institute of Public Relations PRide Awards.

The annual industry awards recognise outstanding public relations and public affairs achievements and took place at the Europa Hotel, Belfast on Wednesday 30^th November.

The specialist firm was honoured with three Gold Awards for media and political campaigns with County Down wine merchant, JNwine.com, and health care company, Abbott UK.

The awards were presented in the Best Campaign £10k and Under, Best Public Affairs Campaign and Best Use of Measurement and Evaluation categories. The firm also claimed two silver honours for its work with Holiday Inn Belfast and South West College.

Sonya Cassidy, Head of Office, Weber Shandwick Northern Ireland said,

“Recognition for your effort is always satisfying, but it means much more when it comes from industry peers who set the highest of standards and analyse every aspect of your work. Clients and competitors know that the elite group of PRide Award winners have earned their place amongst the very best in the business.”

Judges highlighted Weber Shandwick’s commitment to provide value for money campaigns in awarding the Best Campaign £10k and Under gong. They said:

“A challenging brief to promote the inaugural National Wine Month was delivered with creativity by the team and to a strict budget. The judges were impressed with the campaign's tactics which included a strong media relations campaign backed by social media outputs. Activity had an excellent consumer focus, with an 'Apprentice' style wine training programme and tasting events.”

In awarding the Best Public Affairs title, the judges said:

“Comprehensive and effective public affairs campaign based on SMART objectives and measurable outcomes. Strong strategy from the outset to reach key audiences with direct messages which were well thought through and which complemented the authority's aspirations to reduce spend by reducing dependency on benefits.”

CIPR Chair for Northern Ireland, Ross Williamson, said:

“To win a CIPR PRide Award is a tremendous achievement and I congratulate all of this year’s Gold and Silver winners. A CIPR PRide Award is a seal of professionalism – it identifies, recognises and rewards the outstanding achievements and talents of those working in the PR industry in Northern Ireland.” 

Weber Shandwick Northern Ireland is part of the Interpublic Group, a global communications and marketing company with offices in New York, London and major cities throughout the globe. It also works with Derry City Council, Firstsource Solutions in Belfast and Derry, Power NI and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.