PR success for Famous Grouse firm

THE MAKERS of Famous Grouse Whisky were celebrating last night (Thursday, October 20) after scooping the top prize in a public relations contest.

The Edrington Group took the "Grand Prix" in the 2005 Scotland PRide Awards, organised by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

Edrington’s communications work also earned it a gold award in the "best use of media relations" category.

There was a strong public sector presence amongst the other winners, announced by broadcaster Fiona Ross at a glittering ceremony in Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel.

Visit Scotland won the in-house team of the year title, and also took gold for the best in-house campaign. The tourism body also picked up two silver awards – for best use of media relations and best public sector programme in the annual contest.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran was named the Scottish Public Sector Team of the Year. The organisation also took gold for best newsletter and a silver for best in-house campaign.

There were plaudits too for South Lanarkshire Council which won gold for best public sector programme and best integrated campaign, for its work around holocaust memorial day. Meanwhile, Scottish Water won gold for best use of internal communication.

Amongst the PR agencies, one of the smallest firms gained the biggest success.

For the second year running, Platform PR was named as PR Consultancy Team of the Year. The agency, which has just five staff, is run from a former railway station at Beauly, near Inverness. Its campaign work to save dolphins in the Moray Firth gained a gold award in the charity/non-profit category and a silver in the best community campaign.

Platform also won a gold for issues and crisis management – after helping a hotel client deal with the arrival of Gordon Ramsay and his Kitchen Nightmares programme which was screened earlier this year.


Artisan PR, based at Stow, near Galashiels, was named best small team. The firm also scooped two gold awards for best use of photography, design or news media and best low budget campaign.

Other PR teams taking gold awards were Budge PR, The PR Store, 3x1, Euro RSCG Bliss Lancaster, Citigate Smarts and the in-house team at Bank of Scotland.

Meanwhile, David Connor, who works for Holyrood Partnership, was named the Young Communicator of the Year – accepting the Hamp Hamilton trophy.

There was also an outstanding achievement award for Flora Martin, who stepped down as the boss of one of Scotland’s biggest PR firms, Citigate Smarts, last year. She now works as an independent consultant. Flora is the first recipient of this prestigious award in Scotland.

Jenifer Stirton, the chair of the CIPR in Scotland, said: "This year’s PRide Awards drew record numbers of entries from organisations across Scotland. It is a real tribute to the talent within the industry in Scotland that there are so many entries shortlisted.

"To ensure impartiality, all the Scottish Awards – except the Young Communicator and Oustanding Achievement Award – were judged by colleagues in Wales, and then by a final judging panel in London.

"Winning an award is proof to clients and colleagues that you are judged to be among the best in your profession. I’d like to offer my congratulations to everyone who made the finals of this year’s contest and wish them every success in the future."

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations has over 8,000 members, involved in all aspects of the public relations industry. It is the largest professional body of its type in Europe, with rigorous qualifications for membership, ensuring that standards are high and maintained. CIPR Scotland is the biggest group outside of London.

Further information on the CIPR and details of all the shortlisted entries can be obtained from the CIPR website at http://www.cipr.co.uk/prideawards or by calling 020 7253 5151.


THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS:

Best integrated campaign:
GOLD: South Lanarkshire Council, Holocaust Memorial Day
SILVER: Elaine Howie Public Relations, Lloyds TSB Scotland Sponsorship of Scottish Cricket
SILVER: Consolidated Communications, Bang Out of Order

Best Corporate or Financial Campaign:
GOLD: Budge PR, with Launching Scottish Friendly's Child Trust Fund

Best Newsletter:
GOLD: NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Dialogue
SILVER: Crossan Communications, Inside S&N

Best Business to Business Campaign:
GOLD: Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster, Company Cars Drivers’ Perspective
SILVER: Budge PR, Scottish Grass Machinery - Fighting Back

Best Public Sector Programme:
GOLD: South Lanarkshire Council, Holocaust Memorial Day
SILVER: Visit Scotland, Merger Comms for New Tourism Network
SILVER: Consolidated Communications, Teacher Recruitment

Charity or Non Profit Campaign:
GOLD: Platform PR, Dolphin Defenders
SILVER: Citigate Smarts, See Me

Best Consumer Campaign:
GOLD: 3x1, Fish & Chip Shop of the Year
SILVER: The TFF Agency, "Ortagist"
SILVER: The Big Partnership, Launch of Saga 105.2 FM

The Best In House Campaign:
GOLD: Visit Scotland, Visit Scotland’s "Sea Scotland" Campaign
SILVER: NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Valuing Differences

Best Use of Internal Communication:
GOLD: Scottish Water, Making the Connections
SILVER: Falkirk Council, Celebrating Success

Relationship Management:
GOLD: Citigate Smarts, with Forging Partnerships Through Innovative PR

Best Use of Photography, Design or New Media:
GOLD: Artisan PR, Cashmere Collection for Lambs
SILVER: Scottish Water, Education Project
SILVER: The TFF Agency, "Ortagist"

Best Community Campaign;
GOLD: The PR Store in Conjunction with Oldhand Media & West Lothian Association of Community Councils, Your Community Council
SILVER: Platform PR, Dolphin Defenders

Best Issues or Crisis Management Campaign:
GOLD: Platform PR, Kitchen Nightmare? PR Nightmare!
SILVER: Weber Shandwick Glasgow, Glenmorangie Spirited

Best Low Budget:
GOLD: Artisan PR, Cashmere Collection for Lambs
SILVER:Great Circle Communications Ltd, The Enchanted Forest
SILVER: The Big Partnership, Endowment Compensation Centre

Best Use of Media Relations:
GOLD: The Edrington Group, The Cat’s Whiskers
SILVER: The Big Partnership, Launch of Saga 105.2 FM
SILVER: Visit Scotland, Visit Scotland Adventure Challenge

Public Affairs Lobbying Programme
GOLD: Bank of Scotland, BOS & First Time Buyers
SILVER: Weber Shandwick Glasgow, "Dances with Wolves", Alladale Wilderness Reserve
SILVER: Pagoda Public Relations, London 2012: Scotland Backs the Bid

Best Small Team or Sole Practitioner:
GOLD: Artisan PR

Young Communicator Award/Hamp Hamilton Award:
WINNER: David Connor, Holyrood Partnership
HIGHLY-COMMENDED: Alison Laing, 3x1
Certificates also given to finalists: Lorna Gilmour, Budge PR; Stephen McLean, Matthews Marketing; and Kristy Tucker, NHS Lothian

CIPR Scotland Outstanding Achievement Award:
Flora Martin FCIPR

Scottish Public Sector Team of the Year:
NHS Ayrshire & Arran, We Can Do

Scottish PR Team of the Year (In House)
Visit Scotland (Winner)

Scottish PR Team of the Year (Consultancy)
Platform PR, A Track Record of Success (Winner)

Grand Prix Award:
The Cats Whiskers, The Edrington Group

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Issued by CIPR Scotland

Please note the embargo. Journalists can approach nominees for background information before the ceremony on Thursday, but should not disclose the results of the Awards in advance of the ceremony.

For more information on the awards, please contact Jenifer Stirton on 07774 795064. Contact the CIPR press office on 020 7553 3770 or 020 7553 3771