Our Winners! Peterborough Regional PR & Media Awards

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We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating our 15th anniversary and our latest Peterborough Regional PR & Media Awards! We had a host of nominations and there were so many worthy winners – it has been a really great year for PR, Comms and Media in the region.

While the competition was fierce, there had to be winners and here are yours for 2018:

Internal Communications Campaign of the Year

WINNER – Peterborough City Council – Going Agile and their move to Fletton Quays

The council’s campaign utilised regular Intranet articles and briefing sessions; created Change Champions and shared personal journeys in overseeing two historic changes that signify a new chapter in Peterborough City Council’s history.

Communicator of the Year

Highly Commended – Tom Horn, South Cambridgeshire District Council

After 10 years in journalism, Tom has applied himself to the public sector with great results – utilising a DIY approach to social media and video; as well as taking a lead on comms both internally and externally.

WINNER – Sharon McAllister, ESP Magazine

This year ESP Magazine celebrated its 20th year in print – for a free local magazine this is a significant achievement and at its helm, Sharon has remained a dedicated advocate for the city – always giving her time generously to projects big and small.

*NEW* Community Contribution of the Year

Highly Commended – Anna’s Hope

For their ‘Largest Gathering of Fairies in One Place’ Guinness World Record! On a tiny budget, this event brought together local retailers, businesses and members of the community and public – creating 878 World Record holders in the process!

WINNER – Tony Henthorn, Village Tribune

As editor of the Village Tribune for the last 15 years, Tony has overseen the publications growth to now cover 13 villages and 4,500 homes in Peterborough. Assisted by a host of volunteers; Tony has built on the community spirit that founded The Tribune and in recent years has taken the publication online and onto social media; with more plans in the works for 2019.

Communications Team of the Year

Highly Commended – Peterborough City Council

The Peterborough City Council Comms team has continued to do great work this year – spearheading campaigns like Stand Up for Peterborough, Safer Off The Streets, City of Festivals and a rejuvenated campaign behind Peterborough’s City Market – all through video, social media and traditional press and marketing.

WINNER – Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service

With big gains on social media and some brilliant campaigns – this small, close-knit team has delivered above and beyond for the Cambs Fire & Rescue Service over the last year. In particular, their Wholetime Firefighter recruitment campaign combatted myths and encouraged inclusivity – resulting in, among other things, the highest percentage of women registering an interest in the firefighting career to date.

Communications Campaign of the Year

Highly Commended – Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

For their campaign promoting the First Response Service, a team of mental health professional available for those in crisis. This campaign utilised new and traditional PR & marketing to deliver huge results – with hundreds of thousands of views and listens via social media and radio; as well as 32 media reports over its duration. The campaign has resulted in a 20{8199157a03996f1a7ab1d1caf6f45edc473a1d2aec9e8517e0f1549d1671dba4} reduction in people attending A&E for mental health conditions – having a real and lasting impact.

WINNER – Peterborough Cathedral, Speed Agency and Peterborough Celebrates

A thoroughly deserved winner, for the Tim Peake’s Spacecraft exhibition and wider Peterborough Celebrates campaign that put Peterborough firmly on the map this year. Alongside very strong social media results, a host of volunteers welcomed over 170,000 visitors to the Peterborough Cathedral in its duration; with the campaign receiving coverage in The Times, BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, Daily Telegraph and across local TV, radio and print.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Peter Corder – Founder of Media Matters

Peter spent 20 years as a journalist and Editor at a range of regional newspapers in the East Midlands and East Anglia, before setting up Media Matters back in 1994. He began the business from converted outbuildings next to his home near Stamford before moving to offices in Lynch Wood in 2007.

Media Matters has grown into a full-service agency over the last 24 years and Peter recently stepped back from the coal-face of the business to enjoy his retirement – but continues to support the team and some clients.

It is the perfect time to celebrate what he has achieved in his career and with Media Matters – they are a big part of the business landscape in Peterborough and beyond.