Stripe Communications take Scots PR Consultancy title again

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