2010 Winners
Rising Star - Individual
Winner:
Timothy Fassam
Tim has been instrumental in guiding Prudential’s British business through the political and policy implications of the banking crisis and new government. He was responsible for Pru’s sponsorship of Citizens Advice’s guide for new MPs. To be a mainstay of financial services before you’re 30 is quite an achievement and yet it is one that Tim – who joined Pru in 2008 from Barclays - has accomplished.
Rising Star - Consultancy
Winner:
Curtin & Co
Launched in 2009 by Tom Curtin, Curtin & Co has four full-time staff (plus one part-timer and four freelancers) and 14 clients including Nestlé and Barratt Developments. The agency – which specialises in community consultations and crisis, media and reputation management – estimates annualised fee income for 2010-2011 of about £450,000.
Think-Tank of the Year
Winner:
Demos
Demos has sustained its position at the forefront of political, social and economic debate, publishing groundbreaking research on topics including parenting, Islamic radicalisation and education.
Trade Body of the Year
Winner:
Local Government Association
Dealing with issues as diverse as road repairs and lap-dancing clubs, the Local Government Association has recorded an excellent year of achievement while substantially reducing headcount and costs. Ahead of the general election, the body created a ‘candidates network’ (75 of its members became MPs), and this summer held a post-election reception at Local Government House for researchers and select committee staff.
Campaign of the Year - Devolved Administrations
Winner:
Capability Scotland
The ‘Barred’ campaign was started by disabled activist Mark Cooper, who had popped into an Edinburgh pub. Unfortunately he had to leave because it did not have an accessible toilet. Cooper teamed up with Capability Scotland for an intensive lobbying campaign to influence the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act. George Foulkes MSP placed an amendment and landlords are now required to show how their premises can be accessed by disabled customers when they apply for a licence.
Best Use of Social Media in a Public Affairs Campaign
Winner:
Blue Rubicon
Blue Rubicon’s brief was to engage people in the political process and boost awareness of Facebook’s use to politicians. The Facebook page ‘Democracy UK’ was created, as well as a ‘polling day rooster’ (which people clicked on when they voted) and a ‘Ministry of Mates’ game whereby users could nominate friends to be in their own personal cabinet. PM David Cameron did a webchat from Number 10 with Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.
Best Agency to Work For
Winner:
PLMR
South London-based PLMR, which embraces flexible working arrangements to support a good work/life balance, won the Lambeth Business Award for Best Employer 2010. All staff receive a £1,000-per-year training allowance and the agency gives five per cent of net profits to a community scheme in south London.
Pollster of the Year
Winner:
ComRes
ComRes has enjoyed an exceptional year, with prolific output during the general election period and pioneering use of new technology. Iain Dale’s Diary said that this year’s election was when the company “came of age” as a pollster. The company has also provided research used to affect legislation, such as for the British Heart Foundation.
Campaign of the Year - Voluntary Sector
Winner:
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK has successfully campaigned to protect young people from the dangers of sunbeds. After a partnership with the Sun newspaper and commissioning research published in the British Medical Journal, use of social media and a petition handed in to 10 Downing Street, the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act was passed in April.
Campaign of the Year - Private Sector
Winner:
PayPoint plc
PayPoint’s share-price jumped 33 per cent after it countered a potential threat in its market from lottery firm Camelot. Advised by the agency Interel Consulting UK, PayPoint lobbied to convince ministers, officials and the National Lottery Commission that it would be ‘unfair’ for Camelot to enter the electronic bill-payment market via its in-shop terminals.
In-House Team of the Year
Winner:
British Heart Foundation
The British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) in-house team helped to change the law to get cigarette vending machines banned in the UK. The BHF ran an integrated comms and PA campaign across the four nations, with activity including the creation of a ‘virtual pub crawl’ for parliamentarians, showing how children use vending machines to buy cigarettes.
Outstanding Contribution
Winner:
Keith McDowall
Former journalist, Whitehall comms man and lobbyist, Keith McDowall has consistently championed causes including the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, the Royal British Legion and British Ship Builders. Keith – who is now retired – sold his PR and PA business to Tim Bell’s Chime group 12 years ago. You will nowadays find him religiously reading the papers, distributing press cuttings to his ‘network’ and starting ‘ground-war’ campaigns against speed-bumps in Islington.
Consultant of the Year
Winner:
James Tyrrell
James co-founded Insight Public Affairs in 2006 and became an equity partner and director last year. He led the agency’s pitch-team in six of Insight’s 15 client wins during the first half of 2010 and contributes 30 per cent of the agency’s turnover. He is also on the committee of the CIPR’s Government Affairs Group.
Consultancy of the Year
Winner:
Open Road
Open Road’s fee income last year surged by 30 per cent, despite the recession, with its staff numbers up by 40 per cent. Client wins included Prudential and Research in Motion (BlackBerry). The agency’s top client achievements included work for GE, Eurostar, the BPI and AstraZeneca/Bristol-Myers Squibb.
