Bath public relations agency Highlight PR has scooped four awards at one of the South West’s most prestigious industry award ceremonies – including the Small Consultancy of the Year title for the second year in a row.
The fifth annual Public Relations & Communications Agency (PRCA) South West & Wales DARE Awards brought together agencies and in-house communications teams from across the region to celebrate excellence within the PR and communications industry, showcase those leading the way in media relations, reputation management and digital marketing, and recognise their contribution to the local economy.
As well as landing the Small Consultancy title, Highlight topped the Trade and B2B Campaign category for its Healthy Food, Healthy People, Healthy Planet activity for Wessanen UK, the owners of natural food and drink brands including Clipper Teas, Whole Earth and Kallo.
Highlight also landed the Media Relations Award for its work in launching and establishing Frome-based Living DNA and driving sales and web traffic for its ‘HD ancestry test’ that looks to challenge racist attitudes and behaviours through the power of DNA testing.
Highlight’s consumer team also picked up the Digital and Social Media Campaign of the Year Award for client EPOCH Making Toys for #FindingAquabeads, an imaginative campaign that combined creative online games with an integrated PR stunt and blogger engagement to entertain fans of the global craft brand and drive social sharing.
Highlight’s dedicated work to launch children’s TV show Bottersnikes & Gumbles was also shortlisted in the ‘Low Budget Campaign’ category.
Managing director Nick Vellacott said: “This was another memorable awards night for the Highlight team – and a great reward for everyone’s hard work over the last year.
“I’m very proud of the results we’ve delivered for our clients over the last year, and the growth we’ve achieved as an agency. Awards like this are clear proof of the value agencies like ours can deliver, and we’re sure they will help fuel further growth in the coming year.”
Highlight, which was founded in 1999, provides PR, social media and content marketing services to clients spanning kids’ and family brands, food and drink companies, and firms in the creative industries.
The Large Consultancy of the Year title at the PRCA Awards went to Bristol PR agency Speed Communications, which also won the Event, Launch or Stunt of the Year category with Tetra Spectrum Pets for for the Tetra Tranquillity Tank sensory experience at Old Street tube station in London.
Truro-based Wild West Communications won three awards including New Consultancy of the Year, and the Corporate Affairs Award. Rising Star of the Year also went to Sam Shrimpton, a senior campaign executive at Wild West Communications.
PRCA director general Francis Ingham said: “Huge congratulations to all of the winning teams and individuals. All of this year’s winners should be very proud to have achieved their awards.”
He said compared to the rest of the UK, the South West had the highest majority of PR professionals educated to degree level (735) according to the 2016 PRCA Census – which highlighted the calibre of talent the region was attracting.
Latest PRCA research also showed the average salary for a PR professional in the region was £38,907 and the South West now boasted successful businesses collaborating with international, national and regional businesses and brands.
“Businesses of all sizes understand the need for reputation management and strong communication strategies and this was reflected in the diversity of the PRCA Awards,” said Mr Ingham.
Pictured below: The Highlight PR team – with managing director Nick Vellacott far left – celebrate winning four PRCA DARE Awards
