PR agencies and in-house teams from Gloucestershire won a total of 11 awards in the annual event that rewards excellence in PR and communications.

Tewkesbury-based PR and communications consultancy Vivid and Cheltenham’s Target Public Relations both struck gold.

Vivid won an award for each of the categories in which it was shortlisted at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) West of England Pride Awards 2009 in Bristol, taking to the stage three times to collect a gold and two silver prizes.

The gold award came in the Community Relations category for its project with Tewkesbury Abbey in the Over the Rainbow – Tewkesbury Back in Business initiative.

The judges at the event in Bristol complimented the Vivid team’s “clear and creative plan” to rebuild community pride, organising a campaign which engaged many in the town. Vivid Director Hilary Allison said: “We were thrilled to have been shortlisted in three categories so to win something in every one is hugely gratifying.”

Cheltenham-based agency Target Public Relations won a gold award for ‘best use of photography’ in its Westonbirt Arboretum Spring Collection 2009 campaign. The campaign brought together high fashion with nature, using stunning photography of a model wearing a dress designed by an Oxford fashion student that was made entirely from the blooms and foliage found at the Arboretum.

Sarah Bryars, managing director at Target Public Relations, said: “We are delighted to have won a gold award, it was very exciting to see something so beautiful and unique come from merging the natural beauty of the Westonbirt Arboretum with young creative talent.”

Other Gloucestershire gold award winners were Magnox North, Don’t Gamble With Safety with Oldbury Power Station (Internal Communications) and Stroud-based Meningitis Trust, judged to have the Outstanding In-House Public Relations Team.

There were silver awards for The Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester (Best Website or Microsite), Magnox North, Oldbury Power Station Communication Team (Outstanding In-House Public Relations Team), Oldbury Power Station (Corporate Responsibility) and Gloucester-based 10 Yetis (Best campaign £10k and under) and Quedgeley’s Eventageous PR (Best Use of Media Relations).

Eventageous’s managing director, Rebecca Nicholls, said the award followed a successful PR campaign for the British Steam Car challenge.

A privately funded team of engineers spent 10 years perfecting a car to break the 100-year old world steam car speed record.
Rebecca said: “I am chuffed to bits.”

The South West RDA (Regional Development Agency) won the Crisis Communications, Public Sector and Best Publication categories.