The next generation of movers and shakers in PR were certified last night. The PR Academy's distinction graduates were honoured in a ceremony at the Groucho Club. Of the PR Academy’s 500 students this year, 45 graduated with a distinction. Of those, six were given a PR Academy award for their work.

Recipients of the awards work in PR and communications and most undertook the training course alongside full-time jobs. Qualifications of this sort have become increasingly important as university attendance has fallen. Though internships in PR are still in vogue as a means of entering the industry, qualifications such as the PR Academy’s allow new communicators a dual training/work experience.

Ann Pilkington, director of the PR Academy, says, “Studying for a professional qualification isn’t easy, particularly when you consider that most of our students are studying alongside a fulltime job. To graduate with a distinction in a real achievement and demonstrates the recipients’ strong commitment and desire to develop and progress within their chosen careers. They are all thoroughly deserving of special recognition and a PR Academy Award.”

Certifications in the PR Academy are awarded in various areas of public relations including internal communications, digital communications and public affairs. The awards encompass students who have completed both certifications and university-level qualifications through the CIPR and PR Academy’s courses.