The Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) held the inaugural DARE North PR awards event in Leeds last night. The event, which took place at the Queen’s Hotel, celebrated the top PR agency and in-house professionals from across the North in eight categories.   

More than simply an awards show however, the event saw Grayling’s UK and Ireland CEO, Alison Clarke, delivering a keynote speech. Commenting to a sizeable conference audience, Clarke said, “Today, above-the-line and below-the-line are merging. There is no line anymore, and so PR people must realise that this new world requires them to speak in many different voices to many different publics.”

Other speakers included the head of Stockport County Council, Ian Ratcliffe, and PRCA director general, Francis Ingham.

At the awards themselves, the most successful companies were Weber Shandwick and Wolfstar, with two wins apiece; Weber Shandwick for the Live, Launched and Loud and Technology and Trade awards, Wolfstar for the Social Strategy and Effective Engagement awards. Elsewhere there were also two awards for Havus UK, who were successful in the Research & Results and Marketing, Media and Measurement awards.

See the full list of winners below:

Social Strategy

Winner: Wolfstar for LCF

Research & Results

Winner: Havas UK for Return of the Leigh Toaster Cheese

Innovation & Integration

Winner: Acceleris for RAM Tracking

Marketing Media & Measurement

Winner: Havas PR UK for Pets at Home

Live, Launched & Loud

Highly commended: Cicada Communications for National Insect Week

Winnner: Weber Shandwick for Zip World Snowdonia

Campaign Challenges

Winner: Acceleris for A Perfect Storm

Effective Engagement

Winner: Wolfstar for LCF Men

Technology & Trade

Joint winner: Shrewdd Marketing for Leafnut

Joint winner: Weber Shandwick for Sealed Air