The shortlist for the Public Relations Consultants Association’s (PRCA) 2014 DARE Awards has been announced.The DARE Awards, a celebration of outstanding work by regional PR agencies, with category winners from the five main regions of the UK, is now in its second year.

Today, PR agencies outside of London have grown in recognition, as resources have been made available that have allowed them to operate on the same levels as London-based agencies. Regional PR agencies specialise in working at the local level as they can work within communities to offer clients a chance to extend their reach across local stakeholder groups.

PRCA director general, Francis Ingham says, “The standard of entries for the DARE Awards has been fantastic – our judges have seen some really innovative, creative campaigns. The awards evenings are going to reveal a lot about how PR is moving forward throughout the UK.”

One of last year’s winners of the DARE Awards South West and Wales region was Hungerford based agency, HRSM, for its campaign ‘Union Jacks High’ to promote the Barbary Horse Trials. The campaign coincided with the Diamond Jubilee weekend and consisted of a photo story of a racehorse painted with the Union Jack. Launched by the regional agency, the campaign received national coverage from publications such as the Daily Mail and the Sunday Telegraph.

This years categories include: 'Campaign challenges award', 'Consumer relations award', 'Corporate, financial and stakeholder relations award', 'Digital and social strategy award', Live, launched and loud award', 'Media, marketing and measurement award', 'Public sector and third sector award', 'Technology, trade and B2B award', 'Consultancy of the year award', and 'In-house team of the year award'. 

The winners of the DARE Awards will be announced in five regional conferences in Scotland and Northern Ireland (29 May), the South West and Wales (5 June), the Midlands (12 June), the North (25 June) and the South East and East Anglia (3 June).

This year's judges are from a variety of sectors and include Lord Black from Telegraph Media Group, Alex Aiken from the Cabinet Office and Alison Clarke from Grayling, among others.

For the full shortlist click here.

To read more about regional PR, see the cover story in the new issue of PRCA Now by Communicate on your iPad.