Communications with a company’s investors and shareholders as well as those who influence them has become a top priority for European corporate communications teams.

Since 2012, the Corporate & Financial Awards has set the industry-wide benchmark for excellence, creativity and effectiveness in corporate communications recognising both in-house teams and agencies. This year’s awards shortlist is one of the most well-rounded yet.

As the focus in the investor relations has shifted away from the annual report, companies are enacting more creative, integrated communications strategies that use the annual report as one piece of a larger programme. Thus, shortlisted entries in categories like ‘Best use of digital media’ and ‘Best management of corporate & financial media relations’ reflect a more rounded approach to corporate communications. Entrants in those categories include digital and traditional businesses and both public and private organisations.

Corporate reporting and digital communications still headline the corporate comms agenda, though. Categories recognising excellence in this area reflect the best work in British stakeholder relations. Yet, corporate reporting is also an area in flux at the moment. Regulatory and independent pushes to embrace a narrative or integrated reporting model have changed the way companies are communicating with investors. The Corporate & Financial Awards judging panel is comprised of experts in the field and recognised these trends throughout the judging process.

Additionally, medium-sized companies are becoming more aware of their responsibility to investors and are placing more emphasis on the annual report – both online and off. FTSE 250 and AIM/small cap companies have shown both a focus on and a creative approach toward corporate reporting, thus making those categories particularly competitive in this year’s Corporate & Financial Awards.

Andrew Thomas, publishing editor of Communicate magazine says “This year’s corporate and financial awards attracted a record number of entries. More importantly, however, the calibre of entry surpassed previous year submissions. Companies and their advisors are seeking innovative communications programmes, and are rising to the increasing challenge of engaging with the city and those who influence the city.”

The Corporate & Financial Awards is the leading European celebration of successful financial communication strategies. The programme honours those leading the way when addressing the City and its influencers as well as the internal teams.

Winners of the 2015 Corporate & Financial Awards will be announced on 7 July at a gala dinner at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square. To book your table, click here. More information table options can be downloaded here.

Specifics
Best corporate website: FTSE 100
Anglo American and Investis
SABMiller and MSLGroup

Best corporate website: FTSE 250
BTG and MerchantCantos
Jimmy Choo and Emperor
Lancashire Holdings and Black Sun
William Hill and Comprend
Best corporate website: AIM/Small cap

Rame Energy PLC and Jones and Palmer
Sweett Group and SampsonMay

Best corporate website: International/Unlisted
Autogrill
De Beers and Black Sun
Edison and Lundquist
Genesis Oil and Gas and Addison Group
Ingenico Group

Best printed report: FTSE 100
Aviva and MerchantCantos
Barclays and Fishburn
Experian plc and Accrue Fulton
Hammerson and Black Sun
Land Securities and MSLGROUP
Lloyds Banking Group and MerchantCantos
Sage and Black Sun

Best printed report: FTSE 250
Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC and Jones and Palmer
Henderson and Black Sun
Interserve Plc and Accrue Fulton
Lancashire Holdings and Black Sun
Ocado Group plc and Jones and Palmer
TelecityGroup and Black Sun
Unite Group and Luminous

Best printed report: International/Unlisted
Ageas
Cancer Research UK and Conran Design Group
Juventus and Lundquist
KPMG and Radley Yeldar
Mazars and SampsonMay
Pacific Basin Limited and Accrue Fulton
Royal London and Rare Corporate Design

Best printed report: AIM/Small cap
Chemring and Emperor
McColl's Retail Group and MerchantCantos
Partnership Assurance Group and Radley Yeldar
Shepherd Neame and The Team
The Cambian Group and SampsonMay
Xchanging and MerchantCantos

Best online report: FTSE 100
AstraZeneca and Conran Design Group
Compass Group and Conran Design Group
Land Securities and MSLGROUP
Legal & General Plc and nexxar
Rolls Royce and Conran Design Group
Vodafone and Radley Yeldar

Best online report: FTSE 250
Colt Group S.A. and Jones and Palmer
Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC and Jones and Palmer
Inchcape and Black Sun
Ocado Group plc and Jones and Palmer
Thomas Cook and Radley Yeldar
Best online report: International/Unlisted

BBVA and Comprend
De Beers Group and Black Sun
Telekom Italia and Lundquist
Best meeting

VTB Capital

Most innovative financial communications
Puma Energy and MerchantCantos
VTB Capital

Campaign/Strategy
Best M&A communications
Brookfields and Smithfield Consultants

Best IPO communications
Card Factory and MHP Communication
DFS, Emperor and FTI Consulting
Mortgage Advice Bureau and MHP Communications
Shawbrook Bank and Instinctif Partners

Most effective crisis communications
Co-op Bank and Lansons
Best use of a digital media

Revolution and Instinctif Partners
Tata Consultancy Services - Amsterdam Marathon
The Payments Council and Partners Andrews Aldridge and Engine

Best management of corporate & financial media relations
Begbies Traynor and MHP Communications
Co-op Bank and Lansons
comparethemarket.com and Smithfield Consultants
Economist Intelligence Unit and Grayling
Scottish Widows and Cohn & Wolfe

Best management of investor and analyst relations
Go-Ahead Group
VTB Capital
Best communication with overseas investors and/or media

National Settlement Depository

Best evalutation of a communications campaign
JLT Employee Benefits and Smithfield Consultants
unbiased.co.uk and Lansons