This year, the Metropolitan Police had more than its share of crises to handle in order to keep the city of London running safely and soundly. Its work following the Westminster Bridge terror attack, and subsequently following additional attacks, earned it the honour of the PRCA Award for ‘Crisis and issues management,’ and the ‘In-house team of the year award – public sector.’

Head of internal communications at the Met Police, Yvonne O’Hara, said in an October interview, “We work in a very reactive environment, even physically where we sit – everyone in the directorate of media and communication sits together on one floor. As an example, during the Westminster attack, we were sitting at our desks and somebody was at the window looking out and watching people running down the Embankment, only to then receive a call to our press bureau informing us of the incident.”

The work earned it a standing ovation at the 6 November PRCA National Awards 2017. But there was more than enough applause to go around for the outstanding work celebrated at the awards.

Weber Shandwick worked with ActionAid UK on the ‘BrutalCut’ campaign which raised awareness of female genital mutilation. The campaign nabbed four awards including ‘Agency campaign of the year.’ It’s fellow ‘Campaign of the year’ winner on the in-house side was the Co-op for its ‘Trapped in a bubble – an investigation into triggers for loneliness in the UK’ campaign. It earned four prizes for that work as well.

Francis Ingham director general of the PRCA, says, “I believe that the UK PR industry is the most vibrant, the most professional, the most ethical in the world. And tonight’s awards are both a demonstration and a celebration of those facts.”

Representing that excellence is the ‘Mark Mellor, outstanding contribution award,’ bestowed each year upon the communications professional who best upholds the industry’s standards. This year’s recipient, Alison Clarke, has fought for diversity and equality in PR, led major PR firms and headed up PRCA networks for many years.

The full list of winners is as follows:

Automotive Award

Consultancy: Kaper – Vauxhall: Maddox Yellow

In-house: Confused.com – From Price Comparison to Motor Savings Expert

Broadcast Award

Consultancy: Mischief – Cup Story: the Broadcast Channel that’s Bigger than TV

In-house: Co-op – Trapped in a Bubble – an Investigation into Triggers for Loneliness in the UK

B2B Award

Consultancy: Harvard – Salmon: Black Fiveday Boom

In-house: NFU Mutual – Clean Eating: The Food Hygiene Ratings Report

Consumer Award – High Budget

The Academy – Domino’s: Delivering a Bigger Slice of the Conversation

Consumer Award – Low Budget

Well Hello – Sex O’Clock

Consumer Award – In-house
Highly Commended: Marks & Spencer – Christmas with Love – Mrs Claus

Winner: Loughborough University - #LboroFamily’s Golden Ticket

Corporate, Financial and Investor Relations Award
Consultancy: Lansons – Changing the Face of Investing – Launching Vanguard’s Direct to Consumer Proposition

In-house: NFU Mutual – NFU Mutual’s Food Hygiene Rating Report 2017

Corporate Social Responsibility Award

Consultancy: MHP Communications – Delivering Hope

In-house: Co-op – Trapped in a Bubble – an Investigation into Triggers for Loneliness in the UK

Crisis and Issues Management Award

Consultancy: The Romans – Neat or Nothing?

In-house: Metropolitan Police Service – Crisis Response to Westminster Bridge and London Bridge Terrorist Attacks

Digital and New Media Award

Consultancy: Weber Shandwick - #BrutalCut

In-house: Cifas – Data to Go

Employee Engagement Award

Consultancy: Hill+Knowlton Strategies – Do Nation Campaign

In-house: Aldermore

Health and Wellbeing Award

Consultancy: Red Consultancy - @DangerousSnail25 has a secret…

In-house: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) – Increasing Reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions Across Europe

International Campaign Award

Consultancy: Ogilvy PR – Hooking Up the World’s Most Eligible Bachelor

In-house: Boden – mini Boden and Roald Dahl

Media Relations Award

Consultancy: Taylor Herring – The Real Mr. Darcy – A Dramatic Reappraisal

In-house: Co-op – Great Things Happen When We Work Together

Not-For-Profit and Charity Award

Consultancy: Weber Shandwick - #BrutalCut

In-house: National Trust – Great Orme: The £1 Farmer

Public Sector, Value for Money Award

Consultancy: M&C Saatchi PR – Civil Aviation Authority: #400ftBritain

In-house: Seafish – Seafood Week 2016: Fishing for Success

Technology Award

Consultancy: Hope&Glory – Virtually Real

In-house: Polycom – Changing World of Work

Specialist Consultancy of the Year Award

Pegasus

International Consultancy of the Year Award

Weber Shandwick

Young Communicator of the Year Award

Jessica Warner, Lansons

In-house Professional of the Year Award

Emma Leech, Loughborough University

Consultancy Head(s) of the Year Award

Highly Commended: Richard Fogg and Paul Nolan, CCgroup

Winner: Louie St Claire, Harvard

Mark Mellor, Outstanding Contribution Award

Alison Clarke

Campaign of the Year Award

Consultancy: Weber Shandwick - #BrutalCut

In-house: Co-op – Trapped in a Bubble – an Investigation into Triggers for Loneliness in the UK

In-house Team of the Year Award – Private Sector

Barclaycard

In-house Team of the Year Award – Public Sector

Metropolitan Police Service

Large Consultancy of the Year Award
Golin

Medium Consultancy of the Year Award

Battenhall

New Consultancy of the Year Award

Well Hello

Small Consultancy of the Year Award

Missive