2017 PRWeek Awards

There is something special about black tie events and award ceremonies. There is something very special about a black tie awards ceremony that brings your own industry – and clients and customers, of course – all together. So imagine just how special it felt to be at this year’s PRWeek awards – the annual black tie ‘Oscars’ for the UK PR and comms industry – with all of the above, and a genuine, bona-fide, 24 carat rock star in the shape of The Who’s Roger Daltrey handing out one of the gongs.

Yes, this year’s event was special. I suspect most awards ceremonies – this side of the BRITS, at least – are not graced by the presence of a rock legend. Daltrey was there to welcome - with a choice few words - his long-standing PR Alan Edwards into the PR Week Hall of Fame. He also – inadvertently – showed just how much people are grateful for the work the best in our industry do.

The awards also bring that work to life. Personally, I really enjoyed the reminders of the best campaigns of the last 12 months – from Aldi’s Kevin the Carrot (Weber Shandwick) to Lynx’ Giving British masculinity a new voice (W) – as they got top awards. It also made me think about the campaigns I’d missed too - which is often a sign that I'm not in the target audience, I hope, rather than a sign I'm missing out!

Although not a winner this year, Cision didn't miss out either. Not only did our new EMEA&I President, Abe Smith, make to the stage to hand out the award for best in-house team, he had the pleasant surprise of handing it over to our valued clients at English Heritage for the work they've done in 2017. Now, that's what I call a win-win!