The PRCA DARE Awards recognise the rising quality of talent and hard work in the UK’s PR and communications industries. The regional awards recognise successful projects across the national landscape, with programmes in Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham and London. The ceremony welcomed a myriad of professionals from PR consultancies, digital agencies, in house communications teams and media owners amongst others. This year’s programme awarded 19 prestigious prizes to a mixture of deserving winners. As each project expressed a different element of industry success, the collective body of work showcased just how far PR and communications has progressed.

Over the course of the evening awards were presented in a mixture of categories, from small and large agencies of the year, to rising stars. Sponsored by award-winning creative content agency, Don’t Panic, the evening’s presentations were held in London’s Emirates Arena and hosted by Connor Phillips.

Successful projects included Frank PR’s work with MyVoucherCodes, which took home the winning prize in the ‘Digital and Social Media Campaign of the Year.’ London-based PR firm Hope & Glory also took home two awards in ‘Event, Launch or Stunt of the Year’ and the ‘Charity/Not for Profit’ award, showcasing its diverse client work which included IKEA and Marie Curie.

On the other side of the communications plateau, Essex Police’s work with Essex County Partners took home the ‘Public Sector Award,’ showcasing the programme’s diversity across both the PR and communications sector. The awards programme also included the ‘Rising Star of the Year’ award, which was given to Ella Roche, client director at the Honey Partnership.

Yet in addition to the melange of winners, the PRCA also announced its award for ‘Charity of the Year,’ gifting BAME charity, Taylor Bennett Foundation, with not only the distinguished accolade, but a member-sourced donation of £1,000 to the foundation’s tenth annual fundraising appeal.  

Francis Ingham MPRCA, director general of the PRCA, says, “Huge congratulations to all of the winners at this year’s PRCA DARE Awards South East and East Anglia. The standard of entries really impressed our judges, who had an extremely tough job in deciding on the winners.”