Pressures on city and financial communications teams have increased with the influx of cyber security issues, crisis management, the typical challenges of M&As and IPOs and a shift toward a more digital business. Those that not only meet those challenges, but succeed in the face of pressure have received commendations at this year’s PRCA City and Financial Awards.

On Thursday last week, the winners were celebrated at the Merchant Taylor’s Hall in London at the third annual ceremony which recognised excellence in all areas of corporate public relations.

Francis Ingham, PRCA Director General, says, “The standard of entries at this year’s City and Financial Awards has been incredibly impressive. It has never been truer to state that the UK’s City PR industry leads the world as a powerhouse of fantastic communications.”

Hudson Sandler LLP received two commendations, one for client work on the Quiz plc IPO and one for client director Emily Dillon who won the ‘Rising star of the year award.’ The ‘Professional of the year’ prize was bestowed upon corporate communications director at the Ardonagh Group, Kelly-Ann Knight. In this year’s prize for ‘Best annual report,’ FleishmanHillard Fishburn showed its longtime annual reporting prowess with a win for its work with Standard Chartered. drp exhibited success in live events with its work for Nationwide, winning the 'Best banking communications campaign award.'

The full list of winners, including Domino’s Pizza, Newgate Communications, Lansons and more, is below.

Communicate's seventh annual Corporate & Financial Awards is open for entry. To submit your work, click here.

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Full list of winners:

Best M&A or Communications in Support of a Transaction Award

Newgate Communications: The Acquisition of Imagination Technologies by Canyon Bridge

Best IPO Campaign Award

Hudson Sandler LLP: Quiz PLC – Advising Quiz on a Successful IPO

Best Banking Communications Campaign Award

drp: Nationwide Building Society ‘Our BIG Event’

Best Insurance Communications Campaign Award

Teamspirit Public Relations on behalf of Zurich UK: Zurich: The Changing World of Saving

Best Strategic Communications or Corporate Brand Campaign Award

Headland Consultancy: UBS Billionaires Insights: Setting the Global Wealth Agenda

Best Crisis Communications Campaign Award

HSBC: Fighting Financial Crime

Best Social Media Campaign Award

Third City: For the ABI: #IPTsUnfair

Best Annual Report Award

FleishmanHillard Fishburn: Standard Chartered

In-house Team of the Year Award

Domino’s Pizza Group

City Agency of the Year Award

Lansons

Rising Star of the Year Award

Emily Dillon, Hudson Sandler LLP

Best City Journalist/Blogger Award

Ben Woods, the Press Association

Outstanding Contribution Award

David Buik, Core Spreads