The PRCA is launching an awards in 2014 that will celebrate excellence in public affairs. The awards will be launched in partnership with independent publishing company, Zetter’s Political Services, and Government Knowledge (GovKnow), a political events company.

The Public Affairs awards will be open to entries from agencies and consultancies, in-house, and independent public affairs practitioners, and will start to accept entries in mid-July.

PRCA director general Francis Ingham says, “The great work being carried out by the public affairs industry deserves to be recognised. The PRCA is proud to be launching the only dedicated public affairs awards in the UK, following on from the success of the PRCA Awards. I’d like to thank Zetter’s Political and GovKnow for their help and support, and Michael Burrell for agreeing to be our Chairman of Judges.”

The awards ceremony will take place at the Park Plaza Riverbank in London on 9 December. The awards will replace the public affairs category at the PRCA awards.

Lionel Zetter says, "Zetter's Political has now firmly established itself in the specialist world which is public affairs. I have felt for some time that whilst PR is very well served for awards, PA has always been something of a poor relation. This will now change: the combination of Zetter's Political, PRCA and GovKnow will deliver an awards competition and event which will effectively showcase best practice in lobbying throughout the UK."