Bristol public relations firms, in-house teams and individuals were among the winners at the top awards for the region’s PR industry, with city agency Octane ending the night with a haul of five trophies.
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ (CIPR) West of England PRide Awards, which this year celebrated their 10th anniversary, showcase the cream of the region’s public relations agencies, in-house teams, individuals and campaigns. They are widely regarded as the most prestigious and rigorous awards of their kind. 
More than 220 guests attended the black-tie dinner when 23 awards were handed out to 13 recipients.
Octane won gold in the Internal Communications, Best Use of Media Relations, Best Use of Social Media and Best Event categories before topping off the night by being named as Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy in the South West.
Special awards were presented to Lisa Hale from Bristol's JBP PR & Parliamentary affairs and Shelley Fletcher-Bryant MCIPR, who were named as Outstanding Young Communicator and Outstanding Freelance Practitioner respectively. An Outstanding Contribution to CIPR South West award was presented to 2014 CIPR president-elect and chair of the CIPR South West group Sarah Pinch FCIPR.
Pictured: The Octane team celebrate at the PRide Awards
Sarah said: “The CIPR South West PRide awards is the stand out annual event for practitioners from across this region. It is a great privilege to host the awards ceremony and see some of the UK’s very best practitioners receive awards for their dedication and achievements over the last 12 months. My congratulations to all of those who were shortlisted at this year’s awards; they are a real showcase of the talent that we have here in the South West and the important contribution PR can make to organisations and businesses across our region.”
Bristol-based consultancy Mentor and Truro agency Minchin and Grimshaw sponsored categories at the event.
The full list of the 2013 South West PRide Award winners is:
Corporate and Business Communications – Creating a local hero – Geometry PR
Not-for-Profit Campaign – Moving a Hospital: The Royal Eye Infirmary – Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Internal Communications Campaign – Fridoids for TGI Friday's – Octane
Community Relations Campaign – The T-pylon project – Camargue
Public Sector Campaign – Moving a Hospital: The Royal Eye Infirmary – Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Low Budget Campaign – PR for Norland College – Highlight PR
Consumer Relations Campaign – Royal Mail's Golden Olympics – Royal Mail South West
Best Use of Media Relations – Colourology with Rainbow Club – Octane
Integrated Campaign – Polo on the beach 2013 – Barefoot Media and Watergate Bay Hotel
Best Use of Social Media – Dr Martens Stomp West – Octane
Best External Publication – Hop – Stagecoach South West (Astley Media)
Best Internal Publication – intouch – The Hills Group
Best Event – Dr Martens Stomp West – Octane
Issues and Crisis Management – Securing Justice for small businesses for bank mis-selling – Bully-Banks Ordinary People in Business
Best Use of Photography or Design – Sweet Eve Strawberry – PamLloyd PR
Regional Campaign of the Year – Building confidence in the bid – Geometry PR
Outstanding Freelance Practitioner – Shelley Fletcher-Bryant MCIPR
Outstanding Young Communicator – Lisa Hale, JBP PR & Parliamentary Affairs
Outstanding Small Consultancy – Barefoot Media
Outstanding In-House Public Relations Team – Gloucestershire County Council
Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy – Octane
Best Use of Planning, Research, Measurement and Evaluation – Polo on the beach 2013 – Barefoot Media and Watergate Bay Hotel
Outstanding Contribution to the CIPR South West – Sarah Pinch FCIPR
