And The Nominations Are…

Lucy Allen (above, second left), board director, Clarion Communications

As awards season begins, it’s hard not to feel bogged down in submissions when you’re already busy with client and agency work. But winning awards is great for business, and time invested in getting those entries right is time really well spent in my book. After picking up several high profile awards last year (have I mentioned scooping PR Week’s Campaign of the Year 2011?), we’re still - eight months on - savouring our success and experiencing tangible benefits to the business.

As well as being a great night out for everyone involved (if a little painful the next morning), the impact of winning so many awards has been three-fold:

• Business leads have been coming in thick and fast, proving awards are a powerful tool for attracting new clients AND providing reassurance to existing clients that they’re in good hands. The awards have significantly boosted our agency profile and helped us stand out from the competition.
• The excitement of winning was contagious and created a real buzz within the company, with a palpable sense of collective achievement and pride among staff.
• Recruiting great quality candidates for agency roles has never been easier, with potential candidates quoting our award wins as a key factor in their decision to apply for a job with us.

So fingers crossed for another successful awards year in 2012.  And definitely no grumbling when those all important entry forms need completing.