The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has honoured the industry’s finest campaigns, teams, and professionals at its 41st annual Excellence Awards, with Cowshed securing the biggest award of the evening: UK PR Consultancy of the year.
Over 400 PR and comms professionals joined magician and presenter, Ben Hanlin, at the Royal Lancaster London to celebrate the best in work in PR over the last 12 months.
Up against some of the UK’s largest and most well-known agencies, Cowshed came out on top for its consistent growth, progressive benefits, impressive client list and commitment to DEI. Cowshed is a Cardiff based, full-service PR and Creative agency, founded by Vicki Spencer-Francis in 2014. With over 30 staff, Cowshed is regularly recognised as the most awarded agency in Wales (PR Week) working with clients across B2B, B2C, third sector and Government.
In the last six months, Cowshed has also won five national awards for its BOG STANDARD campaign for phs Group and Prostate Cancer UK to make the provision of male incontinence bins the norm; and Project Pinpoint, a campaign for South Wales Police to encourage people to report anti-social behaviour. Other clients include Vattenfall UK’s Pen y Cymeodd Wind Farm and Cerebra, the national charity supporting children with brain conditions.
Vicki Spencer-Francis said: “In the first years of the agency, I would sit at home and watch the winners announced on Twitter, wondering if we would ever get there – and here we are. We don’t have the benefit of strong London agency connections and aren’t in the bubble of the London industry buzz, so it seemed unlikely we would ever win an award like this, but I’m so pleased that the work we do, the clients we support and the team we have surrounded ourselves with have been recognised. They are all exceptional.
“Personally, I’m delighted that a female owned, independent agency from Cardiff has made it – representing Wales on the biggest stage in our industry.”
The CIPR judges said: “Clearly, work with meaning runs through this consultancy. The strategy and actions of this agency are exemplary, and its commitment to DEI and autism awareness sets a high benchmark for the industry. A worthy winner.”
