01 November 2017

Northern Marketing Awards 2017: The Winners and a Review

by David Prior

Over 400 people attended the Northern Marketing Awards in Manchester last night to celebrate and reward the region's marketing excellence.

The event at the Hilton Deansgate was held for a fifth year in association with Prolific North and Don't Panic Events and generous support from headline sponsor Click Consult.

Hosts Andy Crane and Emma Jesson returned to steer proceedings with their usual aplomb as a total of 19 prized purple 'N's were distributed to companies, organisations, institutions and agencies from every corner of the North.

Particular mentions should go to those double winners on the night, including Weber Shandwick Manchester for their 'Kevin the Carrot' Christmas campaign with Aldi, and Newcastle-based Drummond Central.

Best Small Agency went to Stoke-on-Trent's Plinkfizz, while the Best Large Agency gong returned to Macclesfield-based Stein IAS.

Thanks to category sponsors Better Placed - who also sponsored a Snapchat filter for the night - and Vision One.

And we'd also like to record our appreciation for all the outstanding judges who helped to select the winners - their comments are included below.

The Northern Marketing Awards 2017 - The Winners

(in association with Click Consult)

Best B2B Campaign: Stein IAS - The Good Clean Food Campaign

The judges thought that this a highly effective integrated campaign rooted in insight and generating great results. Very well planned and a strong, worthy winner.

Also nominated:
3ManFactory & Innova Solutions - When You Don't Have Mark Felix
cap hpi - A content-led approach to building an international brand
MC2 - The Elephant in the Boardroom
Refinery - Kitchen Fitters Wanted prospect campaign
ResponseTap - The Martech Toolkit - Is your marketing technology stack fit for purpose in 2017?
Savvy Marketing - J20 Golden Straw
Stein IAS - Cliché Killers

Best B2C Campaign: Weber Shandwick Manchester & Aldi - Kevin - the carrot that stole Christmas

A campaign that got itself noticed and talked about among the clutter of Christmas ad campaigns. It played nicely into the Aldi image of undercutting the competition and stealing the limelight from their competitors.

Also nominated:
Catapult PR - Champion For A Day
Drummond Central - Zinsser. What's Your Problem?
Everton Football Club - 2017-18 Season Ticket Campaign - All for one, one for all
Liverpool Football Club - Pure LFC
Markettiers & Manchester Playtime PR and BBC Worldwide - #NationalHuggingDay on Trump's Inauguration
Northumbrian Water - Dwaine Pipe - Love your Drain Blockage Reduction Campaign
PHD - Rubicon Spring grabbing the water market by the mangoes by PHD and BMB

Best Food & Drink Campaign: PHD - IRN-BRU Xtra It makes no sense by PHDLeithTalon

The judges thought that this was an amazingly creative and efficient campaign which engaged and stuck it to the big boys. The campaign worked well and generated fantastic results.

Also nominated:
e3creative - Fixture Release Match Day Hospitality
iMP - Wall's Ready Baked Tour
Outwrite PR - Giving wholesalers food for thought
PHD - Rubicon Spring grabbing the water market by the mangoes by PHD and BMB
Savvy Marketing - Savvy Marketing Bud Light Launch
Savvy Marketing - Savvy Marketing J20 Golden Straw
Tile Creative - Tattu Leeds

Best Not-For-Profit Campaign: The Riverside Group - Hardwick House - Housing the Homeless

The judges were very impressed with this campaign, clear objectives were set at the beginning, implemented throughout and were successfully achieved. A very strong campaign on a low budget.

Also nominated:
Bluestorm - Encouraging Women into Engineering
Creative Concern - You Can Foster brand development and foster carer recruitment marketing campaign
Everton Football Club - Home Is Where the Heart Is
K2L #SittingRightWithYou - Yellow Sofa Domestic Abuse campaign (GMP)
Republic of Media - Launch of the Scottish Children's Lottery
South Yorkshire Police - Everyone has a role to play in tackling domestic abuse
Up North Communications - Ouseburn Farm Crowdfunder Campaign

Best Professional & Financial Services Campaign: Click Consult & Chill Insurance - Insuring Ireland's Future

The judges felt that this was a well-executed campaign that engaged creatively to drive some amazing results. An overall great campaign which really impressed the judges.

Also nominated:
Cameron Wells Communications - Integrated FTSE 250 Campaign
Jump Agency - Bags more response for Co-op Insurance
MEC Manchester & Swinton Insurance - Britain's Most Dangerous Roads for Motorcyclists
Petal & Co. - Time is the most valuable asset for Creechurch Capital
SQ Digital & Comparecover.com – #NationalWalkingMonth

Best Property & Construction Campaign: Galley Properties - The Landlord Game

The judges commented on how this campaign was a strong 10/10 on creativity, and they really liked how Galley Properties are doing something different to make themselves stand out in the industry. A real, worthy winner.

Also nominated:
90 Degrees - St. Johns the Tower and South Village
Axonn Media - Building Brand Awareness for Bruntwood
Content OD - Increasing brand engagement reducing CPA and growing leads and conversions for Strata
Cool Blue Brand Communications - Happy Homes from Little Acorns Grow
Roland Dransfield - Venturous Builds
SLG - Polypipe Smart House Tour
Wienerberger & ilk Agency - Solar Made Simple

Best Retail (On and Offline) Campaign: Weber Shandwick Manchester & Aldi - Kevin - the carrot that stole Christmas

The judges felt this was a well-executed campaign which clearly outlines the audience, objectives and measured evaluation. A very impressive campaign.

Also nominated:
Home - The Best Things in Life Are Freemans
Liverpool Football Club - Pure LFC
Loaf Creative - #GetChristmassy
Maynineteen - Manchester Fashion Weekend Style Spinner
Mediaworks and Freeze Pro Shop
Savvy Marketing - Poundland Epsom Derby Sponsorship
Savvy Marketing - William Hill Showstopper Windows

Best Sport Campaign: Liverpool Football Club - Pure LFC

The judges thought that this was a great campaign for an international brand. The campaign was well set out and had a strategy that connected with its audience emotionally resulting with some fantastic results.

Also nominated:
Havas Media Manchester - The FA Cup #NoGutsNoGlory
Parallax - This Ones For You David Guetta (Featuring 1 Million Fans)
The Foundry Communications - Prestone BRC Sponsorship - Top it up. Bring it on.

Best Tourism & Leisure Campaign: Catapult PR - Champion For A Day

The judges thought that this was a really strong campaign, it had a big impact and ran on a very limited budget. A campaign with clear goals, budgets and a great understanding of their target audience and how to reach them. A worthy winner.

Also nominated:
Accord Marketing - Britannia Hotels Digital Campaign
Digitaloft - Returning an Industry Leader To The Top Of The Search Engines Via Google Penalty Recovery & Research-Based Content Marketing
Mosquito Digital & Manchester Airport - Manchester Airport App and iBeacon
National Museums Liverpool - Lady Lever Art Gallery South End development
Bateaux London & Reckless - Setting Sail in The Right Digital Direction
Rule 5 & Blackpool Pleasure Beach - An Icon Is Born
Visit Manchester - Manchester's Christmas Campaign 2016

Best CSR Campaign: Drummond Central working with Up North Communications - Saving Ouseburn Farm from closure

The judges felt that this was a solid campaign built on research and evaluation which informed pre, during and post the campaign launch. The judges were impressed with the great results which were achieved.

Also nominated:
Catapult PR - Champion For A Day
Everton Football Club - Everton in the Community - The Blue Mile
Zut Media - Charlottes Story

Best Low Budget Campaign (Under 50k): theEword - A Digital Masterclass MBA Recruitment for Manchester Metropolitan University

The judges thought that this was a fantastic campaign, clear objectives were set and very impressive results were achieved. A stand out campaign created on a small budget.

Also nominated:
Big Partnership - A sell-out Summer Evening Cruise Programme for Merseytravel
Catapult PR - Champion For A Day
K2L #SittingRightWithYou - Yellow Sofa Domestic Abuse campaign (GMP)
Northumbrian Water - Clean, clear and great tasting
Plinkfizz - Closer than you think
Refinery - Launching the Make It Magnet Project Card
Up North Communications - Ouseburn Farm Crowdfunder Campaign

Best TV Commercial Campaign: Drummond Central - Introducing the Money Guru

The judges felt that this was a very engaging and creative campaign. The strategy was clear and it was obvious that a lot of research was carried out, this was an overall successful campaign which generated fantastic results.

Also nominated:
PHD and BMB - Rubicon Spring grabbing the water market by the mangoes

Best Direct Mail Campaign: Workshop Marketing - The Key to your IT Woes!

The judges thought that this was a nice, creative campaign which used targeting and personalisation to get the results that they set out to achieve. A clear, successful campaign and a strong worthy winner.

Also nominated:
Konductor Limited - Splendid Marketing

Best Outdoor Advertising Campaign: Media Agency Group - Bermuda Tourism - Vehicle Recognition

The judges thought that this was a strong, innovative campaign. The Media Agency Group have clearly defined objectives and know their target audience well. The campaign has been well-executed and achieved very impressive results.

Also nominated:
Ocean Outdoor - Beyond Aintree Grand National Live on The Streets Of Manchester & Liverpool
Ocean Outdoor - From the Sofa to the Streets the BBC's New Broadcast Channel
One Agency Media Ltd & Key 103 - Bauer Radio
PHD - IRN-BRU Xtra It Makes No Sense By PHDLeithTalon
Republic of Media - Tennents Lager - Here To Serve Outdoor Campaign
Signature Outdoor - The Glossing of Every Day Life Augmented Reality In Manchester Dooh

Best Social Media Campaign: British Red Cross - Don't Stop At 999

The judges were blown away by this campaign and its great results. British Red Cross & myclever Agency have been successful in engaging and educating students on first aid. A stand-out, worthy winner.

Also nominated:
Click Consult & Oxfam - Dressed by The Kids 2017
Co-Op - #Reverseadvent
Cunning Plan Marketing - Hallmark Hotels Pet Weddings
Havas Media Manchester - BBC Three Clique
Mosquito Digital & Vileda - Please Clean Responsibly with Vileda
Outwrite PR - Engineering A Career in Construction
South Yorkshire Police - Dark Nights Thriller

Best Use of Research or Insight Campaign – Sponsored by VisionOne: K2L #SittingRightWithYou - Yellow Sofa Domestic Abuse campaign (GMP)

The judges thought that this was a tough topic to approach but K2L have done a great job and created a brilliant campaign which is smashing targets. The creative of a yellow sofa and statements is very powerful and effective.

Also nominated:
Ash.Tv - Section-24 Tax Issue
E3creative & Morris Homes - Performance
Everton Football Club - Season Ticket Campaign 201718 - One for All
Firework Public Relations - Amplifying Business Insight from The Advanced Trends Report 2016

Best In-House Team: South Yorkshire Police Engagement Team

The judges were very impressed with this team, they have had to manage significant issues in a pressured environment and have handled all of this in a strong, professional manner. The team have pulled together and achieved some great results.

Best Small Agency (Up to 30 Employees): Plinkfizz

The judges felt that this was a well written entry, the judges were impressed with the best set of objectives, strong and rational approach and the solid, simple case studies. Plinkflizz are an agency head and shoulders above the rest.

Also nominated:
Buffalo 7
Content OD
Hitch Marketing
Parallax
Roland Dransfield
The Right Agency
User Conversion

Best Large Agency (31 or More Employees): Stein IAS

The judges thought that this was a stand-out entry and are very impressed with the work that Stein IAS are doing to help develop their staff, demonstrating great culture within the business.

Also nominated:
Click Consult
Drummond Central
Finn PR
MC2
Mediaworks
seventy7
Weber Shandwick Manchester