Book of the Night Awardsview Book of the Night Homepage
Specialist Consultancy of the Year
WINNER
Taylor Herring PR
Many of the past year's 'water-cooler moments' have come courtesy of Taylor Herring. Husband and wife team Cath and James launched the firm in 2001; it is now omnipresent.
In the past 12 months it has handled all promotion for Robbie Williams, managed PR for The Apprentice, launched Big Brother's Golden Ticket campaign, publicised Piers Morgan's best-seller The Insider, launched Jamie Oliver internationally and helped turn Richard & Judy's Book Club into a publishing phenomenon.
This has helped raise agency fee income by 47 per cent to £1,684,987, while profitability has risen by 56 per cent. With a summer working-hours scheme and cash rewards for 'healthy living', staff retention is above 80 per cent. The Guardian recently ranked the agency seventh in its Media Guardian 100, and the Financial Times said 'the agency wields a great deal of power in the world of popular culture'.
This year the agency launched a computer games division and picked up the Lara Croft, Tomb Raider account from Eidos.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment
Its list of current clients - Carlsberg, Coca-Cola, the Football Association, Holsten Pils, Orange, Reebok and Travelex - explains why M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment is 'highly commended'.
Why is the list impressive? Because, as a result of the ban on tobacco sponsorship, the company lost its sole client (Benson & Hedges for its sponsorship of the Jordan Formula One team) in 2004. Two years on, instead of one full-time member of staff, it has 18. With its focus on the exploitation of existing sponsorships, the agency is firing on all cylinders.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Virgo Health PR
Last year's winner, Virgo Health PR, has continued to prove that its third year in business is no extended honeymoon period.
In 2005, the agency's fee income rose by £750,000, producing year-on-year growth of 44 per cent.
Business opportunities were offered by all ten of the top UK pharmaceutical companies and Virgo Health took its competitive pitch win rate to '20 out of 21'.
The company even had the rare luxury of being able to turn down business - in 2005 it declined 28 pitch invitations.
FINALISTS
Lansons Communications
Regester Larkin
Weber Shandwick Healthcare
Click here to view the interview with the winner
