Oct20 8

On Winning Young PR Professional

So I won Young PR Professional of the Year at the PR Week awards last night.

It was a fantastic evening, tinged only by the fact that 33 Digital didn’t win New Agency of the Year. I’m sure 33′s time will come again.

I picked up the PR Week brochure writing up the awards as I walked out the door. It was nice to see a write up on what I’ve been up to in the 3 years since I graduated and got my first job in PR, as well as see the quality of the other shortlisted PRs – Luke Alexander and Louise Lloyd were even nice enough to congratulate me on the win.

Reading through the write up, there was a pull out quote which really flattered me:

So, in a typically self-effacing way, I’d like to take a moment to thank all the people who have supported me over the past year at 33 Digital and through Bright One, as well as those who congratulated me over the various online communities I’m part of.

Firstly, big thanks to Drew, Phil and the rest of the team at 33Digital, as well as Laura, Luica, Tania, Zoe, Linda, Jon, Ruth and all of the volunteers and supporters of Bright One. Also to the PR Week team, especially Pete and Kate.

Thanks to those who congratulated me on Twitter:

@JazCummins, @madejadomuelta, @SamLynas, @luica, @Sharon_Chan, @DanielCastles, @jwarnette, @ACrispix, @beckshoneyman, @WolfstarPR, @Liberatelloyd, @tommalcolm, @hotwirede, @Rainer81, @louisianna, @Sarahinthemini, @amyronge, @tomnixon, @antonia_k, @GilesB, @anoushasakoui, @EmilyJG, @simonapps, @theredrocket, @CarliR6, @dutchPaul, @sesp, @Danny_Glam, @neilgrayshon, @lurkmoophy, @litmanlive, @RachAllen, @othernonsense, @behindthespin, @spoonerf, @RobmDyson, @DianeGarfield, @StuFirePR, @NavigatorNic, @SianySianySiany, @socialbusiness, @Sammyps, @UKTJPR, @lauratosney, @jopkins, @davidjmclare, @StuWragg, @bmcmichael, @amanda, @michaelcooper, @Helennow, @stevebridger, @wadds, @DomW, @jedhallam, @steveheyes

And on Facebook:

Elizabeth Yeates, Chris Applegate, Anna Carlson, Jessica Lyons, Nicola Arnold, Damien, Clarkson, Daniel Castles, Lucy Welland, Ivana Farthing, Karina Galiano-Nussbaumer, Richard Cooke, Colin Hindson, Kate Matlock, Tom Welland, Kate Bevan, Jay D Clark, Renate Nyborg, Amanda Rose , Karina Galiano-Nussbaumer, Ivana Farthing, Lucy Welland, Daniel Castles, Damien Clarkson, Becky McMichael (love the knee slide!), Jed Hallam (thanks for the hug), Laura Aimee Lewis, Ruth Walters, Tom Bunting

And too many email congrats to mention…

(Sorry if I missed anyone out)

I guess it would be remiss of me if I didn’t use this as a chance to let you know what else I’m up to, so:

If you’re a PR interested in volunteering to help charities with their comms, please do take a moment to check out Bright One
You can sign up to the Bright One monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/Qvmf
If you’re a PR student or graduate, you should definitely come along to Impress London

Or drop me an email to say hi

8 Comments

StuartW | October 20, 2010 at 10:11 am

Hearty congratulations Ben!
Tapio Liller | October 20, 2010 at 11:05 am

Congrats, Ben! Well done!
Rob Dyson | October 20, 2010 at 11:48 am

*smiles* …and so young.. ! Man, well done again – you’ve got superhuman boundless energy to have achieved so much in such a short time. Great to know you and to have (great for us!) pulled you onto the Board of CharityComms with me. Looking forward to working with you more (and more). Easy, Rob
Vicky Browning | October 20, 2010 at 12:09 pm

Ben – steady on. You’re showing everyone else up.Many congrats.Vicky
Michael Litman | October 20, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Peter Sigrist | October 20, 2010 at 1:49 pm

Great work Ben. I owe you a man-hug. Also, @wadds is truly now twice the person of anyone else, I see in your list
Ben Veal | October 20, 2010 at 2:29 pm

Congratulations Ben – well deserved.
jon_bedford | October 20, 2010 at 3:21 pm

Congrats Ben – totally and utterly deserved. Don’t know how you do it!