Award for ‘I Love MCR’ campaign

THE campaign to promote Manchester and foster civic pride in the wake of the riots last summer, has won a prestigious award.

The high profile ‘I Love MCR’ campaign, led by Marketing Manchester, has been given a Purple Apple marketing award by the British Council of Shopping Centres in the best use of media relation category.

The judges said the campaign was “a shining example of professionals joining forces with the emotions and activities on the street with fantastic results.

“It was a strong, co-ordinated campaign with clear objectives and the short turnaround and quick thinking created great PR for the city in extremely negative circumstances.”

Andrew Stokes, chief executive of Marketing Manchester, said: “The ‘I Love MCR’ campaign was ‘Team Manchester’ at its finest. In partnership with Manchester City Council, Manchester Arndale and Cityco, we were able to show the world what real Mancunians were all about.

“The response was overwhelming, with over 350 businesses supporting the campaign and social media figures that topped 21,000 on Facebook and 46,000 on Twitter. The media coverage alone was valued in excess of £750,000 and we are delighted that the BCSC judges rewarded that success.”