Prova proves a point with CIPR win

WARWICKSHIRE-based Prova is celebrating after receiving the award for best automotive PR campaign in the UK at the national Chartered Institute of Public Relations Excellence Awards last week. The agency’s Rallyfest campaign for the 2010 Wales Rally GB was judged the best automotive PR campaign in the country. The highlight of the campaign saw around 12,000 people attend a free event in north Wales, generating almost £350,000 for the local area. Prova competed against shortlisted campaigns from big-name brands such as Citroën, Nissan, Tom Tom, Ford Retail and INRIX. Judges said Prova’s entry was a “classic case study in outcome-driven PR.” Prova’s St John White, who collected the award, said: “We’ve worked with Rally GB for a number of years now, developing new campaigns for every year of the FIA World Rally Championship event. The launch of Rallyfest last year was a particularly exciting highlight.”

Inky fingers at Universal McCann

Universal McCann (UM) Central, based in Solihull,  has won the £650k media account for Cartridge World. The leading provider of refilled printer cartridges has briefed UM to develop and implement a local media strategy for its 220 franchises, whilst also creating an overarching national campaign. The national campaign will include TV, radio, local press, D2D and online as well as the development of e-commerce initiatives.  The media strategy will be led by Universal McCann’s managing director, Kevin Murphy, who said: “It’s fantastic to be working with such a well known name on a fully integrated basis.” Lucie Ward, marketing communications manager for Cartridge World, said:  ‘’Finding the right balance between feeling like a small account in a large agency or vice versa is a challenge that most marketeers face. McCann seems to have their service levels balanced just right so Cartridge World can benefit from their personal service levels alongside big agency resources.” Universal McCann replaced Cartridge World’s previous agency, Drama.

NEC app launches at Gardeners’ World expo

A new mobile app for exhibitions developed by the NEC Group and software experts Black Pepper is being launched this week at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live exhibition and the BBC Good Food Show. Event organiser Haymarket is the first NEC client to use the new interactive show guide which is  available initially on the iPhone and the iPad. The app helps visitors to navigate their way around the event and find the latest exhibition information.  At the same time, it provides invaluable ‘live’ intelligence and communication channels for organisers and exhibitors, enabling them to interact more efficiently. Sue Horrigan, account director at the NEC said: “The app means visitors will have a live event guide in their pocket that gives real time data of what they are looking at and where they are going.” The App is powered by Companion,  software developed by Leamington Spa based technology company Black Pepper.