Communiqué Communications Consultancy of the Year

Judging criteria:

The judges will be focusing on the following areas when scoring your entry. Write your entries accordingly.

Business strategy (40 points)

• Evidence of clear business strategy and of positioning of the agency within the marketplace
• Evidence that the consultancy has delivered against its business strategy
• Evidence that the consultancy has operated in accordance with its vision and values

Operational (or internal) expertise and success (30 points)

• Financial performance
• People management and development strategy and record in attracting and retaining staff
• Results achieved with resources available

Client satisfaction and success (40 points)

• Evidence of successful communications programmes (or work undertaken) during 2017
• Quality of third-party client and stakeholder feedback
• Client and brand retention and satisfaction
• Evidence that work has contributed to enhancing the reputation of the consultancy’s clients and/or the broader industry

Bringing your entry to life on judging day (20 points)

• Clarity & succinctness clear, precise coverage of key points to back-up your submission without embellishment
• Support of your company substance/culture

The judges will be basing their first round scores on the criteria above. Based on these scores, the shortlisted agencies will be invited to attend judging on 24 May 2018. Following presentations, the judges will score based on the final criteria above and these scores, along with those from the first round, will be combined to produce the winner.

This category is open to any communications consultancy, agency or group working in the UK or European healthcare environment with more than 20 members of staff employed as account handlers within the Healthcare Team, who are focused in the field of public/professional relations and/or public affairs.

Emphasis should be placed on the consultancy achievements within the period covered by this year’s awards.

Submissions must be accompanied by a fully completed Consultancy Award Key Information form (which can be found at the end of the entry form).

Entries should be accompanied by authorised references from at least one (maximum three) client(s) and key stakeholder(s). All references must be supported by full contact details and should be submitted via email alongside your entry submission and completed Consultancy Award Key Information form.

Entries must include: 

• A print quality colour photograph of the company or team
• An additional two-page document elaborating further on the information contained within your original submission. Should your consultancy make it through to the interview stage, this second elaboration document will be sent out to the judges prior to the interview day to provide further in-depth business information. If you prefer, you can prepare this after notification on 11 May, but it is required prior to 17 May.

You must have entered at least one Healthcare Communications Awards category. You should highlight your entries for the year in your submission and include them within your box of supporting materials

Shortlisted entrants will be invited to attend a short presentation with an independent judging panel on Thursday 24 May 2018 at the Royal College of Physicians, London NW1. Invitations to present to the judging panel will be sent no later than Friday 11 May so it is advisable for up to four members of the team to hold the date open until then. You may use slides or other materials in your presentation, which should last no longer than 10 minutes and enhance your entry. Following your presentation the judges will ask questions relating to your submission, business performance and the healthcare industry.

Suggestion from the judges: In order to best support your financial statements, bring along a member of your finance team.