Sussex public relations company Cobb PR has been judged among the best in the UK by winning a prestigious national award.

The firm's work on a campaign to stop the closure of a maternity unit at the Eastbourne District General Hospital won it a place at the finals of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Excellence Awards 2009.

Representatives of the 10-strong team at Cobb PR went before a panel of judges and in July were named in the top three of the Healthcare category at an award dinner in London. In total, more than 900 award entries were received by the CIPR across 27 award categories.

The company, which has offices in Eastbourne and Brighton, has supported the Save the DGH campaign for more than two years and Tim Cobb sits on the campaign committee.

Cobb PR’s entry into the Healthcare category of the Excellence Awards saw them beat more than 30 other public relations and marketing companies, including some of the larger London agencies.

Tim, Managing Director of Cobb PR, said: “It’s a real ‘David versus Goliath’ story. We knew we would be up against the bigger players in our industry, but we also knew we had a fantastic success story to tell.

“As a finalist, we got our minute of fame on stage and received an award,” Tim continued. “I'd like to dedicate our success in the CIPR awards to Save the DGH campaign chair Liz Walke and her amazing tenacity to never accept defeat.”

The Excellence Awards recognise and reward best practice in public relations throughout the UK and acknowledge personal and team achievement at the highest professional level. 

CIPR Director General Colin Farrington said: "We received a record number of entries this year. Over 900 submissions across the 27 award categories entered to win one of these highly esteemed awards.

“We all know that awards are profile raising gold for the finalists and winners, but they have significance for the industry as a whole too. Congratulations to those short listed on reaching this stage. Your success is a good result all round.”

Liz Walke said she was delighted at the success of Cobb PR. “I think it’s quite fitting that Cobb PR is a finalist. We didn’t have a clue about the media and how to approach them, so to have Cobb PR coordinating the campaign was a fantastic boost. I was impressed that the entire team working at the firm got behind the cause and supported us wholeheartedly. Their ability to help influence public opinion undoubtedly played a part in overturning the decision of the Primary Care Trust.” 

Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson also praised the work of Cobb PR. He said: “The PR campaign carried out by Cobb PR was hugely instrumental to the success in communicating with the public and getting the media behind us. The whole campaign, all the events and news stories, rallied such support in the community, that our voices could not be ignored by the panel and Health Secretary.”

Note to News Editors:

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations is the professional body for PR practitioners in the UK.  With over 9,500 members, involved in all aspects of the public relations industry, it is the largest body of its type in Europe. The CIPR advances the PR industry in the UK by making its members accountable through a code of conduct, developing policies for the PR industry, representing its members, and raising standards through education and training.  For further information, visit www.cipr.co.uk