Member Article

Perfect 10 for Sheffield agency

Yorkshire social marketing agency diva creative has been shortlisted for 10 UK Public Sector Communications Awards – including the coveted Agency of the Year award.

The Sheffield-based company’s work with Leeds City Council and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to prevent healthcare-associated infections looks set to scoop at least one award, having been nominated in no fewer than five categories.

The project, called Prevent Infection, Protect Everyone, is shortlisted for Best Use of Evaluation or Research, Integrated Communications Campaign of the Year, and Social Marketing Campaign of the Year, as well as for the annual Insight Award. Its accompanying ‘Don’t be the One’ film is also nominated for Best Use of Video.

Sexual health campaign ‘HIV Hop’, which aimed to explain how HIV can and cannot be transmitted, is up for Social Media Campaign of the Year, Best Use of Video, and Low-budget Campaign of the Year. The comedy rap, shot and produced in Sheffield, has been viewed more than 16,000 times on YouTube.

Wrapping up diva’s shortlist success is public transport campaign Connect Tees Valley, which has been included in the Social Media Campaign of the Year category. Developed with Darlington Borough Council, the Facebook campaign achieved an 89 per cent increase in monthly unique website visitors.

Amanda Pearce, director at diva, said: “Being shortlisted for 10 different accolades is a huge achievement that demonstrates the tremendous success of our campaigns.

“Using research and a solid understanding of behaviour change theory is a key part of diva’s approach. It is one of the reasons why our campaigns have such a big impact and continue to impress judging panels.”

The 10 recent nominations are just the latest in diva’s award-filled year. The company has been shortlisted for eight other national gongs, winning three, is waiting to find out if it will triumph as Best Large Agency at the UK Social Media Communications Awards later this month, and is in the running to win a prestigious National Transport Award for its work in York.

Amanda added: “2013 has been our best year yet in terms of business growth, contract wins and award successes. diva is going from strength to strength!”

For full details of the UK Public Sector Communications Awards shortlist, visit www.publicsectorcommunicationsawards.co.uk/shortlist.htm. For more information about diva creative, visit www.divacreative.com or call 0114 221 0378.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mike Laskey .