TWO PR agencies from Suffolk and north Essex are among the finalists in the 2012 CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) Excellence Awards.

Quay West Communications, based at Coggeshall, has been nominated in the Low Budget category for its campaign “Bike Theft: The Movie” produced for client Bike Dock Solutions.

It involved a hidden camera crew being sent to a location in London to film public reaction to cycle theft, with the resulting moving having so far been viewed online nearly 27,000 times.

Genesis PR, based at Holbrook, near Ipswich, is among the finalists in the Best Automotive Campaign category for its continuing work for national client Ford Retail, part of the Ford Motor Company.

Ford Retail operates more than 40 dealerships, trading under names including Dagenham Motors in London and the South East, Heartlands Ford in Birmingham and Brunel Ford the South West, with Genesis providing PR support to build their reputations as businesses and as active members of their local communities.

Also among the finalists is Writtle College, based near Chelmsford, which is shortlisted in the External Newspaper, Magazine or Publication category for its magazine Arena.

Jane Wilson, chief executive of the CIPR, said: “To make the CIPR Excellence Awards shortlist is a statement of achievement for any individual or organisation.”

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on May 28.