SUFFOLK-based public relations agency Project PR last night claimed the Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy title at the 2010 East Anglia PRide Awards.

Project, which is based at Holbrook, near Ipswich, also picked up two other gold awards, in the Community Relations and Consumer Relations categories, and a silver award for Corporate and Business Communications.

Pier Marketing from Felixstowe made it a double for Suffolk by being named Outstanding Small Consultancy, alongside a silver award in the Best Campaign Under �10,000 category.

The Outstanding In-house Public Relations Team award went to Essex County Council, with team member Lorna Gott taking gold in the Outstanding Young Communicator category.

The team also received two further gold awards, for Best Use of Media Relations and Best Event, and two silvers, for Public Affairs and Integrated Communications.

Norfolk County Council won three gold awards, for Internal Communications, Public Sector and Best Campaign Under �10,000, and Norwich-based Shorthose Russell received two gold awards, for Integrated Communications (for Bernard Matthews) and Best Website (for the Brudenell Hotel, Aldeburgh).

Other gold awards went to Ware Anthony Rust, Cambridge (Corporate and Business Communications); Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge (Best Use of Digital PR); Essex Scouts (Best Newsletter); Pinstripe PR, Blofield, Norfolk, (Not-for-Profit); North Norfolk District Council (Public Affairs); BGL Group, Peterborough (Best Publication); and Sarah Thomas Communications, Holt, Norfolk (Best Magazine).

There were three silver awards for Colchester-based Mosaic Publicity, for Best Use of Digital PR, Best Event (the Colchester Lecture) and Community Relations (with DP World London Gateway). Silver awards also went to the University of Essex (Best Publication); Colchester Borough Council (Outstanding In-house Public Relations Team); Tribe, Norwich (Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy); Jungle Public Relations, Yaxham, Norfolk (Outstanding Small Consultancy); the Fitzwilliam Museum (Not-for-Profit); Cambridgeshire County Council and NHS Cambridgeshire (Public Sector); Plain Speaking PR, Norwich (Best Use of Media Relations); and Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital (Best Magazine).

The annual East Anglia PRide Awards are organised by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and were held this year at the De Vere Dunston Hall Hotel, near Norwich. Rachael Paddick, chair of CIPR East Anglia, said: “The CIPR PRide Awards recognise and reward the thriving PR profession from across the UK.

“They help to celebrate the importance of demonstrating the value of what we, as public relations professionals, do and the positive impact this profession has on all aspects of business.

“Being named as a CIPR PRide Award winner is a fantastic achievement and I congratulate all of this year’s winners.”