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Current students
Student flair lands Grayling Prize
PR students from Leeds Beckett University have won a long-standing prize that recognises professional communications skills after taking part in a competitive pitch responding to a ‘real-life’ agency brief.
Now in its 22nd year, the Grayling Prize is an annual initiative between Leeds Beckett University and PR agency Grayling to give Public Relations students the opportunity to establish their own ‘PR agency’ and respond to a live brief.
This year, the students were tasked with helping launch a new adult care home facility in the North West.
Small teams from the course worked throughout the Spring term to pull together creative, strategic responses to the brief, and the shortlisted teams pitched at Grayling’s Leeds office on The Calls, with winning team Flair PR securing the cash prize.
Flair is comprised of four final year students: Rebecca Selkirk, Tom Southern, Shara Teague and Abbie Wilson.
Team member Abbie Wilson said: “This has been our most insightful module assessment to date as we have gained first-hand experience of building a pitch strategy and bringing together all of our skills gained from 12 months on placement.
“The competition came at a crucial time for us as final year students, and we’re delighted that our hard work has paid off.”
Katie Eborall, Head of Grayling Leeds, said: “Each year we’re impressed with the quality of responses and the strength of the pitching from young people just starting out in their career.
“In another competitive year, the Flair PR team really stood out for us with their creativity and thoughtful response to the brief.
“They created an integrated launch strategy and presented it with real skill. The Grayling prize is a great way for us to connect with the talent of tomorrow for the sector, and previous winners have gone on to work for some of the most well-known and respected agencies in Leeds and London, as well as taking positions in big brand press offices, demonstrating the calibre of the teams.”
Shirley Beresford, Senior Lecturer of Strategic Communications, Public Relations and Marketing at Leeds Business School added: “Once again the students within the Public Relations course here at Leeds Beckett have shown great initiative and strategic thinking to come up with some outstanding work.
“The opportunity to pitch to a ‘real-life’ client is the perfect start point for their careers, adding to their professional qualities and experiences.”
This year, the students were tasked with helping launch a new adult care home facility in the North West.
Small teams from the course worked throughout the Spring term to pull together creative, strategic responses to the brief, and the shortlisted teams pitched at Grayling’s Leeds office on The Calls, with winning team Flair PR securing the cash prize.
Flair is comprised of four final year students: Rebecca Selkirk, Tom Southern, Shara Teague and Abbie Wilson.
Team member Abbie Wilson said: “This has been our most insightful module assessment to date as we have gained first-hand experience of building a pitch strategy and bringing together all of our skills gained from 12 months on placement.
“The competition came at a crucial time for us as final year students, and we’re delighted that our hard work has paid off.”
Katie Eborall, Head of Grayling Leeds, said: “Each year we’re impressed with the quality of responses and the strength of the pitching from young people just starting out in their career.
“In another competitive year, the Flair PR team really stood out for us with their creativity and thoughtful response to the brief.
“They created an integrated launch strategy and presented it with real skill. The Grayling prize is a great way for us to connect with the talent of tomorrow for the sector, and previous winners have gone on to work for some of the most well-known and respected agencies in Leeds and London, as well as taking positions in big brand press offices, demonstrating the calibre of the teams.”
Shirley Beresford, Senior Lecturer of Strategic Communications, Public Relations and Marketing at Leeds Business School added: “Once again the students within the Public Relations course here at Leeds Beckett have shown great initiative and strategic thinking to come up with some outstanding work.
“The opportunity to pitch to a ‘real-life’ client is the perfect start point for their careers, adding to their professional qualities and experiences.”