UNISON Scotland Communications Awards 2014/2015

The judges this year were Danny Phillips, Communications Officer, Jane Carolan NEC and John Stevenson, Chair of the committee.

They found the awards enormously difficult to judge this year.

So difficult that the judges couldn’t agree and for some categories we had to go to that thing we don’t tend to do much in Scotland – A vote!

This was because the difference between the entries was so close with different bits appealing to different judges for different reasons.

It’s a long way of saying all of the entries had really strong points and no one should be disappointed at losing out.

So a good starting place is to congratulate all the entrants for the work they do – especially when we know so much communications work is done in activists’ own time.

Best printed publication

The Communications and Campaigns Gold Award went to a lively newssheet with great headlines that has been at the root of building a brand new joint Health and Local Government Branch Scottish Borders Public Services Branch, editors Campbell Hogarth and Shirley Burrell.

The Silver Award went to a well laid out magazine that covers all the main issues for members and got bonus points for its frequency Police Staff Scotland, editor David Malcolm

The Bronze Award – sponsored by the TC Branding Group – went to a branch with the best designed magazine that makes great use of local and national news. The feature on austerity is great example of using Scottish resources. The award goes to Aberdeenshire Branch, editor Morag Lawrence.

Best online presence

Special mention in this section goes to the social media campaigning by Police Staff Scotland but such was the competition that they just missed out on an award.

The Gold Award sponsored by the committee went to a new site from a not so new branch which has an eye-catching design, a host of information and good use of video. The Gold Award went to Dumfries and Galloway Local Government

The Silver Award sponsored by Thompsons Solicitors went to a very well designed and well thought out website with lots of useful information for members. The Silver Award goes to Stirling Local Government Branch

The Bronze Award sponsored by Lighthouse Financial went to a new website that is crisp and clean with lots of useful information. The bronze award went to the University of the West of Scotland Branch

Best Campaign awards, sponsored by UiA

This year we judged the campaign entries and recruitment entries together because they were all really about recruitment.

UiA’s Gold Award goes to a campaign that used the key issue of housing and young people to reach out and promote the union, using genuine research, street campaigning, great materials and a major recruitment pay off. UiA’s Gold Award goes to UNISON Scotland Young Members

The Silver Award goes to the best planned out and evaluated campaign. In an object lesson in building on an issue – this one was the social work contempt of court issue - the branch went out on a programme of visits to social work workplaces using that issue to engage staff and recruit members and contacts. UiA’s Silver Award goes to Aberdeenshire Branch - See entry form

The UiA Bronze Award went to a campaign that used great graphics and harnessed Facebook and twitter highlighting cuts but also valuing what members do. The award went to the Makingitwork campaign from Police Staff Scotland

Special Recruitment Award

The Liverpool Victoria Recruitment Award this yearwent to a branch that harnessed the Lock holiday pay case to recruit 200 members which is a huge success given the size of the branch. The award went to Gas Branch Scotland

Thanks again to all who entered and for all the work that you do.