Recognises the best handling of a merger or acquisition deal from a communications perspective. The winning entry will need to show the steps it took to implement an effective comms strategy around the deal, including how it worked with other parties (eg: investors, employees and other stakeholders) and dealt with challenges along the way, including possible negative publicity. It would be a benefit if the entry can show how the comms strategy improved the client’s reputation after the deal.

Recognises the most effective launch of an over-the-counter drug. It can include communications with target audiences such as primary care departments, NHS budget holders, patient groups and specialist media as well as disease awareness and direct to consumer work. The objectives, strategy and method deployed should be clearly set out. The winning entry must demonstrate that the campaign met or exceeded its objectives. Evidence of original, creative thinking as part of the campaign would be a benefit.

Recognises the most effective launch of a prescription-only drug. It can include communications with target audiences such as prescribers, primary care departments, NHS budget holders, patient groups and specialist media as well as disease awareness and direct to consumer work. The objectives, strategy and method deployed should be clearly set out. The winning entry must demonstrate that the campaign met or exceeded its objectives. Evidence of original, creative thinking as part of the campaign would be a benefit.

Recognises the most effective launch of a healthcare product. This excludes drugs and food, but includes products linked to improving health, including vitamin products and products designed to tackle, for example, obesity, cigarette or alcohol addiction, or mental ill-health. The campaign launch objectives, strategy and method deployed should be clearly set out. The campaign can feature a number of different disciplines, including (but not limited to) media relations, content/social media activity and lobbying. The winning entry must demonstrate that the campaign met or exceeded its objectives. Evidence of original, creative thinking as part of the campaign would be a benefit. Please note: specific healthcare awareness campaigns, rather than product launches, should enter the "Best public health awareness campaign (excluding COVID-19)" category.

Recognises the best campaign to manage or promote awareness of a particular disease or condition (excluding the coronavirus). It can be aimed at the wider general public or at a more specific, targeted group. The campaign launch objectives, strategy and method deployed should be clearly set out. The campaign can feature a number of different disciplines, including (but not limited to) media relations, content/social media activity and lobbying. The winning entry must demonstrate that the campaign met or exceeded its objectives. Evidence of original, creative thinking as part of the campaign would be a benefit. The entry can come from the private, public or third sectors, or a combination. Please note: specific product launches, rather than healthcare awareness campaigns, should enter the "Best healthcare product launch" category.

Recognises the most effective proactive communications by a consultancy or in-house team, or a combination of both, in the healthcare/pharma sectors relating to the coronavirus pandemic. The objectives, strategy and method deployed should be clearly set out, alongside the impact of the actions. Due to the sensitive nature of this type of work, entrants may mark parts of their submission as strictly confidential and not for publication. Fifty per cent of the proceeds from entries in this category will be donated to a good cause related to the pandemic.

Recognises the most effective crisis management of an issue by a consultancy or corporate in-house team, or a combination of both, in the healthcare/pharma sectors relating to the coronavirus pandemic. The objectives, strategy and method deployed should be clearly set out, alongside the impact of the actions. Due to the sensitive nature of this type of work, entrants may mark parts of their submission as strictly confidential and not for publication. Fifty per cent of the proceeds from entries in this category will be donated to a good cause related to the pandemic.

Recognises the most effective management of an issue or crisis by a consultancy or corporate in-house team, or a combination of both, for an issue in the healthcare/pharma sectors that is not linked to the coronavirus pandemic. The objectives, strategy and method deployed should be clearly set out. Because of the sensitive nature of this type of work, entrants may mark parts of their submission as strictly confidential and not for publication.

Recognises the best healthcare/pharma campaign with a specific public affairs objective; for example, a change in law or new approach by a government or another public body. The campaign can feature a number of different disciplines, including (but not limited to) media relations, content/social media activity and lobbying. The winning entry must demonstrate that the campaign met or exceeded its objectives. Evidence of original, creative thinking as part of the campaign would be a benefit. The entry can come from the private, public or third sectors, or a combination.

Recognises the best use of media relations as part of a healthcare/pharma campaign. It could include reactive or proactive media relations activities, or a combination of both. Judges will be looking for evidence of how media coverage and media relations activities helped achieve specific goals, eg: changing public sentiment towards a company, selling more products, changing public behaviour. Entrants can show how media relations was used as part of a wider campaign that could include other elements, such as lobbying or advertising; however, the winning entry will be able to demonstrate how media relations specifically was crucial. The entry can come from the private, public or third sectors, or a combination.

Recognises the best use of social media or social media 'influencers' as part of a healthcare/pharma campaign. Judges will be looking for evidence of how social media and/or influencer activity helped achieve specific goals, eg: changing public sentiment towards a company, selling more products, or changing behaviours. The entry can come from the private, public or third sectors, or a combination. Entrants can show how social media and/or influencer activity was used part of a wider campaign that could include other elements, such as lobbying or advertising; however, the winning entry will be able to demonstrate how social media and/or influencer activity specifically was crucial to achieve outcomes (rather than merely social media analytics data). The idea must be PR-led, although we will not exclude entries that involve payment or other incentives to influencers; however, please detail these in your entry. For this award, we are defining a social media influencer as an individual or group that has become influential off the back of their own social media platform or platforms. It excludes anyone with pre-existing fame (eg: actors or sportspeople).

This award will be given for the most effective use of content as part of a healthcare/pharma campaign. The entry can come from the private, public or third sectors, or a combination. The objectives, strategy and method deployed should be clearly set out, alongside metrics on the impact of the content. Entry should include methods of how content was distributed and used to attract and retain audiences. Judges will be looking at the impact of the content beyond 'reach' (eg: number of views, likes etc) and towards outcomes (eg: changing behaviour, increasing sales).

This category is open to any consultancy for which healthcare and/or pharma comms accounts for the majority of its revenue. Judges will be looking for evidence of market share and financial growth at the agency, particularly in relation to healthcare/pharma comms. They will be looking at client list growth and client retention. Please give examples of the most effective work in healthcare/pharma comms undertaken by the agency in the past 12 months (maximum of five examples), including data to support the impact (eg: sales or share price lifts, amount of positive coverage etc). Evidence of a willingness to use innovative techniques and implement creative campaigns, where relevant, will be a benefit in the application. Agencies will also be commended for their dedication to diversity. Please outline the proportion of employees who are women, and who are black/Asian/or of other minority ethnic backgrounds, both across the company and in senior leadership roles. Please also outline any initiatives in place to encourage underrepresented groups, and information on the agency’s flexible working policies to help staff work part time.

Open to any in-house team in the healthcare/pharma industry. In your entry please include the number of staff employed within the team (split executive and support staff) and annual PR budget (broken down into areas of marketing activity directly under the teams control). The judges will look for evidence of success in executing campaigns or programmes during the period covered by the awards as part of an overall PR strategy. They will also look for cost-effective use of both in-house and external resources. Teams will also be commended for their dedication to diversity. Please outline the proportion of employees who are women, and who are black/Asian/or of other minority ethnic backgrounds, both across the team and in senior leadership roles. Please also outline any initiatives in place to encourage under-represented groups, and information on the team’s flexible working policies to help staff work part time.

This category recognises the best healthcare/pharma comms practice or division within an agency. Judges will be looking for evidence of market share and financial growth at the practice/division, particularly in relation to healthcare/pharma comms. They will be looking at client list growth and client retention. Please give examples of the most effective work in healthcare/pharma comms undertaken by the practice/division in the past 12 months (maximum of five examples), including data to support the impact (eg: sales or share price lifts, amount of positive coverage etc). Evidence of a willingness to use innovative techniques and implement creative campaigns, where relevant, will be a benefit in the application. Agencies will also be commended for their dedication to diversity. Please outline the proportion of employees who are women, and who are black/Asian/or of other minority ethnic backgrounds, both across the company and in senior leadership roles. Please also outline any initiatives in place to encourage underrepresented groups, and information on the agency’s flexible working policies to help staff work part time. If possible, please also apply this to the healthcare/pharma comms practice or division specifically.

Open to PR professionals in healthcare/pharma comms who have worked in the sector for no more than three years. Nominations are accepted from employers, who should include the details of the nominee’s career history and professional qualifications. Along with the submission, please attach a 200 word statement or short video from the person nominated, outlining why they feel they should win this award. Judges will be looking for: evidence of outstanding achievement in handling projects and campaigns; creativeness in relevance to brief and results; influence and contribution to the organisation and colleagues; and evidence of the nominee’s ability and willingness to extend their range of skills and expertise. Please note: the video does not need to be high production quality; it can be recorded using your smartphone. There will not be extra points given for high production quality videos. This is an opportunity for the nominee to express themselves and their personality within the entry.

This award will go to the agency-side professional in a leadership role who is judged to have achieved the most in healthcare/pharma comms in the past 12 months. Judges will be looking for evidence of exceptional client handling, use of innovative ideas and techniques, successful execution of projects and/or campaigns, and strong leadership qualities. Please give examples of the most effective project work in healthcare/pharma comms undertaken by the individual over the past 12 months (maximum of five examples), including, where relevant, data to support the impact (eg: sales or share price lifts, amount of positive coverage etc).

This award will go to the in-house professional in a senior role who is judged to have achieved the most in healthcare/pharma comms in the past 12 months. Judges will be looking for evidence of successful execution of projects and/or campaigns, use of innovative ideas and techniques, and strong leadership qualities. Please give examples of the most effective project work in healthcare/pharma comms undertaken by the individual over the past 12 months (maximum of five examples), including, where relevant, data to support the impact (eg: sales or share price lifts, amount of positive coverage etc).