International award for Viva PR

Lancashire PR agency Viva has been awarded the Mark of Excellence by an international PR industry body.

The agency was one of only six shortlisted in the Small PR Consultancy of the Year category at the international CIPR Excellence Awards, held in London earlier this month. 

The agency, based on Burnley Road in Rawtenstall, has celebrated two consecutive record years, after initially losing around 40 per cent of its work as pandemic panic hit. 

Viva has gone on to secure £150,000 worth of new account business – including two NHS Trusts and three local authorities – and grown the team by three.  

The Viva ambition is to achieve £1m turnover by 2024 through a minimum of 20 per cent YOY growth, and despite COVID setbacks, it’s well on track.

Tony Garner, Viva’s founder and MD, said: “Making the shortlist in the CIPR Excellence Awards was already a huge deal, as these awards cover the whole globe.  

“We travelled down to London in hope rather than expectation, so to come away with the Mark of Excellence for all our work as an agency is just incredible.  

“Putting it all into context, just over two years ago — like many others in our industry — we lost 40 per cent of our work almost overnight when pandemic panic hit. 

“But we didn't just recover — we built and enjoyed a record year. Then followed it up with another record 12 months later. By focusing on core sectors that align with our purpose, values and mission — including public bodies that focus on healthcare, education and the environment – I’m confident we’ll achieve our targets for 2024. 

“I don’t think I’ll ever stop being proud of the Viva team, and this award is a great testament to their work. Throughout the pandemic they’ve worked really hard delivering for our clients and volunteering to support a number different charity and community projects.

“Being recognised for all our great work out there in the big, wide world from right here in Lancashire – it doesn’t get better than that.” 

The CIPR judging panel said: “Viva PR is on a transformational journey. It’s clearly an agency that’s focussed on making an impact, building a purpose, and looking after its people. The agency has had a wonderful year of growth with great campaigns and results. A very worthy winner of this Mark of Excellence.”