At a glittering ceremony held last night (Thursday) at St Georges Hall, Liverpool, the NFU won three awards – one more than it was short-listed for. The communications team won Magazine of the Year with British Farmer & Grower and its digital work to support flooded farmers won Social Media Campaign of the Year. TAF also created an unexpected and uncontested award specifically for the NFU: Crisis Management of the Year for consistently showing excellence in representing the members’ interests on a range of difficult issues over the last twelve months.
The awards, launched in 2002, recognise and reward the achievements of Trade Association Forum members and are the only awards of their kind in the UK.
NFU director of communications Fran Barnes said: “I am absolutely delighted that the work the NFU has done over the last 12 months has been recognised by the Trade Association Federation in these awards.
“This is a much-deserved recognition of the professionalism, commitment and dedication of everyone across the NFU in the work that we do for our members.
“Our social media presence has made a huge impact in galvanising support on a variety of key lobbying issues over the last 12 months and will become increasingly important for us as an organisation in the future. The TAF recognised that the role our social media campaign played in supporting farmers who were flooded this year demonstrates the power of digital communications in achieving quick and effective impact making a real and tangible difference. Our magazine ‘British Farmer & Grower’ provides an unparalleled national and regional insight into the latest farming news and policy updates and is delivered to every member each month direct to their doorstep.
“There have been a number of challenges in farming which the NFU has led the way in responding to over the past 12 months and the Trade Association Federation has recognised this by awarding the NFU with a special award for Crisis Management of the Year.
“I am really pleased that the TAF have chosen to highlight the massive commitment the NFU has made in representing our members across all communication channels over the last twelve months in this way.”
The NFU’s success continued last night at the Professional Publishers Association (PPA) Awards at Grosvenor Lane, London. NFU’s #studentfarmer magazine came second for Front Cover of the Year and NFU designer John Cottle was short-listed for Business Designer of the Year.