Solihull-based McCann Erickson took home three gold awards at the Midlands CIPR PRide awards including the coveted Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy gong.

The firm rubbed shoulders on the podium with a host of top firms from the region, including Rewired PR which took home the Outstanding Small Consultancy award.

Rewired’s Tara Tomes also received recognition for her work at the Birmingham agency and was handed the award for Outstanding Young Communicator.

McCann also picked up two gold awards for its client work – coming top in the corporate and business communications category for developing npower’s Business Energy Index, and winning the corporate responsibility category for Touchwood Shopping Centre’s ‘Your Space’ initiative – a dedicated area for locals to showcase a cause, service or talent.

Chris Arthur, managing director at the agency, said: “We are thrilled to be recognised both for the work we do for our clients and for being one of the UK’s leading consultancies.

“It’s been a challenging few years for everyone here in the Midlands communications industry, and it’s been no different for us at McCann, but this recognition is testament to just how hard we’ve worked.

“2010 has been a great year for us – we secured some fantastic new business, including Reed Recruitment and Saab, we’ve grown the team and this recognition in the Outstanding Agency category has been the icing on the cake.”

Meanwhile PR and design agency Seal notched up four awards at the annual event

The firm fought off stiff competition from five other entrants in the Best Campaign under 10K category to win gold for its work with Michelin, relaunching the classic series of children’s books, I-spy.

The agency dominated the Best Event category this year, picking up gold and silver for the opening of Walsall Manor Hospital and Walsall College’s Urban Festival respectively.

Ending the night on a high, Seal’s most recent addition to the PR team, graduate Sarah Stevenson, was awarded Student of the Year. Seal’s managing director Nigel Pipkin said: “To win every award we entered really reflects the outstanding quality of work from our fantastic team here at Seal.”

Golley Slater Public Relations took home the prizes for Integrated Communications and Best Use of Digital PR for its ‘Skoda unleashes the Yeti’ campaign.

The agency used social media to reach the target demographic of young families, using a fun and creative campaign based around a Yeti theme.

Willoughby PR took home the Consumer Relations gold prize for its work on Christmas at Warwick Castle.

The CIPR Pride awards recognise excellence and reward achievement in public relations and communications.

The Midlands event was held at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel.