The small in-house PR team received the awards for its contribution to the company, its focus on teamwork and strategy and also its crisis communications response during the winter when Storm Desmond caused the loss of power to more than 75,000 properties due to flooding.

In June the team also won ‘in-house team of the year’ at the annual Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) North regional awards for the work during Storm Desmond which included a 24-hour media response, with 32 news releases and 20 media interviews, resulting in doubling followers on social media and 1,117 pieces of coverage on the restoration effort.

Helen Sweeney, Customer and Corporate Services Director for Electricity North West, said: “I’m extremely proud of the way our team has pulled together through the difficult winter storms.

“These awards are a great example of teamwork and the fantastic results that can be achieved when putting customers at the heart of what we do by keeping them updated around the clock during difficult times and supporting the communities we serve.”

To read the case studies and feedback from the CIPR click here.