Freelance consultants too often go unrecognised for the sterling work they do, overlooked as fellow team members bask in the glory of a successful campaign. So Xchangeteam created the awards in 2003 - so that the very best could be showcased and celebrated and your contribution recognised.

2008 marked the event’s fifth year - and proved to be the biggest and best so far! An eminent array of judges from the marketing, media and communications community selected eight category winners and one overall winner. The prizes were then handed out at an Awards ceremony held at the Design Council on 25th February 2009.

The categories this year were Advertising, Design, Digital Excellence, Editorial, Events, Marketing, PR & Communications and Public Affairs & Political Communication.

The prestige that accompanies these Awards guarantees a real boost to the profiles of the lucky winners.

2008 Winners:

Anna Cowie – Overall Winner and Winner of the Design category

Anna won the Award for developing the brand experience concept for Emirates’ Staff Headquarters.  Her role was to work with the Creative director and with the design team to create a rationale from the initial brief and to deliver unique concepts for each zone.  The presentation was a success, the client approved all the initial concepts and the installation has recently been completed.  

Bill Wallsgrove, the Overall judge said, “Anna deserves this Award because of her creativity, commitment, teamwork, desire to learn from her director on the project. Hers was the outstanding entry. She is clearly a team player, vital for any freelancer and was obviously highly motivated by her Creative Director and responding superbly to his direction. Anna’s experience and dedication shone through in her superb design work”

Commenting on winning the title, Anna said: “It is an honour to win this Award and to be appreciated for my work.  I made the choice to make freelancing a career rather than just a quick fix and have found it to be a fantastic way to share ideas, learn from some of the best in the business and develop my own creativity.”

Freelancer of the Year and winner of the Design category, Anna Cowie and Xchangeteam MD Mike Berry

Alex Goldberg – Advertising Category

Alex was brought in by a skincare client to provide a variety of creative concepts which the client loved and is still using today, nearly 12 months on from delivery. 

Bill Wallsgrove, Creative Director and founder of advertising agency The Big Idea and judge of the Advertising category said: "Alex was taken on for 2 weeks and stayed for 8 – usually a good sign. A sure sign of his success is that he came up with a creative, winning concept that now is in public view. His entry was well-presented and he comes across as having a great combination of enthusiasm, dedication and hard work. A great effort.”

Nicholas Ridley – Digital Excellence Category

Nicholas was one of five finalists in the Digital category which embraced activity from identity design and social networking through to blogging and e-mail marketing.

Neil Hamilton, Xchangeteam’s Digital Team Leader and category judge said of Nicholas’ entry, “Nicholas demonstrated great variety as lead digital designer for a new application for social networking site Facebook.  He not only directed video shoots, but also designed the interface and composited the effects all in a short space of time. In his own words ‘the application became the benchmark for social media applications on Facebook ...[and]... set a new precedent for social media’. A worthy winner.”

Digital Excellence category winner, Nicholas Ridley

Gill Harley – Editorial category

Gill is a former national journalist with 20 years experience in all forms of written communications and was one of 7 finalists up for the Editorial title.  Editorial freelancer Neil Rose was given a commendation for his work. 

Matt Potter, Group Editor for Digital at John Brown Media and judge of the Editorial category said: "The standard of entries this year was higher than ever; there are some great freelancers in the industry. Gill appears to have gone above and beyond in impressive style, taken a huge degree of initiative and invested real care and analytical skill (as well as editorial chops) in the job.”

Kristine Regan – Events category

Kristine has been freelancing for five years and was one of 9 finalists up for the Events title. 

Diana Watson, Director and founder of Bespoke Marketing and judge of the Events category said: "Kristine came in when the programme was behind schedule and ultimately delivered an outstanding programme of activities for the client. This project would be daunting to many, but she stepped quickly into the role, working across time zones and to tight deadlines. She added a high level of value to the project, taking a holistic view and demonstrated the highest level of flexibility and event management skills.”

Kristine also received a Commendation for the overall, cross-sector Award.

Events category winner – Kristine Regan

Jayne Barr – Marketing category

Jayne has been a freelance consultant for over four years and was one of 6 finalists up for the Marketing title.

Diana Watson, Director and founder of Bespoke Marketing and judge of the Marketing category said: "Jayne has demonstrated the tenacity, flexibility and deep understanding of marketing that we would look to see in the best of freelancers. What marked her out was her management of the internal client relationships, a holistic and high level of strategic marketing expertise. I would also like to congratulate her on the quality of her submission.”

Marketing category winner - Jayne Barr

Vikki Rimmer – PR & Communications category

Vikki, who was commended in the same category last year, was one of 11 finalists up for the PR & Communications title.  PR freelancer Sarah Treadwell-Jones was given a commendation for her work. 

The category judge, and last year’s PR & Communications winner – Rona Levin, said of Vikki’s entry, “The changes brought about by Vikki’s advice, coupled with her skill and creativity, enabled the her to deliver a high-impact media campaign on a level never-before experienced by the Spelling Society. The impressive quality of coverage has not only succeeded in reversing The Spelling Society’s image but also, crucially, sparked an on-going national and international debate on its core aims.  Vikki has left behind a strong, evolving PR legacy on which the organisation can continue to build.”

PR & Communications category winner – Vikki Rimmer

Ian Beaumont – Public Affairs category

Ian has been working as a freelance Public Affairs and Communications Consultant for more than 10 years and wins the Public Affairs category for the second year in a row.

Roger Majerski, Xchangeteam’s Public Affairs expert said, “For so niche an organisation as Bowel Cancer UK to punch so far above its weight is testimony to Ian’s brave new style of public affairs campaigning, integrating media relations, harnessing third party advocates and bringing powerful case studies before decision makers.”

Public affairs category winner, Ian Beaumont

Thanks to everyone who entered or nominated a colleague or friend and thanks also to this year’s media partners PR Week, Campaign, Marketing, MediaWeek, Brand Republic, Event, Revolution and Design Week and to our sponsors  CompanyThumbs, Chinwag, Freelance Advisor and Sourchthatjob.com. The search for the 2010 Freelancer of the Year starts soon, so if you’ve done great work as a freelance consultant or know someone who has watch this space. Next year is going to be even bigger and even better!

Winners and Commended Finalists

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