News: The Independent Impact 50 Awards (UK): Stand up and be counted!

In early December, independent issues, crisis and reputation specialist, Rod Cartwright of Rod Cartwright Consulting and Nigel Sarbutts, founder of the The PR Cavalry, announced the launch  of the new Independent Impact 50 Awards.

The Independent Impact 50 will provide a much-needed showcase for independent UK PR and communication practitioners who lift others up, guide clients and industry colleagues on emerging best practice, and support their professional development.

Acting as the definitive guide to the leading lights in independent practice, it will also provide a unique snapshot of this crucial sector, whose industry commitment, influence on client success and contribution to our sector’s professionalism has been ignored for too long.

Any independent UK practitioner, sole trader or micro business with two or fewer full-time employees can self-nominate and provide testimonials from clients or industry colleagues, which help justify their inclusion in the inaugural list.

Submissions to be included in the 2025 list can be made via the entry page on the main website and entries close at 23.59 GMT on 31 January 2025. You’ll find guidance on entering, including a detailed FAQ.

Selection of those to be included in the inaugural awards will be conducted by a big-hitting panel of judges – chaired by Rod Cartwright – drawn from major brands, professional bodies, independent practice and other industry players, using a structured scoring process.

The programme has the enthusiastic backing of both the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the PRCA as industry partners. PRovoke Media is the initiative’s media partner and the scheme’s headline commercial sponsor for 2025 is 72Point.

The Independent Impact 50 is also working with Socially Mobile as its charity partner, and the programme was delighted to fund the last two places in Socially Mobile’s 2025 cohort. That partnership is part of the Independent Impact 50’s industry contribution and an advance thank you to the generosity of the judges for giving up their time for free.

Socially Mobile is the not-for-profit PR school founded and run by Sarah Waddington CBE CDir ChartPR and Stephen Waddington, which supports and inspires public relations practitioners across the UK to increase their earning potential.

Any independent UK PR practitioner whose impact, commitment and contribution deserve to be recognised is encouraged to enter. The scheme has been designed to showcase excellence, not seek perfection; to celebrate a whole constellation of independent stars, not pick a single ‘winner’; and to acknowledge industry generosity and commitment, not purely campaign success.

Written by: Editor