The University of Sunderland is celebrating once again after scooping ‘Digital Campaign of the Year’ at the 2018 North East Marketing Awards.
The success comes just months after the University’s Digital Content Team clinched Gold at the National Heist Awards – dubbed the Oscar’s of the higher education sector – in recognition of the website, which plays a critical role in attracting new students as well as showcasing the institution’s Digital First Initiative.
This time the team, part of the Marketing and Recruitment Department, working with partners across the university, won for their campaign: Reimagining the University Website, beating off strong competition from organisations across the region.
Held at Biscuit Factory in Newcastle, the North East Marketing Awards recognises excellence within the fields of marketing, digital and PR from all industry sectors.
Awards judge Geoff Phillips, of Canvas Marketing, who presented the University team with their award, described the campaign as a great example of “embracing better practice, brilliant innovation, getting a great insight into audience engagement, adopting strong video technology, supported by a massively brilliant content strategy”.
He added: “The reason why this team’s submission stood out was the personalisation of the campaign, there was very much a conventional mind-set that the team got themselves into in a very competitive sector, and they managed to deliver a fantastic return. What also stood out was their passion for their customers and stakeholders, ultimately overcoming lots of challenges to achieve a brilliant campaign.”
Judith Green, the University’s Marketing and Recruitment Director, commented: “I am truly delighted that the University of Sunderland’s web project won Digital Campaign of the Year at the new North East Marketing Awards. We did well to take the main prize in such a competitive and broad category, and the standard of entries was extremely high.
“This is the second major award in 2018 for our new web development project, we also won Gold in the HEIST marketing awards in July.”
Emma Cottle, Digital Content Manager, added: “I couldn’t be more proud of what the team has achieved over this past year.
“To win this award on the back of the Gold Heist award is truly remarkable and down to the dedication and hard work of all those involved across the University.
Their drive and passion for the campaign is what has led to its success being recognise by marketing industry professionals.
“Our students were always at the heart of our digital campaign which is what constantly drove the team forward and develop such innovative solutions to achieve the aims of the strategy.”
As well as landing a Gold Heist award for the Best Website in the summer, our University also clinched Gold for our Best Postgraduate Student Recruitment Initiative, and took the Silver for ‘Marketing Team of the Year’.
Heist recognises the most hardworking HE marketing teams in the UK.