Public affairs and communications management

Westminster Advisers are delighted to have been placed as Finalists at this year's CIPR Excellence Awards. Nominated for the Best Public Affairs Campaign for the 'Save Childcare Vouchers' campaign, the result recognises the campaign as one of the top 6 public affairs campaigns of the year and highlights the successful year the company has had.

The campaign, which saw Westminster Advisers work on behalf of the four largest providers of childcare vouchers in the UK, resulted in a 'u-turn' from the then Labour government.

The campaign was commended for its use of integrated public affairs and media relations as well as stakeholder relations. It gained cross party political support; generated 93,000 supporters on a Downing Street e-petition and sparked a rebellion by nine former government ministers.

Simon Moore, Managing Director of Computershare Voucher Services, the largest provider of childcare vouchers in the UK, said:

"The team at Westminster Advisers rapidly built a broad network of supporters to campaign against the government's plans to remove tax relief for childcare vouchers. Using a combination of grass roots involvement, case studies and statistical evidence WA generated media and political pressure that simply could not be ignored.  Their awareness of how messages should be presented to ensure maximum impact with the government was essential to the ultimate success of this campaign."