Leeds PR students are being invited to compete for a coveted work placement at the London Stock Exchange and £1,000 prize money.

The Claire Mascall PR Prize, which has been established in memory of one of the PR industry’s most respected practitioners, is open to all third-year public relations degree students at Leeds Metropolitan University. In addition to the main prize, two runners-up will each receive £500 and work placement with leading PR consultancies.

Launched last year by her family in memory of Claire Mascall, who had a 35-year career in corporate relations, latterly as Head of Corporate Affairs for the London Stock Exchange, the Claire Mascall PR Prize aims to be an annual award for the University.

For the 2010 award is due to be launched in September when the judges will annouce the challenge for students to complete. 

The prize winner will receive a two week placement with the London Stock Exchange and support the communications team during their first quarter result announcement and the Annual General Meeting.  

John Wallace, Director of Corporate Communications at the London Stock Exchange said “We are pleased to be contributing towards this special award in memory of Claire.  The London Stock Exchange Group is committed to community outreach, particularly engaging with higher education establishments and promoting good communication. We look forward to providing useful experience for the competition winner.”

Claire’s eldest daughter, Charlie Canniff, comments: “My mother would have been delighted with the entries to the first awards last year and with a chance to work with the top PR team at the Stock Exchange up for grabs, we’re hoping for even hotter competition this year. The Claire Mascall PR Prize is all about well-researched and clearly targeted communications. We’re looking for substance and a clear demonstration of the power of PR to achieve measurable results.”

Professor Anne Gregory, Director of the Centre for PR Studies said: “The standard of entries for the inaugural Claire Mascall PR Prize last year was extremely high and we’re expecting even better this year. Work placement with the Corporate Communications team at the London Stock Exchange is an incredible opportunity and the prize money can make a substantial contribution to the winning student’s study programme.”

Last year’s Claire Mascall PR Prize winner was Katie Brown for her essay on the use of social media for not-for-profit organisations. In addition to the £1,000 prize money she was awarded work placement with the UK Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments. Runner up Sadie Edwards won £500 and placement with MCG PR and Julia Lumley won £500 and work experience with the Centre for Public Relations Studies at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Judges for the 2010 prize are Professor Anne Gregory, Carol Arthur, Chair of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire CIPR and Director of Northern Lights PR and Christine Mortimer, Director of MCG PR.

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