Business Link in the East of England was last night celebrating double gold glory at the East Anglia CIPR PRide Awards 2009, recognising public relations success and achievement in the region.

The black tie event at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Stansted, saw Business Link achieve the top award in not one, but two categories: Corporate and Business Communications and Best Newspaper or Magazine.

Finalists in the Chartered Institute of Public Relations' regional awards were subject to a scrupulous judging process, by a national panel of industry experts, in order to reward the best work in the area. Business Link’s ‘Open for Business’ campaign, led by Edwin Jones, to support rural pubs in the east of England, and The Know - the services’ client-targeted publication, compiled by Business Link’s Sarah Crush, were identified as outstanding in the Corporate and Business Communications and Best Newspaper or Magazine categories respectively; both securing gold awards.

Speaking at the event, Steve McAteer, Marketing and Partnerships Director at Business Link said: “Effective communication is vital in our organisation. Our clients rely on us to provide the information and support needed to help them start, run and grow their businesses. We are confident in the channels through which we communicate with SMEs in the region, but external acknowledgement for excellence in our field is both exciting and reassuring.

“We are extremely happy to have struck gold twice tonight; this is a great achievement for the communications and marketing team at Business Link.”

Kevin Bentley, Chair of CIPR East Anglia said: “A CIPR PRide Award is a hallmark of professionalism and success – it identifies, recognises and rewards the outstanding achievements of those working in the PR industry outside of London. To win a CIPR PRide Award is a tremendous achievement and I congratulate all of this year’s winners.”

For more information on the CIPR PRide Awards please visit www.ciprprideawards.com. To learn more about how Business Link could support your business, visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/east or call and speak to an adviser on 08457 17 16 15.