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Star Awards 2025: The Results

bright signals winners

And the winners are...

Development

Star School Award
Lochend Community High School, Glasgow

Aspiring Creative Star
A. Javier Escarabjal Pérez, Edinburgh Napier University

Star Marketing Student
Charlotte Jebson, University Of Strathclyde

Rising Agency Star
Lucie Swindale, Lewis

Rising Creative Star
Michael Evans, Guy & Co

Rising Marketing Star
Sam Porter, Heriot-Watt University

 

STRATEGIC CATEGORY


Brand Development

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
Mission accomplished: Opening the ranks of the Royal Scots Club Union Group Royal Scots Club   GOLD
‘Sharing The Love’ To Form a Lasting Bond with Scotland Leith National Trust for Scotland Carat SILVER
Making funerals less about ’You’, more about ’Them’. Story Golden Charter Flourish, The Media Shop BRONZE

 

Digital Strategy

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
Switching tactics in broadband marketing Guy & Co GoFibre Republic of Media GOLD
Building Trust to Tackle Fuel Poverty GRA AgilityEco   SILVER
Helping the Public to Stop! Think Fraud and protect themselves Story Home Office   BRONZE

 

Integrated Marketing

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
How IRN-BRU Turned a Shred of Hope into an Optimism Epidemic Leith IRN-BRU / AG Barr The7Stars and John Doe GOLD
Flipping the Switch: Sparking Trust with Half-Price Weekends Union Group ScottishPower Carat SILVER
Empowering the UK’s SMEs to Get Growing Rationale Bupa Business UK Stick + Twist Media agency, Lost Clock BRONZE

 

International Marketing

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
The Meningitis Flag Leith Sanofi Carat GOLD
Troll Boards Courage Skyscanner   SILVER
Skyscanner Skates to Victory in Canada Rebel & Thorn Skyscanner 5WPR,  Rebel & Thorn BRONZE

 

Marketing Planning, Research and Insight

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
Putting Dementia at the Heart of Planning Leith The Scottish Government Republic of Media, Stripe, JRS Research GOLD
First Bus Off Peak Rail MadeBrave First Bus Stripe PR The Media Shop SILVER
Sneaky Peek. Police Scotland Online Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Campaign Union Group Police Scotland Union & Spirit Media  BRONZE

 

Marketing in Society

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
Child Flu Vaccine - A Wee Scoosh Bright Signals Public Health Scotland   GOLD
24 Puppies Lane & Lane Media Scottish SPCA   SILVER
Harm Reduction Bright Signals SWG3   BRONZE

COMMUNICATION CATEGORY


Advertising

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
How IRN-BRU Turned a Shred of Hope into an Optimism-Epidemic Leith IRN-BRU / AG BARR The7Stars John Doe GOLD
24 Puppies Lane & Lane Media Scottish SPCA   SILVER
Turning the Tide Stand Caledonian MacBrayne Republic of Media BRONZE

 

Brand Experience

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
A Vehicle for Change Taking Galloway Cheddar and FareShare UK on a Scottish Road Trip Spey Media (part of Muckle Media) Galloway   GOLD
Oh No Blu didn’t: A Perfect Pantomime Partnership Muckle Media Radisson Blu Hotel Glasgow   SILVER
Skyscanner’s Advent(ure) Calendar   Skyscanner   BRONZE

 

Design

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
Rewriting the Script for ’Ewan’s Cut’ Leith Colin and Ewan McGregor in association with Isle of Arran Distillers The Whisky Auctioneers, CHAS, We Are Hydrogen GOLD
From the Cocoon to the Crown: How the Design of Bruce the Butterfly Union Group ScottishPower   SILVER
The Ultimate Advent(ure) Calendar   Skyscanner   BRONZE


Digital Communication

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
Turning Mum & Dad’s Bank into a Student Must-Have Union Group Bank of Scotland   GOLD
Mini MBA, Major ROI: Marketing a Marketing Course Always Be Content Mini MBA   SILVER
The Digital Refresh - How Highland Spring Poured Itself into Culture Sunshine The Social Agency Highland Spring Republic of Media, Juice, Flood & Partner BRONZE


Media 

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
Visible Value Republic of Media Scottish Water   GOLD
Game On Exhibition The Media Shop National Museums Scotland   SILVER
Joining the Journey to Dismantle Stigma Around Fitness to Drive Republic of Media The Scottish Government The Leith Agency,  Smarts Agency BRONZE


PR

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
The Ultimate Reunion Frame Skyscanner & Scottish Rugby   GOLD
Crowdfunding Campaign Story Shop Mossgiel Organic Farm   SILVER
Taylor Swift Masterclass John Doe Glasgow Clyde College   BRONZE

SECTOR CATEGORY


Financial and Professional Services

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
The Meningitis Flag Leith Sanofi   GOLD
Making Funerals Less About ’You’, More About ’Them’ Story Golden Charter Flourish,  The Media Shop SILVER
Winning Customers with Wit, not Wallet   FreeAgent Republic of Media BRONZE


Food

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
Bringing a New Consumer Chompion to Life Union Group Lightbody Ventures   GOLD
This is Gluten Freedom Lane & Lane Media Nairn’s   SILVER
How We Beefed up Sales for Donald Russell’s 50th birthday. Union Group Donald Russell Republic of Media  BRONZE


Drink

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
Rewriting the script for ’Ewan’s Cut’ Leith Colin and Ewan McGregor in association with Isle of Arran Distillers  The Whisky Auctioneers, CHAS, We Are Hydrogen GOLD
Water As Nature Intended Republic of Media Highland Spring Juice. Sunshine - The Social Agency SILVER
Under the Microscope – Tamdhu’s Dedication Magnified Guy&Co Ian Macleod Distillers   BRONZE


Public Sector

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
Child Flu Vaccine - A Wee Scoosh Bright Signals Public Health Scotland   GOLD
Warning Scotland’s Drivers: You Only Have to Lose Control Once Leith The Scottish Government Republic of Media, Smarts SILVER
Sneaky Peek - Police Scotland Online Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Campaign Union Group Police Scotland Union, Spirit Media BRONZE


Retail & Hospitality

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
Flipping the Switch: Sparking Trust with Half-Price Weekends Union Group ScottishPower Carat GOLD
Accelerating Skyscanner’s Car Hire Business Rebel & Thorn Skyscanner Special SILVER
Try, Convert, Win: The Digital Strategy Behind Rugbystore’s Record-Breaking Year Lane Media Rugbystore   BRONZE


Tourism Leisure, Culture & Sport

ENTRY  AGENCY CLIENT OTHERS INVOLVED AWARD
Harm Reduction Bright Signals SWG3   GOLD
The Ultimate Reunion Frame Skyscanner & Scottish Rugby   SILVER
The Royal Highland Show must go on Lane, Lane Media & Muckle Media RHASS   BRONZE

CHAIRMAN'S AND CHAMPIONS AWARDS


Pioneering Spirit Award

Gold: Let Her Grow | Dove | Edelman, Thailand
Silver: Mastercard | Where To Settle | Poland
Bronze: Ruh Fighting | The National Sport Of Kazakhstan | Kazakhstan


Chairman's Award For First Time Entry
Jack Ryan
 

Chairman's Award For SME
Numodo


Star Agency Of The Year
Bright Signals


Star Marketing Team Of The Year
Skyscanner


Inspirational Agency Leader Of The Year
David Craik, Bright Signals


Inspirational Marketing Leader Of The Year
Julie Keough, ScottishPower

Highlights

Development Category