NEWS | Leominster based PR company wins award

[left to right] Host Shappi Khorsandi, Becky George and Hannah Lloyd (Pinstone), Beverley Taylor and Sam Gayton (MSD Animal Health UK), Catherine Linch (Pinstone), Dr Fiona Stephens (VBD)

Herefordshire-based communications agency, Pinstone has won the coveted Veterinary Marketing Association (VMA) PR & Social Award.

It recognised the successful profile-raising campaign to get more veterinary placement students working on dairy farms and was developed in conjunction with Pinstone’s client, MSD Animal Health UK.

“Our award entry showcased how the advice-led and peer-to-peer media coverage worked in conjunction with digital, web and social media content,” says Pinstone managing director, Catherine Linch.

“We’re delighted to have the team’s hard work on MSD’s Disease? Not On My Farm! initiative awarded this accolade for the second time at the VMAs,” she says.

Key results evidenced strong web and social engagement and coverage in key farming media titles. It clearly sparked interest from farming and veterinary circles alike, showcasing the value students can offer farms and enticing those embarking on a veterinary career to take on the opportunity for hands-on experience.

Pinstone started working with MSD Animal Health UK in 2017, with the ambition to promote positive behavioural change with beef, sheep and dairy farmers, encouraging preventative herd and flock health.

“The fact Disease? Not On My Farm! has now won this award twice in five years is testament that sticking to fundamental communications principles, while adding creative flair to an existing PR campaign, can deliver fantastic results,” says Catherine.

Disease? Not On My Farm! is now a widely endorsed campaign in the industry, that continues to build credibility.