Northern Ireland’s PR and comms community is still buzzing after an exciting night at the inaugural CIPR Northern Ireland Awards held recently at the Europa Hotel. The leading celebration of excellence in public relations and comms across Northern Ireland, these awards gathered the best and brightest of our sector to celebrate creativity, strategy, and innovation in PR, communications and marketing campaigns and teams.

December has a funny way of becoming a mirror. Between endless TV specials, comfort films and some truly questionable late-night choices, we consumed a lot of festive viewing this year. This blog looks at the TV and films we consumed over Christmas – and what they accidentally taught us about PR, marketing and comms.

It’s Christmasssss…The festive season isn’t just about mince pies, fairly lights, and presents, it’s also the time when most brands go all out to capture our hearts – and our wallets – with unforgettable campaigns. No strangers to emotive brand content, Team Impact have ranked their favourite Christmas and holiday adverts over the years.

Christmas cheer is set to take over the village of Royal Hillsborough as the much-anticipated Christmas Market returns to The Dark Walk at Hillsborough Fort for two days this year.  Be sure to out the dates in your diary - Friday 12th December from 3.00pm to 9.00pm and Saturday 13th December from 12 noon to 6.00pm.

On 15th November, Belfast-born and globally renowned flutist Sir James Galway returned home to Belfast to be honoured with an honorary doctorate from Ulster University.

When I was six, I dressed up as a princess for World Book Day at school. “Can I be a princess when I grow up?” I asked my mum. She smiled, ‘Laura’, handing me my tiara, ‘You can be anything you want’. Well, mother of mine, with your boundless love and assured affirmations – oh boy, did you set me up for a fall from my castle.

AI and SEO are becoming increasingly intertwined, and this guide explores how AI is altering SEO, and provides insights and actionable solutions, so you can re-evaluate your digital marketing strategy.

ERA Aesthetics & Wellness Clinic, Newtownabbey has been making waves in the local wellness scene with its client-first approach, and cutting-edge treatments.

Marking 40 years of excellence in construction across the Island of Ireland, Glasgiven Contracts Ltd has formally opened its new Banbridge headquarters, representing an investment of £3 million (€3.4 million) in the company’s future.

Social media has become a key part of modern public relations, helping brands manage reputation, build awareness, and connect with audiences in real time. Today, PR and social media go hand in hand in any successful digital strategy.

Belfast City Council has joined 3T Power’s growing portfolio of clients based across Northern Ireland who are lowering their carbon footprints and supporting local economies by choosing renewable electricity generated locally in Northern Ireland.

One of the largest financial advice businesses in Northern Ireland, Milecross Financial, has been acquired by the Openwork Partnership. The acquisition is part of a strategic investment programme as the company continues its focus on growth. 

When it comes to brand communications that deliver impact and connect with audiences with clarity one long-standing principle still rings true - consistency is key. Discover how a strategic, streamlined approach to brand communications can help your brand stay aligned and consistent.

Northern Ireland 'cosmeceutical' startup and Queen's University Belfast spin-in Granlab has announced the establishment of state-of-the-art laboratory facilities in Belfast and the appointment of key scientific personnel, positioning the company as it advances its breakthrough dermatology skincare treatment towards commercialisation. 

Discover what brand success is and how strategic PR can boost your visibility, credibility, and long-term growth. Make headlines, not just noise.

The new report details how the Irish Government could slash residential heating emissions quickly, cheaply, without disruption to consumers and at zero cost to the taxpayer. This can be done by altering its proposed Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO) rates of 1.5% and 3% and introducing a 20% blend of renewable liquid fuels.

With AI continually diversifying, and a constant flow of new apps, features, GPTs and more available, the communications and marketing professionals in Northern Ireland and beyond are facing a mixture of opportunities and challenges. Whether we like it or not, AI is quickly becoming a key part of our day-to-day processes and strategies.  

How are we nearly half-way through 2025? This year is flying in and our team is using the nearly halfway mark to take stock on the trends and changes impacting brand communications across disciplines. With consumer behaviour changing and expectations ever increasing, strategic communications is an exciting place to be right now.

A leader in Northern Ireland’s corporate and private events industry for over 20 years, Callow Events has recently launched a new Destination Management division, making Callow Events Northern Ireland’s premier dedicated Destination Management Company (DMC).

Charlene Hill decided early in her working life that social work was a career she would like to explore. Following a 10-year career in social work in Scotland, she returned to Northern Ireland in 2019 and began working for Belfast Health and Social Care Trust where she specialised in family intervention work. Then Charlene heard about a new role at St Ronan’s College, Lurgan, as a school social worker.