Shortlist

After an intense day of judging, we are pleased to officially announce the shortlist of finalists for the MPA Inspiration Awards 2025.

It has been fantastic to see the boundaries once again pushed in terms of quality and content, as well as seeing many new faces getting involved.

Your shortlist is as follows:

Campaign Categories

Best Digital Campaign

  • Mobsta, Notorious Communications & CrownOmni-Channel for Home Improvers
  • Mobsta, Notorious Communications & Chester Zoo Collaboration Creates A Roaring Success
  • IF. From 0 to £1/2 Million in just a Tik
  • Republic of Media Bee Network: Tap to the Future
  • Reach Solutions, Universal McCann & VW Reach & VW Dynamic Creative Solution
  • iProspect Elizabeth Arden Lead-Gen Magic
  • Carat UK, Mail Metro Media & AO Tech That Makes Life a Byte Better
  • PHD Manchester PHD MCR + Takis: Face the Intensity
  • iProspect DFDS’ Journey with AI-Powered Demand-Gen

Best Creative Campaign

  • News UK Manchester The Times Whisky Guide: A Perfect Blend
  • EssenceMediacom North From Tired Dad Jokes to Real Talk
  • Channel 4 Sales for Monzo Skip the Awkward
  • Jam The Pawfect Rebrand

Best Media Campaign

  • News UK Manchester WBD: Weapons of Business Difference
  • Channel 4 Sales, Carat Manchester & Storylab for Co-Op Funeralcare Celebrity Send Off
  • Republic of Media Protecting Pensions with FSCS
  • Wavemaker North From Northern Hero to National Icon
  • Carat UK & Nerds Unleashing the UK’s Senses
  • dentsu X & Cetaphil Gen Z Gold: Cetaphil Rocks MTV EMA Stage
  • Wavemaker North Transfer your skills
  • Edison Media Ltd “Here to Win” with Paddy The Baddy
  • Wavemaker North & Mail Metro Media Jet2holidays – The Fashion of Travel

Best Sales Team Campaign

  • Mobsta, Notorious Communications & Crown Omni-Channel for Home Improvers
  • Channel 4 Sales, Mail Metro Media & EssenceMediacom for Skipton Building Society Helping the Nation Make Their Move

Best Integrated Campaign

  • EssenceMediacom North From Rugby Boots to Bike Tyres
  • News UK Manchester Jet2: VIP Holidays Take Off
  • Channel 4 Sales, Carat Manchester & Storylab for Scottish Power Scottish Power’s Amazing Green Spaces
  • Reach Studio, Notorious Communicatons & Crown Trade Euro Thrash
  • Reach Studio, Running Total Media & Manchester City FC Manchester City – Make Your Debut
  • Carat UK, Global and Holland & Barrett Strong For Life: One Moment, Big Impact
  • Wavemaker North Chocomel Hot – A launch with a bang
  • PHD Manchester JWPS Goes Full Festive in Edinburgh
  • STING FILMS® Marriott Bonvoy ‘Where can we take you?’

Best PR/Social Campaign

  • EssenceMediacom North From Backlinks to Brand Buzz
  • Wavemaker North #KeepingValentinesClean
  • Smoking Gun Nemesis Reborn: Back with a vengeance
  • Channel 4 Sales & Wavemaker North for RemingtonMy Hair Journey
  • IF. Freshpet – Fuel the Feeling
  • Jam Raisin’ the bar on savings
  • Jam Showing our Pride for Manchester
  • Jam UGC Unleashed
  • iProspect Scroll-Stopping Viva La Juicy
  • PR Agency One & Hongqi Repositioning Hongqi in Europe
  • PR Agency One & Henbe Northstowe Neighbours
  • PHD Manchester Takis: Face the Intensity

Specialist Categories

Best Animation

  • MightyGiant Dreams Beds
  • Refinery The shape of things to come
  • STING FILMS® Marriott Bonvoy “Where Can We Take You?”

Best Podcast

  • FareShare Greater Manchester Food Stories Podcast
  • Bloom North The Blooming North Podcast

Unique Categories

Big Bang Award

  • TBWAMCR Homelessness is Spiking
  • Carat UK, Global and Holland & Barrett Strong For Life: One Moment, Big Impact
  • Reach Solutions, Notorious Communications & SpaMedica SpaMedica owning Manchester with Reach
  • Carat UK & Global Manchester for Greggs Turning the South … North

Collaboration Award

  • MightyGiant, Gas Music & re:production Dreams Beds
  • Mobsta, Notorious Communications & Chester Zoo Collaboration Creates A Roaring Success
  • Wavemaker North & Channel 4From Styling to Storytelling
  • Channel 4 Sales, Mail Metro Media & EssenceMediacom for Skipton Building Society ‘Helping the Nation Make Their Move’
  • Carat UK & Global Manchester for Greggs Turning the South … North
  • Roland Dransfield & Lipstick Agency Royal Nawaab at Stockport Pyramid
  • Carat UK, Channel 4 & Co-op Funeralcare Life, Death and Rock ‘N’ Roll

Martyn Hett Inspiring Manchester Award

  • Peachy & Screenskills TV Drama DE&I Talent Pipeline Programme
  • Roland Dransfield Roland Dransfield
  • Roland Dransfield We Built This City Podcast

Innovation Award

  • To be announced on the night

People Categories

Apprentice Award

  • Ameilia Lloyd
    News UK
  • Luis Rogers
    Republic of Media

Rising Star Award

  • Izzy Turner
    Channel 4 Sales
  • Lily Robinson
    Edison Media Ltd
  • Issy Kemp
    Edison Media Ltd
  • George Dickens
    Republic of Media

Mentor Award

  • Yoni Ross
    Bauer Media Outdoor
  • Lisa Thompson
    Wavemaker North

University Student Award

  • Hannah Frances Boswell Manchester Metropolitan University
  • Xena Stevens Manchester Metropolitan University
  • Tyler Hughes University of Salford
  • Shoshi Hossain UCEN Manchester (LTE Group)

Freelance Hero Award

  • Jo Jeffers Strategy Director
  • Matthew Singh Editor
  • Simon Stannard VFX, Motion Graphics, Offline & Online Editor

Agency of the Year

  • IF. Growth Without Compromise
  • Apadmi Apadmi
  • Edison Media Ltd Edison Media’s Year: Metrics that Matter

Media Sales Team of the Year

  • News UK Manchester Media Sales Wizards: The Dream Team
  • Captify Captify Manchester’s Comeback Year
  • Mobsta Sustainable Growth of People & Results
  • Channel 4 Sales Altogether Different
  • Reach Solutions Doing Things Differently
  • JCDecaux UK More than Media
  • Bauer Media Outdoor Trusted Specialists

Grand Prix Categories

Best Place to Work

  • Edison Media Ltd Real Support. Real People. Real Work.
  • Bauer Media Outdoor Bring You. Shape Us.

Best of the Best

  • To be announced on the night

Business of the Year

  • To be announced on the night

MPA Award

  • To be announced on the night