October 2022
SDG and Queen’s University Belfast Associate Sneha Parajuli shortlisted for prestigious Innovate UK award.
Armagh construction accessories company SDG are celebrating the announcement by Innovate UK that staff member Sneha Parajuli, a Queen’s University Associate, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Awards in the Future Leader category. Sneha, who is a Strategic Management Analyst in SDG, is one of only four Northern Ireland finalists out of 800 collaboration projects funded by Innovate UK. The awards recognise the best of the best in future leadership.
SDG, who supply specialist construction materials to the building and construction industry, embarked on a Management Knowledge Transfer Partnership (mKTP) working in collaboration with Professor Julie McCandless and Professor Min Zhang from Queen's University Management School in 2020. Sneha was appointed with the objective of delivering operational transformation within SDG. Since joining the family business, Sneha has played a key role, identifying strategies for improving customer relationship management, strategic insights, and driving continuous improvement in innovation.
Commenting on Sneha being shortlisted, Louise Skeath, CEO at SDG, said:
“The Innovate UK shortlisting is very prestigious for Sneha and SDG, requiring a rigorous assessment in order to be considered a finalist. Sneha has had a significant impact since joining us, undertaking excellent work looking at our business approach and creating an innovation knowledge hub for staff. She has earned a reputation for being analytical, detailed, innovative and a team player and is held in high regard by us all. SDG has already improved our effectiveness through her data analysis works identifying opportunities, streamlining change management and future planning.”
Lorraine Marks, Head of KTP at Queen's University, added:
"I'm delighted that Sneha's hard work has been recognised with this nomination. She is an excellent example of the highly skilled graduates we have working as KTP Associates in businesses all over Northern Ireland. I wish Sneha every success at the KTP Awards in October".
Over 800 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships projects between universities and business are active across the UK, with less than 40 shortlisted for the awards. The Innovate UK Awards will take place in Liverpool on 12 October 2022.
October 2022
Local company, Mackle Communications awarded Gold for Independent PR Practitioner of the Year for the fifth time at CIPR PRide Awards.
Mackle Communications have been awarded Gold at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Pride Awards, held at the Merchant Hotel Belfast on 13 October 2022. The Pride Awards are the UK’s most prestigious nationwide awards scheme, recognising excellence in public relations and communications across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and six English regions. Past winners continue to reap the benefits of their successes long after achieving them.
This is the 5th time Maurica Mackle, owner of Mackle Communications and a Chartered Practitioner and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, has received the Gold Award, making her the most awarded PR Professional in the Independent PR Practitioner Category across the UK.
Judges commented that Mackle Communications, demonstrated ‘clear and measurable business objectives with impressive growth coupled with a strong undertaking to give back to the industry through mentoring and developing young people’, and Judges were impressed with the amount of charity work undertaken by Mackle Communications, who provide 10% of their charity work pro bono annually to charity clients.
Celebrating her success, Maurica Mackle, said;
“I am thrilled to revied this prestigious award for the 5th year in a row, and I realise this comes with a lot of work for clients every year, so it is really for them. When I started the business 6 years ago I wanted to provide excellence, and the clients we work with and the Associates within the team are all winners of this award, it’s a fantastic affirmation of our professional standards and the services we provide across Communications, Public Relations and Branding, as well as other core services to clients across Ireland and the UK.”
Through Covid-19 Maurica used lockdown as an opportunity to broaden her business approach mentoring new associates and becoming a Mentor for CIPR. Maurica has mentored degree students, graduates and volunteered to organise and host events within NI as well as mentoring employers with clients into CIPR.
Commenting on the Pride Awards, CIPR President Rachel Roberts Chart.PR, MCIPR, said;
“It has been wonderful to see the hard work of those working across the PR industry recognised through the CIPR PRide Awards at our nine celebration events. The array of campaigns featured, demonstrates the diversity of practice delivered through public relations and how we, as professionals, act as the communications bridge to help organisations translate their mission into impact which affects our everyday lives.
Whilst I applaud all campaigns, organisations, and people who achieved Gold and Silver PRide Award accolades, as a PR professional I know that there’s an awful lot of exceptional PR practice that happens as part of the everyday doing of the job, which in its own right shouldn’t go unrecognised. So as well as celebrating all finalists and winners, I hope the PRide Awards also acted as a beacon in each of our nine PRide communities to shine the spotlight on all PR professionals who take pride in their own work to maintain high standards, ethical communications practice and commitment to professional development.”
Earlier this month, Maurica was guest speaker for the Canada Public Relations Association, Ottawa Chapter, when she presented to the Annual General Meeting of the Ottawa Chapter and met with the Chairman of CPRA, Ottawa Chapter, Bernard Gauthier, PhD, during her visit.
Mackle Communications was created in 2015, offering a bespoke communications consultancy in Northern Ireland. With a background in communications and marketing Maurica has spent over 20 years working in policy, public affairs and strategic planning. Maurica was named as one of the top 70 PR Professionals in the UK by CIPR in 2018 to celebrate its 70th year.