Freshfield’s Covid-19 business support campaign reaches PRMoment Awards finals

Freshfield and Lancashire County Council’s #AskForHelp campaign, which connected thousands of business owners and managers to vital business and mental health support during the coronavirus pandemic, has reached the final five entries at the PRMoment Awards 2021 North.

The #AskForHelp campaign was devised and run by Freshfield. It turned Boost; Lancashire’s £6m Business Growth Hub, into a dedicated support service for business owners worried about the pandemic.

It is shortlisted for Public Sector Campaign of the Year and the shortlist announcement is the latest marketing awards recognition for #AskForHelp.

The campaign won Best B2B Campaign at last year’s Northern Marketing Awards and was Highly Commended at the Prolific North Awards 2020. It was also shortlisted at the Creative Moments Award 2020 and the 2021 Just Marketing Awards.

Simon Turner, chief executive, Freshfield said: “Freshfield is deeply passionate about using our capabilities to help people and organisations overcome challenges. #AskForHelp was a perfect example of that.

“The service was launched on the first day of lockdown in the UK last year and used a huge range of marketing channels to reach over 7,000 people, encouraging them to seek the free support available from Boost during their time of need.”

The fully integrated campaign included repositioning Boost’s website to include a business advice hub and a multi-channel marketing campaign to encourage people to ring Boost’s support helpline and seek help on issues surrounding finance, continuity and health and safety.

Simon added: “Many of the business owners and leaders who received guidance through #AskForHelp have also remained engaged with Boost and are receiving ongoing support to help with their recovery.

“Seeing first-hand how public and private sector advisers have helped business owners and leaders through the pandemic proves again what a world-class business support community we have in Lancashire, and indeed across the North West.”

The winners of the PRMoment Awards will be announced at a virtual ceremony on June 3.