Purpose-driven comms consultancy Second Mountain was honoured to collect a hat-trick of industry awards at the 2023 Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) PRide awards.
The Wiltshire-based business, run by independent PR practitioner and content creator Ben Veal, won two Gold and one Silver award at the annual awards ceremony in Bristol.
The business, which specialises in helping good people do good by sharing their inspiring stories, picked up two awards for its podcast and YouTube show, Good Journeys with Second Mountain, which shares the lessons learned from trails travelled by its guests.
The #GoodJourneysPod, developed by Second Mountain Comms in creative partnership with producer Adam Loretz, received Gold for 'Best Channel Delivery' and Silver for 'Best Use of Content.' CIPR judges praised the "creative and engaging approach [taken] to the use of the channel, clearly aligned with brand objectives."
Since launching in mid-2022, the 'Good Journeys with Second Mountain' podcast has reached a global audience and grown a dedicated repeat audience. Its honest and candid interviews with guests spanning the worlds of literature, philanthropy, advocacy, entertainment and sports has swiftly garnered a reputation for inspiring others to learn from personal journeys. The purpose-driven show has recently taken on its first corporate partner, Resilient Leaders Elements, as it looks to scale up and reach an even wider audience in the years to come.
Capping off a very proud night for the young comms business, the 'Independent PR Practitioner of the Year' award for the South of England and Channel Islands region went to Second Mountain's founder Ben Veal for the third year in a row - who took to the podium after collecting the award to dedicate it to the memory of his father, who died in June 2023.
CIPR judges said: "Ben has taken a serious personal setback and not let it stop him - launching a highly successful consultancy adhering to a clear set of values, and building up a strong personal brand that also reflects these values and underscores his success. He has shown tremendous commitment to professional development, becoming Chartered and devoting substantial amounts of time to volunteering with the CIPR, as well as carrying out pro bono work. His focus has paid dividends: he has grown fee income by 10% year-on-year and won two major awards as well as launching his own, highly successful podcast."
Ben Veal, founder of Second Mountain Comms and 'Good Journeys with Second Mountain' host, comments:
"The 2023 PRide Awards marked the first time in four years that the PR community has been able to gather today in person to celebrate together. It was a fantastic night that showcased the powerful role that public relations and comms professionals play in supporting reputations, driving forward agendas, earning understanding and influencing opinion and behaviour. Above all, the evening celebrated the resilience of a profession that successfully weathered the stormy seas of the pandemic and emerged stronger."
"To have won three awards at 2023's PRide Awards, including 'Independent PR Practitioner of the Year' for the third time running, is way beyond the wildest ambitions I had when I first launched Second Mountain during the lows of the first lockdown. I'm so honoured and feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with and support so many fantastic businesses and individuals. The focus for the future is now very much on delivering positive, tangible impact through our work."
Since 2020, Second Mountain Comms has worked with over 20 clients internationally, providing meaningful PR, content and strategic marketing consultancy to organisations including the Charlie Waller Trust, Organic India, People against Poverty and Digital Wonderlab.
The 'Good Journeys with Second Mountain' podcast, available via Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts, features in-depth interviews with guests including social mobility campaigner Sarah Waddington CBE, children's author Rachel Bright, philanthropy advisor Derek A. Bardowell, lived experience champion Joel Nelson, neurodiversity advocate and author Pete Wharmby, and mental health campaigner Kris Hall from The Burnt Chef Project.
Adam Loretz, director of Loretz Visuals and producer of the #GoodJourneysPod, comments:
"It's been fabulous to work with Ben on a podcast that shares some really unique stories with eye-opening perspectives. Winning two CIPR awards is a wonderful acknowledgement of the journey we are on with the show; I'm very proud of what has been achieved so far."
The 2023 CIPR Pride Awards for the South of England and Channel Islands took place at the Doubletree Hilton in Bristol on Thursday 5th October. All winners and judges comments are now available on the CIPR website.