IVCA Clarion Awards

A unique contribution to both business and society

The World’s only Communication Awards promoting: Social Inclusion, CSR, Sustainable Development and Ethical Debate

The IVCA Clarion Awards are not-for-profit and recognise best practice in communicating the importance of CSR, sustainable development, social inclusion and ethical debate, whatever the media platform used. As such, they make a unique contribution to both business and society, by identifying the role of the communicator in encouraging an ethical culture, and fostering higher levels of engagement with key social or environmental issues.

The Awards were launched at Parliament in 2003 and received cross party political support. They were endorsed by senior communicators, leading business people and CSR specialists. Initially entries were restricted to corporate media. However, to acknowledge media convergence, in 2005, the Clarion Awards became open to a broader constituency including mainstream film, television, radio and performing arts. This eclectic mix proved to be a great success.

Past winners range from BP, Barclays Bank, and Honda, to the achievements of BBC Two series It’s Not Easy Being Green, Oneword Radio, An Inconvenient Truth, Billy Elliot the Musical and the National Theatre. All are united by their outstanding creativity and their desire to promote positive social or environmental issues.

Corporate media

Opportunities for clients and producers

Corporate social responsibility is vital to our future, but for it to impact fully, it needs to be communicated both ethically and effectively. Many companies that are re-evaluating their relationship to society and the environment, are doing this on a truly international scale. Through the effective and ethical communication of a company’s CSR initiatives and strategy, they can:

  • Engage their staff and stakeholders in their commitment to CSR
  • Promote the true value and impact of such work
  • Ethically enhance their own brand values and corporate reputation
  • Encourage the wider take-up of CSR initiatives
  • Promote socially useful business models which can be replicated more widely

Broadcast media

Opportunities for producers and broadcasters

Broadcast media play an important role in informing the public of their rights and responsibilities and raising ethical debate. In 2005, for the first time, Clarion Awards will be presented for films, television and radio programmes which achieve any/all of the following:

  • The promotion of social inclusion
  • Promoting cultural and/or social aspiration
  • Promoting social and/or environmental responsibility within business or society
  • Raising the debate on ethical issues

IVCA Clarions receive cross-party support

‘I warmly welcome the IVCA Clarion Awards celebrating companies which are communicating their CSR strategies effectively. Research tells us that people want to hear about companies CSR activities, and companies stand to benefit from greater public awareness of their contribution. It is only through such increased awareness that we can expect to see a greater take-up of CSR for the benefit of all.’

Stephen Timms, Minister of State, June 2004

‘Corporate social responsibility is a vital issue for the future of all economies. However, it is only through the appropriate communication of best practice that we can hope for such work to be replicated and adopted more widely. The IVCA Clarion Awards will attempt to do this. They will identify best ethical communication practice, promote its usage and then generate CSR communication training courses for the business people of the future. This important project has my support and I would hope that you will support it too.’

Baroness Uddin of Bethnal Green

‘Corporate social responsibility has never been more important to the reputation and credibility of leading companies. By instituting the IVCA Clarion Awards, the Association will recognise best practice and encourage it. I strongly support this initiative.’

Lord Watson of Richmond CBE

‘Companies have long recognised their responsibilities to their workforce and their shareholders but they also have responsibilities to the society within which they operate. Corporate social responsibility has been growing in prominence and many of our businesses are now leaders in the field with their programmes benefiting companies and individuals alike throughout the world. The innovation of the IVCA Clarion Awards reflects this increasingly important area of business and I welcome this opportunity to support an event which will ensure that best practice is rewarded and showcased to a wider audience. I hope you will endorse this exciting new project.’

Cheryl Gillan, MP for Chesham and Amersham