West Oxfordshire DC

This award is open to a single council or where appropriate a partnership of councils, or a council-owned company. Private sector partners can enter on a council’s behalf, with the permission of the council itself. The communications function is more integral to what councils do than ever. There is increasing need to influence behaviour in relation to, for example, recycling, transport, looking out for older neighbours, or reinforcing public health messaging. And there is the importance of building trust in the difficult decisions councils have to take in these challenging times. Campaigns can make a significant contribution to achieving these objectives, and this award is designed to showcase councils’ expertise in this area.

When it comes to economic recovery on our high streets after the covid pandemic, West Oxfordshire DC has proven that it punches well above its weight. The creation of the Love West Oxfordshire campaign, incorporating the LoyalFree loyalty app brought people back to our high streets and into our independent local businesses. Creating interesting trails, brilliant offers and competitions, the campaign has been one of the highest-performing in the country.