Leeds Beckett students win prestigious Grayling Prize

Lilly Argent, Will Turner, Lauren Knowles and Abby Sullivan – competing under the agency name Above the Bar PR – claimed the top prize after pitching their campaign for a major UK pub brand as part of their BA (Hons) Marketing and Public Relations studies.

The annual Grayling Prize, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, is a long-standing partnership between Leeds Beckett University and integrated communications agency Grayling. The competition gives final-year students the opportunity to work on a real client brief, developing and pitching integrated PR campaigns to communications professionals from Grayling's North team, based in Leeds and Manchester.

As part of the module, students form their own agencies before responding to a live brief, with campaigns judged on creativity, strategic thinking and their ability to address contemporary communications challenges.

This year's judging panel included Grayling's Kerryn Sorhaindo and Leeds Beckett graduate Olivia Withnell, who joined the agency after graduating in 2025.

Alice Newsham, Head of North at Grayling, said: "The Grayling Prize is about more than developing great campaigns. It's about helping the next generation of communications professionals gain real world experience and build successful careers in the North. By nurturing local talent and creating opportunities for graduates to stay and thrive in the region, we're supporting both the future of our industry and the continued growth of the northern economy."

Lilly Argent, speaking on behalf of the winning team, said: "We are thrilled to win this important prize at the end of our course at the Business School. This really helps all the students with their career plans with real life experiences."

Professor George Lodorfos, Dean of Leeds Business School, said: "For the Business School, connecting and supporting the regional economy and international business community is vital. This year's 30th anniversary Grayling Prize has continued to highlight how valuable it is for our students to apply their learning in real workplace situations. Our long-term relationship with Grayling offers our students so much to be proud of with the benefits to graduates' employability. We're proud of the work delivered by all of the students that pitched to the Grayling North team and are excited to see where their career paths take them next."

The Grayling Prize has been a key feature of the Leeds Beckett curriculum for three decades, reflecting Leeds Business School's commitment to industry-connected learning and giving students opportunities to apply their knowledge in professional environments before they graduate.

The BA (Hons) Marketing and Public Relations course maintains close links with industry partners, ensuring students gain practical experience and develop the skills employers are looking for throughout their studies.