Herefordshire-based communications agency, Pinstone, has won the coveted Veterinary Marketing Association (VMA) PR & Social Award.

The award recognised a successful campaign to get more veterinary placement students working on dairy farms. This campaign, in collaboration with Pinstone’s client MSD Animal Health UK, was developed to address this need.

In particular “Our award entry showcased how advice-led and peer-to-peer media coverage worked with digital, web and social media content,” says Pinstone managing director, Catherine Linch.

“We’re delighted to have the team’s hard work on MSD’s Disease? Not On My Farm! initiative awarded this accolade for the second time at the VMAs,” she adds.

Additionally, key results showed strong web and social engagement and coverage in key farming media titles. The campaign sparked interest from farming and veterinary circles, showcasing the value students can offer farms. It also enticed those starting a veterinary career to gain hands-on experience.

Since 2017, Pinstone has been working with MSD Animal Health UK. Their goal was to promote positive behavioural change among beef, sheep and dairy farmers, encouraging preventative herd and flock health.

“The fact Disease? Not On My Farm! has now won this award twice in five years is testament that sticking to fundamental communications principles, while adding creative flair to an existing PR campaign, can deliver fantastic results,” says Catherine.

As a result, Disease? Not On My Farm! is now a widely endorsed campaign in the industry, continuing to build credibility.

Read more in our MSD Animal Health UK client case study here.