Students scoop top prize in landmark Grayling PR competition
A team of final-year students from Leeds Beckett University have won the prestigious Grayling Prize 2026, after impressing judges with a creative public relations campaign developed in response to a live industry brief.
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 pub brand as part of their BA (Hons) Marketing and Public Relations studies.
The annual Grayling Prize, which this year celebrated its 30th anniversary, is a long-running partnership between Leeds Beckett University and 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 industry professionals in Grayling’s North team, based in Leeds and Manchester.
The initiative is a key part of the student experience on the course, helping students build professional skills, industry networks and valuable experience before graduation.
This year’s judging panel included Grayling’s Kerryn Sorhaindo and Olivia Withnell, who graduated from Leeds Beckett University in 2025. Both are based in Grayling’s Leeds office.
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.”
As part of the module, students get the opportunity to work in teams to create their own agencies before responding to a live brief set by Grayling. Each campaign was judged on the creativity of the idea, strategic thinking and the team’s ability to address contemporary communications challenges.
The Grayling Prize has been a feature of the Leeds Beckett curriculum for three decades and is recognised as an important opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience of the public relations industry.
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 competition reflects Leeds Business School’s commitment to industry-connected learning, giving students opportunities to apply their knowledge in professional environments and develop the skills employers are looking for.
The BA (Hons) Marketing and Public Relations course has a strong track record of graduate employment and maintains close links with industry partners to ensure students gain practical experience throughout their studies.