Ben Veal, founder of purpose-driven communications consultancy Second Mountain, has been named as a finalist in the leading national awards for the public relations sector.
Ben, pictured, who launched the agency in Bath just under three years ago, is one of seven finalists shortlisted in the Independent PR Practitioner of the Year category of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Excellence Awards.
It is the second consecutive year he has been in the running for this prestigious national award. At 2022’s ceremony Ben proudly received the Mark of Excellence honour in the same category.
He is also a two-time Gold winner of the Independent PR Practitioner of the Year PRide Award for the CIPR’s South of England and Channel Islands region while Second Mountain was named ‘Best Start-up of the Year’ at the 2022 Creative Bath Awards.
At the beginning of this year Ben, a Chartered PR Practitioner, was also elected on to the CIPR’s national council for 2023/24 – helping promote the organisation’s ongoing positive professional impact during its 75th anniversary year. He also currently serves as chair of the CIPR South West region.
Now based at the Glove Factory Studios in Holt, near Trowbridge, Second Mountain helps purpose-driven companies and charities reach new heights through their strategic use of marketing and communications.
Ben has worked in close partnership with a number of regional and national charities including People against Poverty, The Charlie Waller Trust, Wiltshire Youth for Christ and Somewhere House Somerset, and has built up an international client base, now reaching as far afield as the US and Australia.
Last year he launched the ‘Good Journeys with Second Mountain’ podcast series, which aims to help good people do good by sharing the inspired stories of inspiring people.
Guests have included best-selling autistic author Pete Wharmby; mental health campaigner and CEO of The Burnt Chef Project, Kris Hall; highly-regarded sports entertainer and broadcaster Nick Aldis; social mobility activist Sarah Waddington CBE; and happiness coach Sarah Perrett.
Ben said making the CIPR Excellence Awards shortlist was “a genuine honour.”
“I took a big leap of faith when I established my own niche, independent comms consultancy business amidst the uncertainty of the first lockdown,” he said.
“Yet I knew that there was a real need in society today for purpose-focused, meaningful comms support directly aimed at the specific needs of charities, not-for-profits and philanthropic business leaders.
“Almost three years into this purpose-driven journey, it is an absolute privilege to be recognised as one of the UK’s leading independent PR practitioners.”
CIPR president Steve Shepperson-Smith added: “Many congratulations to all the companies, agencies, and individuals that have made the shortlist for this year’s CIPR Excellence Awards, which as ever have been rigorously judged to identify the very best from a really high quality of entries.”
The CIPR, the world’s only Royal Chartered professional body for PR practitioners, has more than 10,000 members globally.
