Xchangeteam Crowns PR & Communications Consultant Freelancer of the Year

Freelance Design consultant, Anna Cowie, has been named Freelancer of the Year for 2008 by leading recruiter Xchangeteam. Anna beat more than 300 entrants and 45 finalists to take the overall title, having been victorious in the Design category, sponsored by Design Week, earlier in the evening.

The following freelancers also won the top prize in each of their categories:

• Vikki Rimmer (PR & Communications)
• Jayne Barr (Marketing)
• Kristine Regan (Events)
• Alex Goldberg (Advertising)
• Ian Beaumont (Public Affairs)
• Gill Harley (Editorial)
• Nicholas Ridley (Digital Excellence).

Anna won the award for developing the brand experience concept for Emirates Staff Headquarters. Her role was to work with the Creative director and with the design team to create a rationale from the initial brief and to deliver unique concepts for each zone. The presentation was a success, the client approved all the initial concepts and the installation has recently been completed.

Commenting on winning the title, Anna said: “It is an honour to win this Award and to be appreciated for my work. I made the choice to make freelancing a career rather than just a quick fix and have found it to be a fantastic way to share ideas, learn from some of the best in the business and develop my own creativity.”

Judge Bill Wallsgrove said, “Anna’s was the outstanding entry. She is clearly a team player who worked closely with her Creative Director – absolutely vital for any good freelance designer. She was obviously highly motivated by and responded to his direction. Anna’s prior experience and dedication shone through in her superb design work”

Mike Berry, MD of Xchangeteam, believes that the Award has become an important window on the capability and ambitions of the excellent freelance resource that exists in the UK’s marketing, media and communications sectors. He said: “Many clients are realising the benefits that freelancers can bring to their business. There is a huge pool of talent in the industry and the Freelancer of the Year Awards serve to give freelancers a well deserved pat on the back, to acknowledge their work and celebrate their unsung achievements.”