The Beacon Press and Citigate Lloyd Northover took top honours at the first Premier Awards, held in Vinopolis wine museum on London''s South Bank last week.


The Beacon Press won the overall award in the print category for its Reach Out brochure for Universal CCM, while Citigate triumphed in the design section with Freeserve''s annual report.


"We were delighted to have received such strong entries, from both students as well as design and print professionals," said Alan Browne, Premier Paper''s head of corporate communications.


The judges nominated 33 of the 397 entries for the 14 award divisions. Student awards went to Neil Ramsbottom of Blackburn College Faculty of Art & Design and Chris Vincent of Reading College School of Art & Design. The judges failed to declare a winner in the environment print and design categories or direct mail print.


Previously known as the Galerie Awards, this was the first Premier ceremony since the merger of Alliance, Guppy and Classic to form Premier Paper. To coincide with the new awards, the entry criteria were broadened this year
to include items printed on Clarity, Galerie Art and Naturalis papers and boards.


The winner of each of the 14 professional and student categories was presented with a newly commissioned award designed by Philip Carter of Carter Wong Tomlin.


Story by Andy Scott