WORCESTERSHIRE-based communications agency Severn Communications has won national recognition after its creative work for off-licence Threshers was named best advertisement in the 2007 Franchise Marketing Awards.

Severn won the prestigious Thresher group franchise account in April last year and soon after launched a public relations (PR) and advertising campaign to promote 600 of Threshers' 2,000 off-licences to potential franchisees. Severn's marketing campaign has so far brought in more than 2,000 applications and this success was recognised with three nominations for Threshers at the Franchise Marketing Awards 2007.

Threshers scooped best advertisement and was short-listed for best PR campaign - for the work created and produced by Severn Communications - and was also nominated for recruitment team of the year at the gala awards ceremony at London's Mar-riott Hotel. The night was presented by comedian and TV personality Lee Hurst.

Graham Remes, Severn's managing director, said: "To win an account as large as Threshers was an excellent achievement by the Severn team - but to win best advertisement in our first year is the icing on the cake.

"It is the result of a great deal of hard work put in at Severn and caps an excellent 12 months for the business, where we have won a number of new accounts and helped many of our clients meet and exceed their business objectives.

"The success also reflects very well on the whole of Worcestershire, as it shows that local businesses can achieve national results."

Threshers' winning ad-vert pictured a woman making eye contact with the reader, while enjoying a glass of wine, asking Have you got a nose for a great business opportunity?' The image has proved so successful that it is being rolled out in all branches of Threshers nationwide.

The advert was produced by Severn's creative director, Kieran Fitzpatrick, who was delighted with the award. He said: "The thinking behind the campaign was to take Threshers' image and mirror it in the advertisement. Threshers have a reputation for quality and service and we wanted to reflect that in a way that was both stylish and aspirational.

"We were excited by the images we created and the results from the campaign have been great, with about 5,000 people registering an interest and more than 2,000 applying for a franchise.

"For the industry to name it best advert rounds things off perfectly."

Severn Communications, Ombersley Street West, Droitwich, offers a full marketing service, including media planning and buying, advertising creative services, design, public and media relations and new media. Severn's major accounts include mortgage experts Praxis and housebuilder George Wimpey.