IoIC Awards 2016 1
Welcome Celebrating the best in the business
The IoIC awards aim to seek out the gems of stakeholder communication, those great examples of work that celebrate their creators but also inspire other practitioners in their work. The awards are Europe’s oldest, and most respected within the industry – the only noncommercial awards that offer entrants bespoke feedback from experienced judges. Our panel of senior and experienced professionals evaluate all the work and offer critiques to help pinpoint great practice and offer areas of potential improvement and development. Standards are high and award winners can truly count themselves operating at the top of the class.
Having entered, and been lucky enough to win, in the past, I know that the IoIC awards are a great way to document, improve and celebrate what we do. This year’s entries were of an incredibly high standard. Class winners and award of excellence winners can truly celebrate ‘greatness’ and be proud of their achievement.
“Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
Justine Stevenson IoIC Awards Chair 2016
William Shakespeare 2
Gold Awards
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Gold Awards The Gold Awards are awarded each year to the ‘best of the best’, to the winning entries that demonstrate the full package of high quality, brilliant execution and killer measurement. They are judged separately by industry experts. This year’s winners are:
Gold award:
Gold Award:
Gold Award:
Winner:
Winner:
Winner:
Print
Heart Matters, British Heart Foundation by Wardour Judge’s comment: “From body image and diets to research and risk factors, Heart Matters leaves readers well-equipped to make choices for their well-being. A good read, good layout, good to touch and a clear sense of purpose. In short, complete quality.”
Digital
Campaign
HSBC Now: Raj’s Story Judge’s comment: “A game changer. A life changer. A life saver. Raj’s Story touched a chord – 75, 310 times – in a way that’s simply off the scale, reaching a level of connection that shows there’s almost no limit to what can be achieved through the power of ambitious internal communication.”
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Project Solar by Reward Gateway Judge’s comment: “Bold, brave, principled, this campaign demonstrated working out loud in a very open way and a complete trust in employees. In exposing key corporate decision-making to a sustained employee gaze, it breaks the boundaries of IC conventions. Fantastic.”
Class 1
Strategy
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Class 1a:
Class 1b:
Class winner:
Class winner:
Project Solar for Reward Gateway by Reward Gateway
The Big Picture for Lloyds Commercial Banking by Kate Mitchell and Chris Underwood
Best Single Campaign
Best Ongoing Campaign
Judge’s comment: Judge’s comment:
“Sound communications principles – leadership communication, humanising leaders, really being open and transparent”
“A comprehensive and imaginative campaign that has achieved far more engagement than it set out to do”
Awards of Excellence: BLP: The exceptional and the extraordinary for delivering a first class internal comms campaign by BLP internal comms
A Life More Noble for Octavia Housing by the internal team
Engagement for CDK Global by CDK Global
Airbus Move for Airbus Group by WMW
Summer readiness for British Airways by Eight Creative
Marketing briefing sessions for YBS Group by WMW
Awards of Excellence: Time to Act? Helping our people plan for a better retirement for Aviva employees by Aviva
Ogilvy’s New Home for Ogilvy and Mather Group by in-house Internal Communication Team
AB InBev Recommended Offer: Communicating in HQ for SAB Miller by SAB Miller Group Communication and Reputation Team
Don’t just dream it, plan it for Nationwide employees by Nationwide Building Society
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The Big Koru – for Aviva by Aviva and scarlettabbott Aggregate Industries ‘together’ for Aggregate Industries by Top Banana
Class 1c:
Class 1d:
Class winner:
Class winner:
RBS Determined to Make a Difference for RBS by The Team Brand Communications Consultants
Your Benefits for Britvic by Gatehouse
Best Financial/ Corporate Communication Campaign
Best Operational Communication Campaign
Judge’s comment:
“Well-conceived, executed with flair, and with outcomes that exceeded already high expectations, this campaign for Britvic shows how internal communication can put cleverness, fizz and colour into HR operations”
Judge’s comment:
“An engaging and modern campaign that has seen a lot of success – its extensive year-long planning is core to this” Awards of Excellence: Our business plan for Anchor by Anchor’s Colleague Engagement Team and H&H Communications #cantbelieveisaidthat video campaign for JLL UK by Marketing and Communications team, JLL UK; Funny Women and Odd man Out
Awards of Excellence:
Tesco Pensions Communication by Mandarin Kite & Tesco Pensions Communications Team
Roche – Risk Based Monitoring for Roche by Afiniti Ghost for Vodafone by onebite
Muller’s acquisition of Dairy Crest’s Dairy Business for Muller UK & Ireland by Group Communications, Muller Rebranding Interfleet to SNCLavalin by SNC-Lavalin
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Class 2
Innovation
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Class 2a:
Class 2b:
Class winner:
Class winner:
Mobile App, Leaderboard for Visa Europe by Internal Comms Team, Visa Europe
HSBC NOW: Raj’s Story for HSBC by HSBC Global Content & Employee Digital Platforms
Most Innovative Use of Media
Game Changer
Judge’s comment: Judge’s comment:
“This whole idea is really strong and is clearly linked to strategy and connecting it more closely with the people who need to know it inside out”
“An excellent piece of work with a stunning result” Awards of Excellence:
Awards of Excellence:
Bank of England - You are our first line of defence for Bank of England by Blue Goose
Summer readiness for British Airways by Eight Creative
Premier Inn, Intouch App for Premier Inn by Headlines
KF90 for Kerry Foods by CA3
Changing the game through our IC review for Northumbrian Water by Northumbrian Water Internal Communications team
The Kier Connect channel for Kier by Internal Communications Team
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Class 3
Printed Publications
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Class 3a:
Class 3b:
Class winner:
Class winner:
Wild About for The Zoological Society of London by Think
Heart Matters for The British Heart Foundation by Wardour Communications
Judge’s comment:
Judge’s comment:
“Wild About is an extremely readable publication. As a judge one is sometimes tempted to skip-read features but I became completely hooked on the copy. I liked the storytelling narrative and the compelling tabloid style presentation”
“This is a heavyweight entry, not in terms of paper or glossiness, but in its strategy and content”
Feature-led Print Magazine – up to four issues a year
Feature-led Print Magazine – more than four issues a year
Awards of Excellence: Outside In for Royal Bank of Scotland by RBS and beetroot The RPS Journal for The Royal Photographic Society by Think
Awards of Excellence: The Globe for Barclaycard by 44 Communications, Write the Talk and Barclaycard Channels and Content Team Highlights for KPMG by AB Publishing
Waitrose Chronicle for Waitrose Partners by Waitrose Chronicle Team Horizon for BP by BP and beetroot Professional Manager for The Chartered Management Institute by Think The University of Derby Magazine by University of Derby
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Class 3c:
Class 3d:
Class winner:
Class winner:
My Time for Housing & Care 21 by Housing & Care 21 and Sequel Group
Powerlines for Western Power Distribution by Western Power Distribution and communique writing and design
Printed News Magazine – up to four issues a year
Printed News Magazine – more than four issues a year
Judge’s comment:
“A very readable publication that’s been rated very highly in previous years and it is good to see that high standard is being maintained”
Judge’s comment:
“This is a very strong magazine that really does what is says on the tin” Awards of Excellence:
Awards of Excellence:
Fusion for Hitachi Rail Europe by AB Publishing Cabin Crew News for British Airways by British Airways communications team
Insight for Network Rail by AB Publishing Dwr for Dwr Cymru Welsh Water
The Nose Magazine for The Perfume Shop by Indigodog Publishing 2W for Wales & West Utilities by Pages Creative
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Class 3e:
Class 3f:
Class winner:
Class winner:
The Patch for National Grid by Sonder
Heart Matters for The British Heart Foundation by Wardour Communications
Print Newspaper/ Newsletter
Membership Publication
Judge’s comment: Judge’s comment: “This is, without doubt, a remarkable piece “The overall impression is of a publication of media that is a credit to the internal communications industry. Congratulations” that knows exactly what it has to do and how it has to get there” Awards of Excellence: The Lot for Jewson by Pressgang
Awards of Excellence:
Rolls-Royce World for Rolls-Royce by Pressgang
The Actuary for the Institute and Facility of Actuaries by Redactive
Focus for Interserve by Pressgang
My Money for Residents of Housing & Care 21 by Housing & Care 21 and Sequel Group
Countryside Voice for The Campaign to Protect Rural England by Think
Connect for Crohn’s & Colitis UK by Think
The Cable for UK Power Networks by Words&Pictures & UK Power Networks
Accounting Technician for The Association of Accounting Technicians by Think BEER for The Campaign for Real Ale by Think
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Class 3g:
Class 3h:
Class winner:
Class winner:
IC Trends 2016 for Sequel Group by Sequel Group
The Place for Marston’s by 44 Communications
Judge’s comment:
Judge’s comment:
“This is a fascinating read that is beautifully written and certainly represents Sequel’s values. The design complements the content and the illustrations are quirky and fun”
“The Place is a really good publication and everyone involved should be congratulated”
Special Publication
New Publication
Awards of Excellence: Fusion for Hitachi Rail Europe by AB Publishing Together for Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) by GTR and beetroot
Awards of Excellence:
t for Tesco by Sonder Influence for The Chartered Institute of Public Relations by Think
New York Uncovered for KPMG by AB Publishing Mattel ‘Play With Care’ Journal for Mattel by Jaxzyn & Mattel Life Stories for Linklaters by Internal Communications A Life More Noble Book for Octavia by Octavia Our Story Rocks for Virgin Media by Internal Comms Team
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Class 3i:
Relaunched Publication
Class winner:
Be Healthy for Benenden by Think Judge’s comment:
“Good goals and research to determine that the end product is what the readers want – a successful relaunch” Awards of Excellence: Childcare Professional for Professional Association of Childcare and Early Years (PACEY) by Redactive Connect for Crohn’s & Colitis UK by Think Project for The Association for Project Management by Think Waitrose Chronicle for Waitrose Partners by Waitrose Chronicle Team
Join today www.ioic.org.uk/membership
Class 4
Digital Media
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Class 4a:
Class 4b:
Class winner:
Class winner:
Barclays Now for Barclays by Channels Effectiveness team
The Source for SAB Miller by Group Communication and Reputation Team
Judge’s comment:
Judge’s comment:
“A truly outstanding project, taking the organisation from the myriad of disparate systems that existed before to one single intranet”
“It is absolutely fit for purpose and manages to maintain a fine line between a professional, formal feel appropriate for the organisation, and a friendly, engaging tone that is essential to attract and hold the interest of its users”
Intranet
Microsite
Awards of Excellence: Airspace for Gatwick Airport by Gatwick Airport
Awards of Excellence:
UZONE for United Shore by Sensei Labs Starting an intranet from scratch for Wellcome Trust by Internal Communications, Design and Digital Teams, Wellcome Trust
We are Welsh Water for Dwr Cymru by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water Welcome to Muller Milk & Ingredients microsite for Muller UK & Ireland by Group Communications, Muller
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Class 4c:
Class 4d:
Class winner:
Class winner:
Pulse for KPMG by AB Publishing
Intouch App for Premier Inn by Headlines
Judge’s comment:
Judge’s comment:
“Excellent example of creating a channel based on evidence of how the intended recipients interact with content”
“Objectives are clearly articulated and align with company strategy”
Ezine
Mobile/App
Awards of Excellence: Awards of Excellence:
The First Aberdeen Colleague App for First Aberdeen by The App Builder
Launching an interactive newsletter for Northumbrian Water by Northumbrian Water Internal Communications team
Creating excitement for the Annual Awards for Nationwide Building Society by Nationwide Building Society
CIB Upload for Royal Bank of Scotland by CIB Business Communications and Sequel Group
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Class 4e:
Class 4g:
Class winner:
Class winner:
The Big Red Sofa for HomeServe Membership by The Internal Communications team
Transforming PwC UK’s internal digital channels by PwC UK Internal Communication team
Judge’s comment:
Judge’s comment:
“The feedback from your employees speaks volumes as to its effectiveness, well done”
“Great approach to an internal communications channel – simple to navigate, mobile friendly and a good mix of news and features”
Video (DVD/ Webcast/TV)
Awards of Excellence: 150 Years for HSBC by HSBC Global Content & Employee Digital Platforms
New Channel
Awards of Excellence:
Introducing the Specialist Support Service for Nationwide Building Society by Nationwide Building Society
Intouch App for Premier Inn by Headlines CC World for Clifford Chance by Clifford Chance and Sequel Group
NWG Uptown Funk for Northumbrian Water by Northumbrian Water Internal Communications team Nationwide Customer First for Nationwide by Nationwide Building Society & Sequel Group Our Story Rocks/Make Good Things Happen for Virgin Media by Internal Comms Team
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Class 4h:
Integrated Media
Take control of your career www.ioic.org.uk/professionaldevelopment
Class winner:
One for Post Office by AB Publishing Judge’s comment:
“The entry displays a high level of cross channel design consistency with interesting techniques to encourage readers to move from print to website; as well as the incorporation of some nice social elements and good use of video” Awards of Excellence: Changing Tomorrow Awards for Astellas Pharma EMEA by Astellas Pharma EMEA, Say Communications and Sequel Group BNP Paribas #Behindthebrand for BNP Paribas by Synergy Creative Destination for Capita Travel and Events by Think S&IR for The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments by Wardour Communications My Globe for Barclays by Wardour Communications
Class 5
Design
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Class 5a:
Class 5b:
Class winner:
Class winner:
The story of an idea for Aon by Big Rock
Re: for Norton Rose Fulbright by Norton Rose Fulbright
Digital Design
Feature-led Magazine Design
Judge’s comment:
“The power of the design, the words and the execution really made me want to take part and I don’t even work for AoN. A really simple and evocative entry”
Judge’s comment:
“This is a high calibre publication that sets the standard for in-house publications” Awards of Excellence:
Award of Excellence:
Outside In for Royal Bank of Scotland by RBS and beetroot Your Magazine for Gatwick Airport by Gatwick Airpot and beetroot
Amplify for Sony Music Ent by WMW
Catalyst for Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) by CPL in collaboration with CIM IC Trends 2016 for Sequel Group by Sequel Group Influence for The Chartered Institute of Public Relations by Think Wild About for The Zoological Society of London by Think Heart Matters for The British Heart Foundation by Wardour Communications
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Class 5c:
Class 5d:
Class winner:
Class winner:
Fusion for Hitachi Rail Europe by AB Publishing
Countryside Voice for The Campaign to Protect Rural England by Think
Judge’s comment:
Judge’s comment:
“The product is bold, bright and packs a punch”
“The design is very strong. The picture research is fantastic and the full bleed style is very effective”
News-led Magazine Design
Newspaper Design
Award of Excellence: Cabin Crew News for British Airways cabin crew by British Airways communications team
Awards of Excellence: The Shield for Network Rail IP Southern Shield group by Network Rail and beetroot Heathrow Life for Heathrow Airport by Heathrow Airport and beetroot
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Class 5e:
Class 5f:
Class winner:
Class winner:
RBS Determined to Make a Difference for RBS by The Team Brand Communications Consultants
PepsiCo ‘Pursue Positive’ for PepsiCo by Jaxzyn & PepsiCo EHS
Integrated Media – Design
Redesign
Judge’s comment: Judge’s comment:
“A great example of a single, standout approach to design across a range of media which adds up to a memorable integrated campaign”
“What is especially impressive is the way that the design has been made really easy to use by others, ensuring a consistency of use and approach” Awards of Excellence:
Awards of Excellence:
My Reward for Britvic by Gatehouse Showcasing what science can do – Heartbeat Redesign for AstraZeneca and Ruder Finn by Ruder Finn
Pulse for KPMG by AB Publishing Infoworks for Laing O’Rourke by Wardour Communications
Celesio magazine: Believe for Celesio by theblueballroom
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Class 6
Writing & Imagery
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Class 6a:
Feature Writing
Class 6b:
News or Event Writing
Class winner:
Behind Closed Doors for Royal Bank of Scotland’s Outside In by RBS and beetroot Judge’s comment:
“Creativity demonstrated through format, but more importantly the shift of focus solely onto employees, their stories and how they live the values of the brand”
Dealing with grief for Highlights for KPMG by AB Publishing Human Wrongs for Pulse for KPMG by AB Publishing The University of Derby Magazine for and by University of Derby ‘I was Mike, now I’m Michelle’ for Shell International by Sue Kiddy, Headlines
We’re News for News UK by Neal Harrington Judge’s comment:
Award of Excellence: Never walk by for Connections for Wolseley UK by AB Publishing
Class winner:
Phoenix From The Flames for Shanks by Sonder Land of the Lions, Wild About magazine for The Zoological Society of London by Think
“There’s lots to like about this portfolio of examples – a wide range of topics, written in a style which should resonate with the reader”
George Monbiot for The Royal Society of Arts by Wardour Communications The Globe features for Barclaycard by Write the Talk, Barclaycard Corporate Communications, 44 Communications
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Class 6c:
News or Event Image
Class 6d:
Illustration/graphic/ infographic/ conceptual image Class winner:
Class winner:
Pursuit Magazine: Edge of the earth for The De Beers Group of Companies by Sunday Judge’s comment:
“These are stunning images with a clear story which supports the transition from the wide, expansive shot on the cover to the zoomed in images of the machinery in the massive landscape inside”
Our Amazing Journey for Virgin Trains by Gatehouse Judge’s comment:
“So refreshing to see the rigour and consultation/collaboration with the client and with staff at Virgin Trains to meet the goals and objectives of this programme, which have been clearly set out and measured in terms of outcomes in staff engagement” Awards of Excellence: PepsiCo People Village for PepsiCo by Jaxzyn The Big Picture for Lloyds Commercial Banking by Kate Mitchell and Chris Underwood
Award of Excellence: The Link for G4S by Pressgang
Tesco Pension Scheme Campaign for Tesco by Mandarin Kite & Tesco Pensions Communications Team
Pursuit Magazine: The rise and rise of India for The De Beers Group of Companies by Sunday Better by design for The Royal Society of Arts by Wardour Communications Mark of strength (Nov/Dec 15) for The British Heart Foundation by Wardour Communications Infographics for Laing O’Rourke by Wardour Communications
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Class 7
Event
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Class 7a:
Live Event: internal
Class 7b:
Live Event: stakeholder/ membership
Class winner:
YamChams: Secret Mission by Community Integrated Care’s Internal Communications Team Judge’s comment:
“Congratulations on such a successful event that not only delivered clear business value but also inspired attendees and the wider employee community. It was clearly well thought out, creative, with a clear link to business objectives and the challenges your organisation is facing”
Class winner:
Thanks a Million day for The Prince’s Trust by Lianne Williams and Lily Kendall Judge’s comment:
“Much of the execution is at heart very simple, and yet is had obviously been very effective – the true measure of success demonstrated through Thanks a Million Day becoming an annual event”
Awards of Excellence: Art of the Possible Campaign for Essex County Council by Corporate and Transformation Team
Innovate Within CIO Conference for LV= CIO by LV= Internal Communications Team
The First Bus Excellence Awards by First Bus Internal Communications Team
Leaders of change for and by Nationwide Building Society
2015 Cascades for HomeServe Membership Ltd by The Internal Communications team
Barclaycard leadership team event for Barclaycard by Top Banana
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Class 8
Team
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Class 8a:
Class 8b:
Class winner:
Class winner:
Community Integrated Care’s Internal Communications Team
Synergy Creative
Best in-house team
Best Agency
Judge’s comment: Judge’s comment:
“From small beginnings and with few resources they have developed a fully operational IC team, with channels and outcomes that you’d expect from a longer established, larger function”
“A really impressive entry. I loved the examples of how Synergy Creative go the extra mile to really understand their clients such as working with them, doing mystery shopping, and extensive research” Awards of Excellence:
Award of Excellence:
Think
44 Communications 2 Sisters
44 Communications
Muller UK & Ireland Communications Team
AB
Internal, Corporate and Member Communication at Nationwide Building Society
Bluegoose WMW
Northumbrian Water Internal Communications team SAB Miller Group Communication and Reputation Team UWE Bristol Internal Communications team
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Meet the judges Jenny Clark Shiona Adamson
Jenny Clark is head of internal communications for the De Beers Group of Companies.
Shiona is head of internal communications and communications services for Natural England. She has over 15 years’ UK and international communications experience in public and private sectors. She’s led big and small internal communications teams in house and as a consultant for leaders, colleagues and clients in Defra, Natural England, Arts Council England, HM Revenue & Customs, Hewlett-Packard, Novartis, Microsoft, Network Rail, BT and The General Medical Council. Shiona has a new and growing passion for the use of storytelling techniques in business and the importance of evaluating and reporting on the impact of internal communications to show the real value of what we do.
She is responsible for developing the internal communication strategy for De Beers to help leaders and employees understand and engage with the organisation’s purpose and strategy. She is based in London and works closely with the CEO and executive team as well as with the leaders and communications teams across the wholly owned and joint venture businesses globally.
Shiona says: “It was a pleasure to read about the culmination of so many clever and creative pieces of work. The winners we chose had a clear ‘wow’ factor and were able to clearly show the impact they had on their audiences.”
Louise Birkett FIIC Louise Birkett is a multi-award winning freelance writer and editor, who is a previous chairman of the IoIC Awards and has seen the competition grow and develop over the years. She says: “It’s always a privilege to be a judge and see the amazing work that is taking place in the industry. As ever, the quality of the entries was excellent and there were some very tough decisions to make. One piece of advice I would give to future entrants is to ensure they have clear goals and that they link their measurement to them.”
Jenny joined De Beers in December 2013. Prior to that she spent 12 ½ years at PwC UK, six of which were as head of internal communications. Jenny says: “Judging the IoIC Awards was a great experience. The quality of the entries was very high and it was extremely hard to single out a winner in our category. I was so impressed with the creativity and innovation shown by so many of the entrants.”
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Helen Deverell Helen has eight years’ internal communications experience – both in-house and agency – working with clients such as Grant Thornton, Royal Mail Group, 3i, Tesco, ScottishPower, Barclays, Oxford University Press and The World Gold Council. Helen is also a passionate blogger on justthewayicit.com where she shares her thoughts and insights on internal communication-related subjects. In April 2016, she decided to take a leap into the freelance world and set up Helen Deverell Communications. In 2012 Helen was listed as one of the IoIC’s top 30 under 30 communicators and has also received an IoIC Rising Star Award of Excellence. Helen says: “As a first-time IoIC judge, I was really impressed with the standard of entries. I loved reading about the journeys the various agencies have been on and seeing how their passion and talent translated into some really creative and impactful communications – it made the job of picking a winner a tough one!”
Keith Errington Joanna Hall
Keith Errington MBA is a consultant specialising in marketing, content, social and training. He blogs for inbound agency Equinet on content marketing, social media, and strategy.
Steve Doswell FIIC Steve was chief executive of IoIC until 2015, and is board director. He is also a former president of FEIEA, the European Association of Internal Communication. Since becoming an independent consultant in 1995, Steve has focused on organisational communication and change management projects for a varied roster of clients. He was awarded FEIEA’s European Diploma of Honour in October 2002 ‘in recognition of outstanding services in the promotion of better human relationships in industry.”
His clients have included BP, Marks & Spencer, BBC, NatWest, Unilever and Apple. He edited Internet Publishing, and authored a column for Graphics International and acted as an adviser for Creative Review, Direction Magazine, Hot Shoe International and the Financial Times. He has written copy for major websites, stories for publication and a series of comedy radio plays. Keith has served as a judge for the Charity and In House Publishing Awards and the FT Publishing Awards. Keith says: “I have judged the digital categories of the IoIC awards for a few years now, on both the national and regional level, and over those years the standard has visibly increased. This year the standard was genuinely higher than ever, and in at least one, all the entrants would have been good enough to win awards in previous years – so picking winners was enjoyably tough!
Catherine Fallon Catherine is a senior engagement consultant for the agency Instinctif Partners. She has specialised in engagement for over fifteen years, focusing on delivering creative solutions that enable complex change and transformation within an organisation. She has worked across a range of sectors, such as retail (eBay and Marks & Spencer); pharmaceutical (Novartis, GSK); media (ITV, Capital Radio Group, BBC); energy (BP) and financial services (HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland). Catherine was a board member of IoIC from 2011 to 2015 and has been part of the judging team since 2011.
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Joanna is head of internal communication at Roche. Capitalising on a diverse background as an APMP qualified project manager, Jo built her communication career leading global medical development projects, business initiatives and organisational change efforts. In her current role, Jo and her team are responsible for an employee base across 70 countries. They partner with and coach senior leaders to drive alignment, build reputation and deliver clear, inspiring messaging. Jo is in the final throws of completing her Master’s degree in Internal Communication Management at Kingston University. Joanna says: “This year’s competition entries were inspiring and creative and there were some great examples of IC’s Achilles heel; yes, effective measurement! Being in-house myself, it was particularly promising to see the in-house expertise shine from small charities to large corporations. I felt honoured to be asked to judge this year’s awards and have the opportunity to share some of my knowledge via feedback to the entrants.”
Rachel Miller FIIC FCIPR
Rachel Miller founded All Things IC consultancy in 2013 after a decade of working in-house. She offers senior level counsel to help organisations and communicators achieve communication excellence. Her clients include Harrods, O2, Jamie Oliver Group, PRS for Music, Heathrow Express, London Ambulance Service, Camden Council and the Zoological Society of London. Rachel is a multiple award-winning professional and Fellow of both IoIC and CIPR. Her thoughts have been featured in a number of best-selling PR books. She regularly shares her knowledge through her popular blog and All Things IC Masterclasses. Rachel says: “The entries for the IoIC Awards 2016 were excellent. I enjoyed reading through. It’s clichéd but true to say this year’s standard was high, it was a pleasure to see communication excellence in action. Successful entries were those who clearly answered the questions and demonstrated strong evidence and credible results. Best of luck to everyone who entered.”
Andrew Hubbard
Oli Howard
Andrew Hubbard joined Domino’s Pizza Group as the internal communications manager in September 2016. Andrew, a trained journalist, previously worked for Network Rail, Sky, Northcliffe and local newspapers before making the move to internal communications agency Headlines in 2011.
Oli is head of internal communications & engagement for the Civil Aviation Authority and an IoIC board director. He has worked with a broad range of organisations across the sectors including Scope, SGN and Royal Mail, holding specialist IC, comms generalist and advisory roles. He holds the Postgraduate Diploma in Internal Communications Management. Oli says: “There were some really outstanding examples of strategic thinking and a lot of examples of excellent creative work. The strongest submissions were those that managed to combine the two – and the best of these were brilliant illustrations of the difference internal communications can make when it is done well.”
Andrew says: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed judging the entries of the 2016 IoIC Awards and am looking forward to meeting some of the finalists at the award ceremony in September. It’s a cliché to say the quality of entries was outstanding, but it truly was. In particular, it was exciting to see how communicators are using lessons learned to continually improve future activity. The ‘that’s how it’s done’ philosophy is dying out and swiftly being replaced by a constant thirst to be better.”
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Kathie Jones FIIC Kathie is a past national chairman of BAIE and former chief executive of BACB/IoIC. She is a freelance internal communicator and winner of a number of awards including Best Financial Report for Employees and Best Annual Report. She comments: “The standard of entries improves each year and it is increasingly difficult to find faults. My only advice to entrants would be regarding the submissions with entries. Providing all the right facts are included these can be a couple of simple A4 information sheets – there is no need to produce an “all bells and whistles” presentation. Judgement is strictly on the entry, not the accompaniment.”
Dominic Walters FIIC
Christine Payne Christine is head of employee engagement for AbbVie UK, a global biopharmaceutical company located in Maidenhead. Christine leads a team in developing innovative, multichannel communications strategies aimed at building pride and brand advocacy with a strong focus on change management. Christine’s background is in journalism and digital community leadership and she has worked across global, European and national employee audiences to drive engagement and create a great place to work. Christine says: “The standard of entries was impressive and showed a fantastic range of achievement from global to local initiatives, with budgets ranging from a shoestring to… well, a whole lot of shoestrings! But regardless of the resource applied, there was a common commitment to outcomes and measurement which was refreshing to see.”
Nick Reed FIIC Nick Reed is a former national news and sports writer and broadcaster who has worked on internal communications for more than 30 years – the vast majority of that time as a freelance. He has won numerous awards for his editing of global publications and his writing for both print and online channels. He currently works for companies in Europe, the Middle East, Japan and Latin America as well as the UK. Nick says: “It’s always a privilege to be an IoIC Awards judge, because it provides an insight into the real depth of talent and creativity within our industry. This year the quality has been higher than ever before, which makes the job of picking winners harder but also indicates that the professionalism of internal communications specialists is alive and well.”
Jo Ann Sweeney FIIC FCIM Jo Ann Sweeney is a corporate communications consultant with 25+ years’ experience marrying the needs of executives and their audiences, ensuring communication activities deliver for both. Typically, Jo Ann acts as communications lead on complex HR and technology programmes, facilitating development of effective internal and external communication strategies and then managing implementation. Clients value Jo Ann’s deep understanding of audiences. She is known for clarifying the complex and for concise, articulate and easy-to-understand communication activities that build rapport with stakeholders. Additionally, Jo Ann develops and runs tailored training programmes for clients and mentors senior communication professionals who want an external perspective.
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Dominic is an experienced communicator and consultant. He focuses on coaching and development and has worked with senior leadership teams from a wide range of organisations. He has also helped internal communication teams focus their offer and role and become trusted business partners. As well as consulting, he has worked in house as director of communication for Computershare and for Lloyds Bank in training and communication roles. Dominic is a past national chairman of IoIC. He has appeared on TV, radio and in print promoting strong leadership communication. Dominic judged this year’s class 8a, Best In house Team. He says: “as always this was a very competitive category, with some fantastic examples of in-house communicators doing great things. Those who shone out had three key things in common: a clear focus on what their organisation needed to achieve, a structured plan to achieve it with measurement of outcome built in, and a sense of passion and flair in how they work together and what they produce.”
Sarah Lazenby FIIC Sarah is a former director of internal communications at Royal Mail and head of internal communications at the Cabinet Office. Her extensive career spans both the private and public sector in consultancy and in-house roles and always, it seems, in times of crisis and major business challenge! A former journalist, Sarah is currently working on change programmes for AXA PPP healthcare as it transforms in the digital age.
Platinum Sponsors
Sarah says: “It was great to be back judging again – a real privilege. I felt extremely positive seeing entries which included how people had measured the effectiveness and business benefits of what they do. There was also plenty of innovation which is always refreshing.”
Thanks to all the judges who participated in the IoIC Awards 2016, who also included: Helen Connolly, Head of Employee Communications, Sellafield Ltd
Heather Wagoner, Director Internal Communication and Engagement, BBC
Jenny Davenport, Consultant and researcher
Tania Rhodes Taylor, Director of Marketing and Communications, Queen Mary University of London
Ken Hunter, Partner, Blackford Hunter LLP Simon Leech, Head of Internal Communications, Environment Agency
drp Buto: The professional video platform With our Buto video platform we help professional organisations engage, retain and build their audiences. If you need to deliver internal content securely, or take real control of how your video is presented and measured across your business, we’re here to make it easy. What’s more, we are UK-based.
drp is one of the longest established, trusted and uniquely integrated communication and production specialists, famous for making anything possible as we connect people, build brands and help grow organisations worldwide. From the very beginning of any project, we make one simple promise to our clients; “anything’s possible” it’s a promise which ensures that our work engages, inspires and excites your audience no matter their sensibility, size or seniority.
The Employee Engage App The Employee Engage App is the ultimate engagement and communication tool, revolutionising the way that you motivate, engage and reward your employees. The Employee Engage App combines internal communications, rewards, training and benefits into one power-packed mobile tool to improve communication, increase engagement, retain talent and enhance motivation.
Top Banana Sequel Our creativity, strategic and technology skills help clients make their important interesting. We connect audiences through the right messages, with the right channel, at the right time. With more than 40 years of awardwinning expertise in one place, we free clients up to deliver the bigger picture. We specialise in internal communication and business-to-business communication – a talented team of writers, designers, strategists, digital developers and filmmakers.
Back in 1999, we set up Top Banana to create truly remarkable events and communications for leaders who want to create emotional and rational engagement with their audience… moments that connect the head and the heart. Today, we’re still dedicated to the art of helping leaders communicate better, through a team of 50 spirited individuals in our London and Midland offices.
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WMW WMW works with HR and IC to help some of the world’s most influential companies think, work and talk more simply. Because in a world of spiralling complexity, simplicity can be your sharpest edge. We help simplify the big strategic stuff: capturing your purpose, vision and values; crystallising your EVP; and transforming your employee experience. You thought simple was dead? we say: long love simple.
Gold Sponsors
Pressgang
ab All great organisations have a great story to tell. Our job is to bring that story to life with colour, warmth and sincerity. In short, our business is to inform, motivate and inspire yours. We’re AB – a fresh thinking, award-winning employee communications agency, founded in 1964.
Pressgang has been one of the UK’s best-known communication agencies for more than 25 years. We take the ‘corporate’ out of corporate communications and replace it with something more engaging, more relevant and more credible. From newspapers to iPad magazines, from company reports to overnight conference publications, from Land’s End to John O’ Groats and way, way beyond, we tell the story of companies from Iceland Foods to Rolls-Royce.
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theblueballroom theblueballroom is a communications agency that cares about your people and your goals. Driven by what you want to achieve in your business internally and externally, they create meaningful messages, stories and concepts which are expressed through powerful design across all channels.
Silver Sponsor
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves” William Shakespeare
beetroot beetroot helps clients to communicate with their employees in the most effective way possible, using any and every channel available. We started out as a publishing company specialising in internal communications, in print and online, and that still makes up a large part of our business. But we have moved with the times, and today we offer a full range of services across many channels – including consultancy, campaigns, employee engagement and content management.
Next year’s awards are launched in the New Year – look out for the entry pack in January!
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IoIC Awards 2016
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