It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: the shortlist for the 2025 IoIC Awards has been announced!
With close to 300 entries, the Judges commented that they were ‘all really strong this year - there’s some truly impressive internal communication work happening out there, from some incredibly skilled individuals.’ All shortlisted entrants will receive an Award of Excellence and are in the running to take the top spot in their class* when the winners are announced at the Awards Dinner. The top scoring entry will also be announced as the Grand Prix Award.
Join us on Thursday 18 September for an exclusive evening at the renowned Hurlingham Club, where tradition meets distinction. Set against the backdrop of one of London’s most exclusive venues, we will mark the 70th year of the Awards with inspiration and celebration. As a private members' club, the Hurlingham is not typically open to the public. Attending the dinner offers a rare opportunity to experience its historic charm and exclusivity - making the evening even more special.
Increasingly we have people ask us to share entries and details of why they were shortlisted or, indeed, why they won. This can be tricky as very often the information shared in an entry is confidential. So, once again this year we asked for an executive summary as part of each entry - you can find these at the end of each Category's shortlist.
Judges' critiques will be sent to all entrants in early October
Thank you to everyone who entered.
Strategy & Campaigns
Best Change/Transformation Campaign
Strategic and collaborative Internal Communication drives firmwide GenAI adoption to achieve industry-first results by Ashurst Internal Communications and People Engagement in collaboration with Digital, Learning, Knowledge & Expertise, and Design Teams
A Better Heathrow by British Airways
FT Group AI Transformation Programme by Financial Times
The Pay Progression campaign by Cambridge University Press & Assessment
National Gas Technology Separation by National Gas and Cake Communications Consultancy
National Trust Pay & Grade Structure project by National Trust Internal Communications
Driving Connection, Culture and Clarity: The Launch of connect by The Rank Group Plc
TfL Values & Vision Campaign by TfL and DRPG
Student Engagement and Attendance Campaign (SEAtS) by The University of Manchester
Relocating to Paddington by Virgin Media O2
Nationwide acquisition campaign by The Virgin Money Colleague Communications team
Revolutionizing the Belgian retail landscape by Whyte Corporate Affairs for Delhaize
Best Employee Experience Programme
OneTeamOneOUH Staff Recognition programme by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
We Deliver More by Royal Mail with blue goose
Best Employee Voice Programme
#FeedbackToProgress employee voice programme by Experian UK&I
Building a great place to work through MyVoice by Mitie Group Plc
Team Talk Local by Mitie Group
Quilter Culture Transformation - Our Refreshed Values by Quilter
Surfacing and shaping values and behaviours for RS Group by RS Group with scarlettabbott
Best Engagement Programme
Fostering belonging and engagement post-acquisition by Admiral Group plc Change Communication Team
Putting People at the Heart of the Energy Transition by Afiniti
Uniting 94,000 people behind our Bold Ambition: How AstraZeneca harnessed the power of its people to exceed its business goals by AstraZeneca, Global Internal Communications Team
Together we thrive: reigniting culture across the British Council by British Council in partnership with H&H
BT Group - Secure Sense by Goldbug & BT Group
National Grid - Big Work by Goldbug & National Grid
Putting colleagues at the heart of Heathrow by Heathrow Airport
Integritea: Creating a 360 approach to business integrity by MGA & LIPTON Teas and Infusions
Can Do by Virgin Media O2
Best Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Campaign
'What you see, and the real me' by Colleague Engagement Team, abrdn
Communities Takeover by Aviva
Empowering our EDI Champions to deliver meaningful change at the NFU by The National Farmers' Union (NFU)
Best Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Campaign by Nucleus Financial
Change for Good by Royal Mail with blue goose
Everyone Is Unique by The Inclusion Campaign Project Team in Steam Thermal Solutions, a part of Spirax Group
SSP Ubuntu by SSP Worldwide
Best Global Communications Campaign
Uniting 94,000 people behind our Bold Ambition: How AstraZeneca harnessed the power of its people to exceed its business goals by AstraZeneca, Global Internal Communications Team
Rolling out values and behaviours to RS Group's global team by RS Group with scarlettabbott
Take Five to Keep Five by Global Employee Communications team, Tetra Pak
Best Internal and External Communication Alignment
Delivering a Big Difference: How AstraZeneca is making a positive impact on people, society and the planet by AstraZeneca, Corporate Communications Team
A disastrous internal communications campaign by Hiscox
Beyond the Bowl by Nestlé UK&I
Best Leadership Communication Programme
Let's Talk by BAT
Building trust through change: Humanising leadership at TUI UK&I by TUI UK&I
Bridging the gap: connecting leaders and staff in UofG Information Services by Information Services Communications Team, University of Glasgow
New President and Vice Chancellor Campaign by The University of Manchester
Best Ongoing Campaign
#BeReady by Computacenter with blue goose
National Grid - Big Work by Goldbug & National Grid
We Do That Campaign by Experian In-House Internal Comms & Engagement Team
Project Brunel - Thames Valley Recovery Plan by Network Rail (Western) Internal Communications Team
Best Single Campaign
Centrica Moonshots by Centrica
100 Years of Stanlow by EET Fuels
BT Group - Secure Sense by Goldbug & BT Group
Persimmon - Target Zero by Gallagher Communication
Heathrow's Internal Christmas campaign by Heathrow Internal Communications
Howden summer 2024 by Howden UK&I
Boldly communicating IP&I's transformation strategy to help move customers prepare for their financial futures and the unexpected by the Lloyds Banking Group, Insurance, Pensions & Investments corporate affairs team, supported by DRPG and Two Degrees Below
National Gas Employee Safe Every Day Campaign by National Gas Internal Communications Team
The Day of the Jackal: Engaging colleagues through unforgettable experiences by Sky
Best Strategy Development
Turning point: A strategy for growth by Hiscox
Building awareness, understanding and belief in the Insurance, Pensions & Investments strategy: how we'll help Britain prosper by planning for the future by the Lloyds Banking Group Insurance, Pensions & Investments corporate affairs team, supported by Two Degrees Below and DRPG
Best Sustainability Campaign
ACTIVE8 Sustainability for Bridgestone West by Bridgestone and Sequel Group
EBRD Season of Sharing by The EBRD Internal Communications team
Mission:Zero by Voyage Care
You can find out more about the entries in the executive summaries provided by the entrants.
Skills
Best Design/Imagery
Employee Engagement Survey 2024 campaign #FoodForThought by Balfour Beatty
Bringing security to life through a character-led creative approach by DHL Express and Something Big
Kao UK Employee Rewards Branding by Gallagher Communication
National Grid - Big Work by Goldbug & National Grid
Google DeepMind Pulse Newsletter: A Visual Evolution by Google DeepMind Internal Communications Team
Howden summer 2024 by Howden UK&I
Designing ownership – a journey of collective belief by JTC in partnership with H&H
Pep Talk by PepsiCo UK and beetroot
Connect & Flourish Events by Scottish Water Internal Communications Team
Tesco Bank's Touring Cinema Installation by Tesco Bank's People Strategy & Communications team
Best Feature/Writing
The Reporter Quarterly - Spring launch issue by White and Case and Sequel Group
Best Storytelling
Gallagher - How We Grow by Gallagher Communication
Pep Talk by PepsiCo UK and beetroot
Our real end of year success stories by phs Group
Day 1 video by Tesco Bank People Strategy & Communications Team
You can find out more about the entries in the executive summaries provided by the entrants.
Channels
Best Community Management
Creating our winning culture with Loop at the centre by Moto Hospitality
Best Event
Making it click in Aviva Week by Aviva
One Bank Week 2024 by Central Bank of Ireland
Our future together: Kickstarter and Bring Your Dubai-ness Forum by Dubai Airports Company and The Engage Group
GitTogether: The Year of Scale | Internal Fiscal Year Virtual Kickoff by GitHub Internal Communications, Internal Events
IoIC Awards 2025 – Best Event – Marriott x Remarkably by Marriott International x Remarkably
NWG Leadership Conference 2024 by NWG Internal Communications team
Connect Live by Oxera
Quilter Conference July 2024 by Quilter
Connect & Flourish Events by Scottish Water Internal Communications Team
The Big Sky Cares Wrapathon Event: Breaking records and spreading joy by Sky
Win Together Conversation - On the Road by Tesco Bank's People Strategy & Communications Team
The Wellbeing Stand-down by WSP UK&I
Best Intranet
Oak Engage supports Burger King UK to transform employee experience with the launch of BK Hub by Burger King UK and Oak Engage
Oak Engage supports ScS in transforming how they connect and inform their colleagues by Oak Engage and ScS
Hive by Voyage Care
ZIGUP uses Oak Engage to bring together all of their employees under one roof by ZIGUP and Oak Engage
Best Magazine
The Source by British Gas and scarlettabbott
'Wrap Up' - Samworth Brothers (Food to Go) Magazine by Samworth Brothers (Food to Go)
The Reporter Quarterly - Spring launch issue by Sequel and White and Case
Best New or Relaunched Channel
Pathway by Bellway
My Central - a new, vibrant and engaging local government intranet by Central Bedfordshire Council Internal Communications team
Chase UK’s first mobile app: Connect on-the-go by Chase UK Communications Team
NESO@home by National Energy System Operator
Building our own digital home by National Gas
Primark - Relaunching ZING, our Colleague App, in Ireland by The Internal Comms & Engagement Channels Team, Primark
Driving Connection, Culture and Clarity: The Launch of connect by The Rank Group Plc
Santander Now and Viva Engage by Santander
Staff Intranet Redevelopment Project by The University of Birmingham Intranet Redevelopment Team
Best News Channel
Pep Talk by PepsiCo UK and beetroot
Daily News Bites: The internal newsletter that connects tbi bank's diverse team with the hottest news in finance and tech by tbi bank
On Track by 44 Communications and Siemens Mobility
Best Podcast
Power Up! For Peak Podcast by Currys
The Squeeze by Voyage Care
Best Video/Animation
The Aviva IWR – ‘Ignition’ for Aviva IWR by Aviva and Sequel Group
Telling our future story: two years of organisation design complexity in one simple animation by Defence Equipment and Support and DRPG/Grosvenor
Gallagher - How We Grow by Gallagher Communication
Charles' story by The Virgin Money Colleague Communications team
Wheatley Group weekly CEO video messages by Wheatley Group
You can find out more about the entries in the executive summaries provided by the entrants.
Innovation
Game Changer
The Big BPme Rewards Challenge by BP UK with blue goose
Uniting Devonshire Group’s Diverse Workforce on One Employee App by The Devonshire Group and Blink
Empowering Line Managers for Impactful Verbal Communication by Elysium Healthcare
BT Group - Secure Sense by Goldbug & BT Group
The Cube: we're helping customers see their future, to own their tomorrow. And the cube showed our colleague just how we're doing it. A disruptive, immersive, experiential to engage and enthuse. by the Lloyds Banking Group, Insurance Pensions & Investments corporate affairs team, supported by Two Degrees Below
Driving Connection, Culture and Clarity: The Launch of connect by The Rank Group Plc
35-Hours and You App by Scottish Water Internal Communications Team
Innovative Use of Media/Technology
Aberdeen Investments - Ring the Bell by Aberdeen
Google DeepMind Pulse: Innovating on Internal Communications with AI tools by Google DeepMind Internal Communications
Most Innovative Content Creation
Mubadala Fair 2024: Innovation You Can Feel by Mubadala and The Engage Group
You can find out more about the entries in the executive summaries provided by the entrants.
Team
Best Small Agency (1-10 people)
Bowline Communications
Best Medium Agency (11-30 people)
Goldbug
The Surgery
Best Large Agency (30+)
Gallagher's Communication Consulting Practice: UK Team
H&H
Best In-House Teams
Best In-House Team 1-5 people
Arup Internal Comms Team, UKIMEA region
Northumbrian Water Group Internal Communications Team
Best In-House Team 6-10 people
Google DeepMind Internal Communications Team
Quilter Internal Communications Team
Best In-House Team 10+ people
Ministry of Justice
Mitie Group Internal Communications Team
Santander UK
Wheatley Group
Best Public Sector or Not for Profit Teams
Best Public Sector or Not for Profit Team 1-5 people
Defence Equipment and Support
Lothian Pension Fund Communications Team
Best Public Sector or Not for Profit Team 6-10 people
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
The University of Edinburgh's Internal Communications Team
The University of Warwick's Internal Communications team
Best Public Sector or Not for Profit Team 10+ people
Ministry of Justice
National Trust Internal Communications Network
You can find out more about the entries in the executive summaries provided by the entrants.
People
Best Internal Communication Newcomer
Samantha Linning, BDP (Building Design Partnership)
Lianne Moulder, Admiral Group PLC
Katie Queen, Nucleus Financial
Nathan Ruff, TUI UK&I
Internal Communication Manager of the Year
Ranjani Dhanabalakrishnan, St Giles Trust
Hester Lonergan, Cooper Parry
Lucy Pearce, AXA
Internal Communication Leader of the Year
Shalini Gupta, ARUP
Candy Hall, TUI UK&I
Sharn Kleiss, Gallagher Communication
Caroline Macdonald, Nucleus Financial
You can find out more about the entries in the executive summaries provided by the entrants.
*Please note, being the only entry shortlisted doesn’t guarantee a class win
We are excited to be able to celebrate with you at the Awards Dinner on Thursday 18 September at the Hurlingham Club, London.