
Over 330 internal communication professionals attended the IoIC’s first in person Awards Dinner in two years, on Friday 24th September at The Brewery to celebrate the winners of the IoIC National Awards 2021
Our Awards Chair, Justine Stevenson and IoIC’s Chief Exec Jennifer Sproul were very happy and excited to welcome winners onto a stage again.
Jennifer started off the evening's celebrations saying: "We’ve been through an extraordinary amount, both as people and as a profession. Yet, we adapted, we rose to the challenges and now we are finally together in a room to celebrate what we achieved. For me, and I hope for all of you tonight it is undeniable the value and impact of the work this profession does, we should all feel immensely proud and as we look forward take these opportunities to create better organisations and a better society."
Justine remarked on the record breaking and high standard of entries this year "The past 18 months has shone a light on what we do and demonstrated just how vital internal communications is within organisations. We’ve had to react at speed, adapt our approach and step up to lead conversation and action more than ever before. And this has really shown in the entries this year. The results that you achieved in the most challenging of times was amazing and humbling. As our judges said it showed how everyone had to throw out the rule book and adapt so fast. If we could give awards for that, everyone would have won!"
The crowd were also wowed with the half time show - Ireland's 7th biggest hip hop act and festival regular Abandoman. It was a wonderful, celebratory evening - and we were thrilled to be back together again.
Thirty-seven class winners were handed out, along with a #WeMatterAtWork Awards and once again the Grand Prix Award winner was the pinnacle of the evening. This top trophy went to: Now & Next: Engaging employees during challenging times for AstraZeneca by Ruder Finn UK.
The IoIC National Awards 2021 – The Winners
CHANNELS
Best New or Relaunched Channel
London Ambulance Service LASTV Live for Staff by the internal communications team - in-house
Best Video/Animation
The Very Dab for and by Scottish Water
Best Use of a Social Channel
Smart Connect: Staying Apart to Stay #TogetherUnstoppable for and by DHL Supply Chain
Best Channel for a Remote Audience
Bee Digital for NatWest Group by McCann Synergy
Best Channel for Members/Stakeholders/Volunteers
A&O Alumni Yearbook 2020 for A&O Alumni Network by A&O Alumni Network and 44 Communications
Best News Channel
Pep Talk for PepsiCo UK by beetroot and PepsiCo UK
Best Event (virtual or in person)
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust - Best Event for The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust by the in-house team
Best Magazine
The Reporter Quarterly, Autumn 2020 for White & Case by Sequel Group
Best Newspaper/Newsletter
The Insider for The Barbican by In-house team
Best Intranet
Grid:home for National Grid by The Colleague Communications and Engagement Team
SKILLS
Best Design
The Reporter Quarterly, Autumn 2020 for White & Case by Sequel Group
Best Writing
otm for TfL by AB
Best Image
Disrupt.ed for Colleagues across NatWest Group by NatWest Internal Communications team with creative collaboration from Sequel and Leith Agencies
Best One-Off Feature
The Reporter Quarterly, Autumn 2020 for White & Case by Sequel Group
Best Storytelling
otm for TfL by AB
INNOVATION
Innovation Use of Media
Project Cube for Colleagues across NatWest Group by NatWest Internal Communications team
Game Changer
BBC Studios: the app for BBC Studios staff by BBC Studios Internal Communications Team
Best Quick Fix
Connecting colleagues during the pandemic for NatWest Markets colleagues by NatWest Markets internal communications team
STRATEGY & CAMPAIGNS
Best Engagement Programme
Now & Next: Engaging employees during challenging times for AstraZeneca by Ruder Finn UK
Best D&I Campaign
Banking on Racial Equality report for Colleagues across NatWest Group and external stakeholders by NatWest Group internal communications team
Best Single Campaign
#BeReady Computacenter for Computacenter by blue goose
Best Leadership Communication Programme
Connecting SSE’s senior leadership with employees for SSE plc by Group Internal Communications (in-house)
Best Strategic Collaboration
Mutual Respect Campaign for Nationwide Colleagues, members and the general public by Internal Communications, Media, PPA and Advertising
Best Ongoing Communication
The Partnership Plan for John Lewis Partnership by A collaboration with the Partner Communications and Strategy teams plus thousands of our Partners (employees), as well as customers and suppliers
Best Change/Transformation Campaign
The implementation of a new Electronic Patient Record at NBT for North Bristol NHS Trust by Rosie Hagland & Andrew Parsonage, Digital Programmes Communications Team, IT Directorate, North Bristol NHS Trust
Best Wellbeing Programme
Transforming wellbeing at Mercedes-Benz for and by Mercedes-Benz Cars UK Limited
Best Employee Experience Campaign
Join and Thrive induction programme for Phoenix by Words&Pictures
Best COVID Response
Staying Apart to Stay #TogetherUnstoppable for and by DHL Supply Chain
PEOPLE
Best Internal Communications Newcomer (supported by FutureNet)
Karen Christoforou, University of Glasgow
Internal Communicator of the Year
Anne-Marie Griffiths, DSC UK & Ireland
TEAM
Best Agency
Integral
Best In-House Team 1-5 people
Voyage Care
Best In-House Team 6-10 people
Ministry of Justice
Best In-House Team 11+ people
Thames Water employee communications team
Best Public Sector or Not for Profit Team 1-5 People
Avon and Somerset Police
Best Public Sector or Not for Profit Team 6-10 People
Anchor Hanover Internal Communications Team
Best Public Sector or Not for Profit Team 11+ People
National Trust: Best Not for Profit or Charity Team
The #WeMatterAtWork Award
The Insider for The Barbican by In-house team
The IoIC Grand Prix Award
Now & Next: Engaging employees during challenging times for AstraZeneca by Ruder Finn UK