Most research asks what practitioners think. The IC Index asks employees. A different approach to understanding what good internal communication looks like across the UK.
Similar reports in this field tend to focus on what internal communication practitioners think is important, or what leaders want from their internal communication teams.
We wanted to take a different approach.
First and foremost, this is about the communication experiences and needs of the UK workforce. We have also brought internal communication practitioners together to home in on real industry needs.
The joint approach of IoIC’s practitioners and Ipsos Karian and Box’s research rigour has cemented findings in real data, providing robust insights which organisations can use to build improved internal communication strategies.
By providing a UK-wide employee view of what good communication looks like, we hope to champion internal communication as a business-critical function.
We hope you find this report valuable in helping you shape your organsiation’s current and future internal communication strategy.
This month: boards rehearsing for multiple futures; deepfake fraud eroding trust in work calls and video meetings; the cheapest AI choice turning out to be the greenest; job-hugging finally starting to crack; and a representation gap costing organisations more than most realise. The intelligence internal communication professionals need to help shape decisions, not just distribute them.
Internal communication builds strategic confidence when it translates business strategy into clear, consistent narratives, keeps leaders visible and authentic, and helps leaders blend deliberate planning with context-responsive adaptation. This matters. The 2026 IC Index shows only 52% of employees believe their organisation’s strategy is the right one for success.
This month: leadership silence in a stagflation-lite economy; AI agents that no longer wait to be asked; net zero's £100bn case under political attack; the four-day week evidence most organisations are ignoring; and why burnout is a structural failure, not a personal one. The intelligence IC professionals need to advise at the highest level.
The IOIC Impact Brief highlights the strategic opportunity for internal communicators in the rapidly evolving world of work. This webinar explored the latest actionable intelligence across business, technology, sustainability, employment and people trends.
This month: geopolitical disruption and honest communication; AI value over AI theatre; sustainability's shift to legal liability; new employment rights many colleagues still don't know about; the collapse in leadership trust; and why emotional agility is now business-critical. The intelligence IC professionals need to advise at the highest level.
The Open Afternoon provided an in-depth look at the Masters programme, how to balance study with work/life, real-world application of learning, how to join the course - and much more!
This is the final call for IOIC members to apply for Fellowship, the profession's highest distinction. If you have ten or more years in internal communication and are shaping strategy, mentoring others or recognised as an expert in your field, now is the time to apply.
Log in to your member dashboard to access the application form before applications close.
