An afternoon exploring the new frontier of digital employee engagement.
Our speakers gave fresh insights into the latest tools, innovations and practices in employee engagement. From mobile communications and social media to videos, intranets and virtual meetings.
Presentations
What is an intranet, anyway?
People have lots of different things in mind when they think of their perfect intranet. When the internal comms and digital teams at the Wellcome Trust embarked on a redevelopment project they did so with a completely blank canvas, holding back on assumptions and digging deep into the actual information and knowledge needs of staff. Chris explained how an in-house team then followed an Agile development process to deliver a successful (so far!), powerful and evolving platform.
Chris Newstead, head of internal communications, Wellcome Trust
Digital tools to supercharge your real-world events
Online tools can be powerful ways to connect staff and volunteers across the barriers of time and geography. But people still love to connect in person. At Cancer Research real-world events such as Stand Up 2 Cancer and World Cancer Day are an important strand of staff and volunteer engagement – find out how the team uses digital technologies such as YouTube and Yammer to drive deeper and wider participation.
Jacqui Hill, head of internal communications, Cancer Research UK
Social business
WaterAid's Yammer platform has become a vital tool for staff to engage with their peers and stay up to date and connected with the organisation's work around the world. Magnus explained what has driven its largely organic growth and how the internal communications team has used a light touch to support and encourage its use.
Magnus Slingsby, employee engagement manager, WaterAid
Who's in? Using public social media for internal communications
The distinction between internal and external audiences is increasingly blurred. Mencap has embraced the transparency and openness of social media, and used free public tools such as Twitter to involve staff and volunteers in strategic discussions, from regular #yourmencap discussions, through to the launch of a new strategic plan.
Liz Clyro, head of internal communications, Mencap
Lync up!
About two-thirds of Parkinson’s UK employees are home based. Mina outlined how the charity uses Microsoft Lync as a powerful internal communications channel – where staff across the UK connect and hear about teams’ work through lively online Lync-ups.
Mina Dhillon, internal communications manager, Parkinson's UK