The IoIC National Awards shortlist is out

Congratulations to all the internal communicators who have been shortlisted in the Institute of Internal Communication National Awards 2021.

It was a pleasure to help judge them again this year and recognise you for all your hard work.

IoIC Awards Chairman, Justine Stevenson says: “We received a record breaking number of entries this year, with the Judges remarking how the work showed what a challenging year it had been and how everyone had to throw out the rule book and adapt so fast. If we could give awards for that, everyone would have won!”

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.

The Awards Dinner is planned for Friday 24 September 2021 at The Brewery, London.

I am planning to attend the awards (what a treat to be an in-person rather than virtual event!), and look forward to seeing Comms pros honoured on the night.

Here is the IoIC National Awards 2021 Shortlist

Category: Strategy & Campaigns

Best Best Change/Transformation Campaign
P@TH for Mondelez International by Fresh Communication
Safety Task Force for and by Network Rail
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
Faster Filing in Roche for Roche by Afiniti

Best Strategic Collaboration
Mutual Respect Campaign for Nationwide Colleagues, members and the general public by Internal Communications, Media, PPA and Advertising
Disrupt.ed for Colleagues across NatWest Group by NatWest internal comms team. Creative collaboration with Sequel and Leith Agency

Best Single Campaign
Arm 30 Campaign and House Party for and by Arm
#BeReady Computacenter for Computacenter by blue goose
Busy Doing Nothing campaign for and by EDF
Great Working Day Delivered for and by Lyreco People Engagement & Communications
The launch of Scottish Water Character for and by Scottish Water
Volkswagen ID.3 launch for Volkswagen by Rachel Beall and Jack Warrick (the Volkswagen Hub editors)

Best COVID Response
Coventry University Group: Our COVID-19 Response for and by Coventry University Group
Staying Apart to Stay #TogetherUnstoppable for and by DHL Supply Chain
Eversheds Sutherland – Best Covid Response for and by Eversheds Sutherland
Creating a social, remote working environment to enhance company culture during Covid for Fisher German by In-house Internal Communications team
Home Group – Covid-19 Response for and by Home Group
John Lewis Partnership Covid-19 response for John Lewis Partnership by John Lewis Partnership Partner Communications Team
Responding to COVID-19 as Kraft Heinz International for and by Kraft Heinz
Unifying our people around our purpose – when it mattered most for L&G by Group Internal Communications team
LNER communicating our way through a pandemic for and by LNER
London Ambulance Service – Best Covid Response for and by London Ambulance Service
Staying connected and bringing our people back for McDonald’s by blue goose
Best COVID Response – Nationwide Building Society’s ethic of care for Nationwide Building Society by Nationwide Building Society Employee Communications
Life in Lockdown for Nationwide Building Society by Nationwide Building Society Employee Communications
Raytheon UK – COVID Campaign for and by Raytheon UK
Salix Homes – #SalixTogether Campaign for Salix Homes by Salix Homes – in house Marketing and Brand Team
PlayStation Europe – Best Covid Response for and by PlayStation Europe (Sony Interactive Entertainment)
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust – Best COVID response for The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust by The in-house team
University of Oxford COVID-19 response – the health campaign for University of Oxford by In house communications team
Vodafone UK – Covid 19 response Vodafone UK for and by Vodafone UK
Best COVID Response for and by Voyage Care

Best Ongoing Communication
Bite Size Benefits for BNP Paribas by blue goose
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
Smarter Money for the John Lewis Partnership for John Lewis Partnership by blue goose
The Comeback for and by Kraft Heinz
Storytelling during the pandemic for Lloyds Banking Group by Lloyds Banking Group Internal Communications Team
Colleague Sentiment Tracker for Nationwide Colleagues by The Monitoring and Intelligence insight team with Nationwide’s Internal Communications team.
Integrating and improving communications in a pandemic for North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust by in-house team with support from Work Networks, who supplied Workplace from Facebook
Slater and Gordon – Best Ongoing Communication for and by Slater and Gordon
Prevention Not Correction Campaign for The Joseph Gallagher Group by Jaine Bolton Group Marketing Manager for The Joseph Gallagher Group
We are in this together to protect what we love for Unilever, Business Integrity by MGA
Virgin Media – One Team One Story for and by Virgin Media

Best D&I Campaign
The Power of Diversity for AstraZeneca by Ruder Finn UK
Banking on Racial Equality report for Colleagues across NatWest Group and external stakeholders by NatWest Group internal communications team.
Belonging for EY, submission written by EY, checked and submitted by scarlettabbott
I want you to know for IBM by The Frameworks
Black Lives Matter for Nationwide Colleagues by Internal Communications and People and Culture

Best Engagement Programme
Now & Next: Engaging employees during challenging times for AstraZeneca by Ruder Finn UK
The CityFibre Way for and by CityFibre
#WeCare for Direct Line Group by Words&Pictures
One Agency Delivering for Patients for and by Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) – LONDON
Achieving a positive mindset shift across a complex Global audience to drive clinical trial excellence…. for Roche by Afiniti

Best Wellbeing Programme
Being Well at Anchor Hanover for Anchor Hanover by Anchor Hanover Internal Communications Team
Wellbeing’s for life, not just for a crisis for and by BDO LLP
Coventry University Group: Connections Matter for and by Coventry University Group
Transforming wellbeing at Mercedes-Benz for and by Mercedes-Benz Cars UK Limited
#InItTogether for Nationwide Colleagues by Internal Communications
Wellbeing Programme for and by Nest Corporation
#ThisIsMe for Orbit Group by Internal Communications team

Best Employee Experience Campaign
Afiniti – People at the Heart for and by Afiniti
Join and Thrive induction programme for Phoenix by Words&Pictures

Best Leadership Communication Programme
Invoking the spirit of Dame Vera Lynn in leadership communication for DCMS by DCMS IC TEAM
Developing the leadership conversation to support mental health and wellbeing for Lindsay & Lang by Precise Communications
Marsh Commercial – A recipe for leadership success for Marsh Commercial colleagues by Marsh Commercial Internal Communications team
Connecting SSE’s senior leadership with employees for SSE plc by Group Internal Communications (in-house)

Category: Skills

Best Writing
otm for TfL by AB
The Reporter Quarterly, Autumn 2020 for White & Case by Sequel Group

Best Storytelling
Our Story for L&G by L&G Employer Brand team
On Purpose for NatWest Group by beetroot and NatWest Group
The Hero’s Journey – Our journey through the coronavirus crisis for Scottish Water by Scottish Water Internal Communications team supported by Connect Communications
otm for TfL by AB

Best Image
A secure future for and by Irdeto
Disrupt.ed for Colleagues across NatWest Group by NatWest Internal Communications team with creative collaboration from Sequel and Leith Agencies
Upfront for TfL by AB

Best One-Off Feature
Cancer? Me? Catherine Rutter shares her breast cancer journey for Lloyds Banking Group by Lloyds Banking Group Internal Communications Team
Protecting Our Pollinators for and by Tarmac
‘Special report: Purpose’ in The Review for The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment by Wardour
The Reporter Quarterly, Autumn 2020 for White & Case by Sequel Group

Best Design
Disrupt.ed for Colleagues across NatWest Group by NatWest Internal Communications team with creative collaboration from Sequel and Leith Agencies.
Pep Talk for PepsiCo UK by beetroot and PepsiCo UK
The Reporter Quarterly, Autumn 2020 for White & Case by Sequel Group

Category: Channels

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
Bee Digital for NatWest Group by McCann Synergy
Pep Talk for PepsiCo UK by beetroot and PepsiCo UK

Best Magazine
Network magazine for and by Network Rail Internal Communications and beetroot
Putting our People at the Core for Greencore by Internal Comms Team
KPMG Life for KPMG by AB
Peaple magazine – by and for Peabody employees for Peabody by Internal Communications team and Peabody employee volunteers
Pep Talk for PepsiCo UK by beetroot and PepsiCo UK
SW Magazine for Scottish Water by SW Internal Communications team
The Southeastern Standard for Southeastern by Words&Pictures
Zest Magazine for Voyage Care by Words&Pictures
The Reporter Quarterly, Autumn 2020 for White & Case by Sequel Group

Best Use of a Social Channel
Smart Connect: Staying Apart to Stay #TogetherUnstoppable for and by DHL Supply Chain

Best New or Relaunched Channel
Blueprint WIRED for Barclays Consumer Banking & Payments by Barclays Consumer Banking & Payments and 44 Communications
Experian Horizon for Experian by Experian’s Global Internal Communications team
Challenging The Status Quo: The Newsfido Relaunch for Onfido by Onfido’s Internal Comms team
Introducing… Phoenix Together Live for and by Phoenix Group
Best New Channel Submission for Saga by Internal Communications Team
London Ambulance Service LASTV Live for Staff by the internal communications team – in-house

Best Event (virtual or in person)
Best Event for and by Voyage Care
The Civica Awards for Civica by Group Communications & Engagement Team
Don’t be a llama for Henkel Slovensko by Seesame
‘Our BIG Night in’ (Annual Awards 2020) for Internal employees by The Engagement & Events team, Nationwide
The One Partnership Awards for John Lewis Partnership by John Lewis Partnership Partner Communications Team (with some support from Gray Creative Agency)
Together We’re Stronger for and by JRF/JRHT
KPMG UK Connect 2020 for and by KPMG UK
T-Awards: Thank you ceremony for staff at NEAS for North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust by In-house with support from Work Networks, suppliers of Workplace from Facebook
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust – Best Event for The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust by the in-house team
VodaFUN@Home for Vodafone UK by In-house Internal Communications team with support from creative agency

Best Intranet
Best Intranet for Barchester Healthcare by The Barchester Healthcare Internal Communications Team
Oneplace by Citizen for and by Citizen
The Kitchen – the heart of Just Eat Takeaway.com’s digital workplace for Just Eat Takeaway.com by LumApps
Building an integrated information & news hub to service a multi-site business for Fisher German by In-house Internal Communications team
Partner Intranet for John Lewis Partnership by John Lewis Partnership Digital Communications Team
Grid:home for National Grid by The Colleague Communications and Engagement Team
The Circle for Tarmac by Tarmac Internal Communications Team
TfL’s Journey to a Digital Workplace for Transport for London (TfL) by WM Reply and TfL
Saïd Business School new intranet Atrium for University of Oxford Saïd Business School by Atrium internet team
Hive: Creating a critical tool for Voyage Care by Voyage Care & Interact

Best Channel for a Remote Audience
McDonald’s News bites for McDonald’s by blue goose
Bee Digital for NatWest Group by McCann Synergy
Integrating and improving communications in a pandemic for North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust by In-house with support from Work Networks, suppliers of Workplace from Facebook
Introducing… Phoenix Together Live for and by Phoenix Group

Best Newspaper/Newsletter
The Point for EDF, Hinkley Point C by 44 Communications
#stayhome but #stayconnected for Henkel Slovensko by Seesame
The Insider for The Barbican by In-house team

Best Video/Animation
Reflections of 2020 for and by DHL Supply Chain
DWP Digital – Life in Lockdown Poem for DWP Digital by Jodie, Linda and Ben
NatWest S&CC community success films for NatWest Social & Community Capital (S&CC) by Sequel Group
Network Rail IT Services COVID-19 Animation for Network Rail by Afiniti
Front Line Focus – Best Video/Animation for Network Rail by Network Rail’s Internal Communications and Film team
The Very Dab for and by Scottish Water
Tarmac Christmas Film 2020 for and by Tarmac
ViacomCBS Networks UK: June 2020 Town Hall Sizzle for ViacomCBS Networks UK by ViacomCBS Networks UK Internal Communications Team & Vcreative

Category: Innovation

Best Quick Fix
Connecting colleagues during the pandemic for NatWest Markets colleagues by NatWest Markets internal communications team

Innovative Use of Media
Project Cube for Colleagues across NatWest Group by NatWest Internal Communications team
Our Results Story produced by Santander, checked and submitted by scarlettabbott
Our Character for and by Scottish Water

Game Changer
BBC Studios: the app for BBC Studios staff by BBC Studios Internal Communications Team
Mission Possible for NatWest Group by McCann Synergy
Introducing Heidi Live for Northumbrian Water by Internal Communications team
Good Morning Poundland & Dealz for Poundland & Dealz by Meet & Potato
The Circle for Tarmac by Tarmac Internal Communications Team
Employee App myWorten for and by Worten People

Category: Team

Best Agency
H&H
Integral

Best In-House Teams

Best In-House Team 1-5 people
Central Bank of Ireland
SSE plc
Tarmac
Voyage Care

Best In-House Team 6-10 people
Asda Creative Team
Ministry of Justice
Publicis Sapient Internal Communications Team

Best In-House Team 11+ people
DSC UK & Ireland Internal Communication & Engagement Team
John Lewis Partnership Partner Communications & Engagement Team
Thames Water employee communications team
Virgin Media

Best Public Sector or Not for Profit Teams

Best Public Sector or Not for Profit Team 1-5 people
Avon and Somerset Police
Community Integrated Care’s In-House Team
Legal Aid Agency Internal Communications Team
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
TfL Employee Communications and Engagement Team

Category: People

Best Internal Communications Newcomer (supported by FutureNet)
Karen Christoforou, University of Glasgow
Emily Davis, Topps Tiles Plc
Anna Kelly, Tarmac
Sarah Malpass, Legal and General

Internal Communicator of the Year
Alli Cary, Voyage Care
Anne-Marie Griffiths, DSC UK & Ireland
Nicola Lally, BDO LLP
Sally Otter, National Trust

Congratulations and best of luck to you all.

You can book your place for the dinner via the IoIC website. I understand the Judges’ critiques will be sent to all entrants in late September. If you have any further questions about your entry or the ceremony, please email awards@ioic.org.uk.

If you’re attending the awards and spot me there, do stop me and say hello.

Thank you for stopping by,

Rachel.

Post author: Rachel Miller

First published on the All Things IC website 9 July 2021.