Welcome to the 44 Comms archive.
A place to put the stories worth keeping
44 COMMUNICATIONS GOES MOBILE
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You can now find 44 Communications on the Apple App Store.
We have produced the "44 Engagement Quiz" as a fun and quick way to take your employee engagement temperature.
We have designed it to be an acid-test of workplace communication and the results will guide you in ways we think you can improve it.
You can check up on 44 News, contact details and the "About us" section on your iPhone while on the move.
Click the photo or the AppStore logo below to download the app.
THE STAFF OF DREAMS – PART 2
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We have lots to celebrate this month at 44!
For he’s a jolly good Fellow!
Director Corin Ashby has recently been made a Fellow of the IoIC (Institute of Internal Communication).
Fellowships are awarded to IoIC members of the highest professional standing and achievement, with at least a decade’s experience in the field of corporate communication.
“I’m obviously very pleased and privileged to be made a Fellow of the IOIC. It’s an organisation I’ve been involved with for many years,” said Corin.
“I’ve always believed strongly in the power of good communication to improve business performance, and it’s nice to be recognised in this way.”
Smooth operator
More congratulations are also in order for Alan Coates, account executive. Alan has completed Level 2 of his City & Guilds website creation course with top marks and is rapidly moving through his Level 3.
As part of Level 2 he undertook a project, which focused on mobile phone user functionality.
“The course is directly relevant to the digital channels that people are increasingly communicating in,” said Alan. “So it’s great to know more about that technology as it develops.”
FIVE STEPS TO HEAVEN
IF THE VALUE OF internal communication to a business is not clear then it's not rocket science to assume organisations will be unwilling to invest significant time and resource in it.
The majority of respondents to our research cited a need for more budget and resources. But few talked about building hard, practical business cases to support such funding approvals.
Our conclusion? From the interviews we undertook we witnessed a daily devaluation of the IC function occurring within a significant majority of UK organisations. Internal communicators are running very hard just to stand still.
A way forward until internal communication professionals actively measure and demonstrate the real business value of what they do to the entire management layer of their organisations, then they do not stand a chance of being allotted the same amount of time, resources and importance as other functional activities. In short, the often soft, cuddly teddy bear that can be the business function of internal communication must find a way to grow some sizeably sharp teeth. Only then will management sit up and take notice of its true potential.
Our initial research (conducted back in 2005) led to a further study and the development of the Five Step Framework (FSF) - a mix of measures designed to help communicators demonstrate the true value of IC activities.
The Framework draws on measurement strategies from other operational functions. Only by adopting similar ways to measure and demonstrate the value of its own operation will the internal communication function be able to move forward with more significance.
What is the FSF? In a nutshell it's a simple structure and process that enables internal communication professionals to better demonstrate the business value of what they do at a management level.
Measurement can be both a political and creative exercise. The Five Step Value Framework presented below is intended to help internal communicators structure and deliver more tangible demonstrations of business value.
The FSF is not a definitive method. It provides a flexible framework for communicators to plan a number of measurement tactics, which combined with more traditional options, aid the overall effort of demonstrating value to the business.
To order your copy of the Five Step Value framework, email: info@44communications.co.uk
SNAP SHOWCASES SOME LATEST HIGHLIGHTS
New for 2010: Our digi partners SNAP, tech-savvy innovators of corporate communication, have been making improvements to their range of online tools. Throughout the past year they have been working their development team hard in order to enhance our SNAP offerings.
Some examples of the new improvements follow:
Screensaver - multimedia template
This template allows you to include video (as well as images and flash).
Screensaver with ticker
This is the multimedia screensaver with a ticker bar running over the top.
Screensaver – single page PowerPoint template
A template is available that allows you to easily upload a single page PowerPoint slide.
Text box screensaver
This option allows you to add images and text boxes onto a screensaver (a bit like PowerPoint).
CLICK HERE
Snap Mag preview function
SnapMag templates can now be created which include a preview option (an example template within Snap Mag is called “SnapComms News and Views”).
Snap Mag HTML version
Newer Snap Mag templates can now create a URL link, meaning that PDA/non-Client users can view the Snap Mag.
CLICK HERE
Content Display Reports
Reporting has been extensively updated to track content delivery and views.
CLICK HERE
Staggered download
This is available within in-house versions of the solution only and helps to spread the network impact of large files, making initial start-up easier.
CLICK HERE
If you would like to know more about SNAP, their tools, or how they can be put the best use for your company, visit www.snapcomms.com or get in touch with us at 44 at info@44communications.co.uk or by giving us a call on 01926888776.
CiB Awards 2010
FOR THE SECOND year running 44 COMMS has been shortlisted for top honours at the CiB Central Region awards.
The British Association of Communicators in Business (CiB) Midlands-based award event covers the full range of corporate communications disciplines. These range from strategy and publication production, through to digital design and imagery. This year 44 COMMS projects have been nominated in no less than eight award categories!
“This great news for us considering the high quality of entries in this long-running and well-respected industry competition,” said Corin Ashby, a partner at 44. “We’re very pleased to follow-up last year’s successes with another strong performance across a wide range of classes.”
There is a successful first time run out for the collaborative efforts of energy provider E.ON UK and 44 COMMS, with a nomination for best Newspaper and photography. Meanwhile the global publication Angloworld which 44 produces with Anglo American PLC receives a dual shortlisting in both best Magazine and best New/Relaunched magazine categories.
And last year’s Tom Dawson ‘Best of the Best’ award winner TQM World magazine (previously Tarmac World), has again been selected for best Newsmagazine and for best Writing classes. In the online section, TQM’s news portal and intranet, T-Junction, has also been nominated for best Electronic Design.
Corin added: “I know a lot of hard work has gone into every project or piece of work entered in these awards. We look forward to celebrating with our clients and peers at the awards evening in February.”
To find out more about the Central Region’s annual seminar event and the awards evening/listing visit: www.cib.uk.com
ON TOP OF THE WORLD
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44 has picked up another award for Tarmac World, the employee newsmagazine it produces for Tarmac UK, at the CiB National Awards in May. The accolade follows hot on the heels of awards success earlier in the year. In February, the team scooped top spot in four classes of the CiB Central awards 2009 then went onto to win the annual 'best of the best' prize.
"It's great to be recognised at both regional and national levels. The competition at both events was of an extremely high calibre," said Corin Ashby from 44. "We have only been working with Tarmac for the past year and a half on the magazine, I'm so pleased that the entire team effort behind Tarmac World has done so well, so quickly."
CiB judges recognised Tarmac World for its all-round quality - not just its design but also for its open, honest and entertaining content approach.
The CiB (www.cib.uk.com) was formed in 1949 as the British Association of Industrial Editors. The not-for-profit association changed its name to the British Association of Communicators in Business in 1995, to reflect the wide range of disciplines demanded of its members today. It is the leading industry body for professional business communicators.
Posted: June 2009
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A FAST-TRACK leadership programme needed a brand look and feel fast. 44 delivered a sharp, new look in just five days. This enabled the client to meet their deadline and undertake a targeted internal launch with a consistent look and feel throughout.
Leading Edge is a high impact learning experience which challenges candidate's beliefs and barriers to success. So the brand needed to reflect its edgy, fast-moving nature. "We invite the senior leaders of tomorrow onto this course to develop their talent.
They are tested to the limit," explained Vicky King, Change & Development manager, Tarmac UK. "Positioning this programme with the right brand look & feel internally was extremely important in achieving appropriate levels of buy-in from sponsors and participants alike. "The input and support we received from 44 was critical to meeting our deadlines."
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ANDY HUTSON is the latest specialist to join 44's alliance partner network. The former newspaper business editor offers unique editorial insight and skills which span both internal and external communications fields.
Andy was a senior newspaper journalist for more than a decade, working on daily and weekly newspapers in Midlands-based roles ranging from chief reporter to business editor for the Coventry Evening Telegraph. He has specific industry expertise in the Construction and Financial Services sectors. He moves back into the creative agency side of things following time spent at Morgan Est where he was PR manager.
"I'm really looking forward to being part of the 44 alliance team," said Andy. "It's an innovative way of working and one that more people should adopt because it enables specialists to concentrate on what they are good at. I will be particularly focused on editorial support and managing projects from end-to-end. That's what I love doing."
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IN 2009 44 COMMS was shortlisted in no less than nine categories of the British Association of Communicators in Business Central region awards - winning four classes outright.
Andy Clarke, creative director, commented: “Benchmarking your own work against others in the industry is always a healthy exercise. We are delighted to have been shortlisted in a good spread of creative categories and look forward to celebrating with our clients!”
In all, 44 Communications projects have been shortlisted in the following award classes:
• Writing - class winner
• Design
• Newsmagazine - class winner
• Newsletter - class winner
• Special publication (x2)
• Redesigned publication
• Style on a shoestring (x2) - class winner
The CiB (www.cib.uk.com) was formed in 1949 as the British Association of Industrial Editors. The not-for-profit association changed its name to the British Association of Communicators in Business in 1995, to reflect the wide range of disciplines demanded of its members today. It is the leading industry body for professional business communicators.
44’S ROYAL HOMECOMING
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FIT FOR A KING - 44 has recently moved into new office space in Royal Leamington Spa. The company’s new home is located in an elegant Regency building on Clarendon Place - just two blocks away from Leamington’s Grand Parade.
“The office is ideal for our needs at the present time,” explained Corin Ashby, partner. “Leamington is great location – it is home to some of the best creative skills in the Midlands. We wanted to be close to the centre of the town not least to ensure a ready supply of decent coffee and some nice places to take clients for lunch!”
The new office is equipped with a shared work area and meeting room – making it the perfect location to plan and deliver a variety of communication project work. He added: “This arrangement is both cost effective and gives us room to grow if we need it.” For local info and directions to our office, go to the WHERE section.
