KCOM scoops major national award

KCOM overcame a shortlist of eight other finalists to take the award which, according to organisers was “presented to the company or organisation who has gone to considerable lengths to improve internal communications.”

KCOM was recognised for its work engaging employees in its major rebranding operation which saw its four different customer brands brought together under one KCOM identity last April.

Cathy Phillips, KCOM chief marketing officer, said: “We are delighted that our efforts to engage people across the business in our rebranding as KCOM have been recognised by this national award.

“The move to a single brand was an important part of our transformation journey and gaining insight and contributions from everyone was invaluable in bringing our business together under one name.

“We were keen to ensure all our employees fully understood why we were rebranding as KCOM and how it would allow us to better invest in a single, more successful, business and focus on delivering the products, services and experience that our customers want.

“We’d like to thank our employees who have embraced the KCOM brand for all their efforts and making the company’s transformation a continued success.”

The major rebranding initiative brought four different customer brands of the business together under one KCOM identity.

Before launching to the public, KCOM set out to engage its employees in the new brand to make a seamless shift for customers.

As part of its winning entry KCOM had to “demonstrate a well thought out Internal Communications programme that delivers proven results that have the employees at the heart of the campaign.”

To ensure buy-in from employees KCOM included them in discussions from the beginning of the process, taking part in rebranding workshops, open brand surgeries and e-learning sessions.

Working with internal communications agency H&H, KCOM developed a phased engagement programme with employees as the new brand, visual identity and ways of working were developed.

Helen Bissett, H&H managing director, said: “We've partnered with KCOM for many years across a wide range of internal communication programmes and initiatives. Our familiarity with the people and the culture ensured that we could seamlessly blend our skills and expertise with the in-house team to achieve an excellent outcome."