‘Best practice’ intranet recognised in CiB awards

Award winning system designed to improve internal communication generates a 400% increase in training course take-up.

StyleTech Solutions, based in Hull, has won the ‘Best Intranet’ award from the British Association of Communicators in Business (CiB) for a bespoke intranet system developed for Ideal Standard UK. The same system won ‘The Ceramic Industry Pledge Promotion Award 2007’ for Ideal Standard in October.

StyleTech’s bespoke intranet was awarded the top prize because in the judges’ opinion it was an ‘an outstanding system, a best practice example that delivers real value to the client organisation’.

Usability and accessibility are crucial factors in the success of any intranet and StyleTech’s brief was simply to get the system in front of as many employees as possible. Tackling this issue amongst a diversely skilled and dispersed staff, from computer literate office based staff with PC’s on every desk through to employees within the factory areas whose work does not ordinarily call for IT skills, has taken a particularly creative approach. StyleTech’s solution uses a ‘portal café’ approach with touch-screen kiosk technology installed into canteens and walk-ways.

The system gives quick and easy access to information on product standards, operating procedures, health and safety updates and online training courses. The information is updated daily and available 24 hours. The new Intranet, installed in April 2007 is receiving over 5,000 hits per week and Ideal has reported a 400% increase in training course take-up.

Long-term benefits will include cost savings, environmental benefits, scalability and the functionality to add further developments to the system in line with new business activity.

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Commenting on being awarded for the second time, David Scotney, StyleTech’s Managing Director said; ‘This award represents endorsement for the whole StyleTech team and the development work with all of our client partners. The system as a whole has proved a big hit with Ideal’s workforce and we couldn’t hope for better endorsement than that’.

Paul Bayley, information communication manager for Ideal Standard UK  added; ‘This has been a real team effort with IT, StyleTech, our software partner and all the content publishers in the UK Company keeping the portal fresh and engaging. Well done to all.’