Dean Royles, chief executive of NHS Employers, the HR and employee organisation of the NHS, said at last week’s Institute of Internal Communications conference “I’ve never, as an HR person, seen the ROI for why we use telephones.” He was commenting on the oft-criticised ROI of social media. The conference’s theme, “Future-proof,” took on the need for internal communications to address a changing landscape. Royles’ commentary on social media, and other presentations throughout the three day event, addressed the impending and at times, already occurring future of IC.

Over three days of case studies, panels and keynotes, the leading minds in Britain’s internal comms came together in Bristol for the IoIC’s Annual Conference. Digital and social were key points of interest throughout the conference. Case studies regarding successes and challenges in different industries carried the theme through.

Opening the first day of the conference, actress Brooke Kinsella MBE told her moving story of becoming an anti-knife violence activist and communicating with disengaged people. Turning toward the corporate world, the corporate comms manager for the Financial Times spoke about digital IC and others discussed everything from gamification to engaging young employees. Filled with interactive activities and compelling personal stories, the speakers and delegates were able to live and breathe engagement throughout the week.

On the closing day, Royles was joined by Heather Derrick from AstraZeneca who discussed reaching far-flung employees via an internet training portal. A former technological neophyte, Derrick’s engagement rates exploded when using the digital tool causing her to prefer virtual training to previous methods. Royles says technology can be exploited to engage an increasingly widespread workforce in order to increase transparency and build hope into the organisation.

IoIC president Suzanne Peck closed the conference with, “We’ve heard about new types of technology and about how traditional channels are helping IC professionals inspire employees and maintain communication. We’re on a journey but we need to keep future-proofing IC as we go. Hopefully you will go away with some ideas that have inspired you because that’s what success looks like here."