Internal communicators’ impacts on their workplaces relies upon their talent, drive and pursuit of best practice. The Institute of Internal Communications’ (IoIC) ICon awards recognises exemplary internal communicators.

The ICon Awards recognise individuals in a range of disciplines as well as the best in-house team for their ability to promote best practice. IoIC chief executive, Steve Doswell says, “With increased pressure to do more with less in the workplace, it’s all the more important that good work is acknowledged and encouraged through awards and recognition. Take this chance to commend a colleague – or enter yourself."

ICon winners are first nominated and then judged by a panel of internal communications professionals. Winners will be announced at the Communicator of the Year lunch on 12 November. Nominations are accepted until 30 September. Last year’s ‘Best designer,’ Emily Atkins, digital and UX designer at Sequel Group, says, “I was thrilled to be awarded ‘Best designer’ at the ICon Awards 2014. I really enjoy the challenge of designing for digital outputs, which has an increasingly strong role within internal communication. Design is such an important aspect of communication as a way to engage audiences, so it’s a great achievement to be recognized by the IoIC for design work.”

The IoIC has also announced the appointment of a new director for the organisation’s central region. Rich Baker, head of internal communications at Carlsberg UK, was voted in by members in the central region and succeeds Lesley Allman of Allman Communications, who held the post for four years.

Doswell says, “As a national organisation, IoIC relies on the capability and vigour of its regional directors to build and maintain its profile around the country. We have been blessed with a succession of strong leaders within central region and on IoIC’s behalf I would like to express my thanks to Lesley for maintaining our visibility across the Midlands over several years. I wish Rich Baker every success in putting his own stamp on this now well-established role. He is a very welcome addition to our leadership group.”

The central region includes south and central Wales.

Categories for nomination into the ICon Awards include:

•  In-house team – corporate
•  In-house team – public/not for profit
•  Editor – for work in any media or format
•  Writer – for work in any media or format
•  Designer – for work in any media or format
•  Image creator – video, photography, illustration
•  Digital innovator – mobile, app, video, intranet
•  Community manager – intranet, social network