From internal magazines to live events and from global programmes to local initiatives, internal communications is a diverse and exciting area of corporate communications.

For the past four years, CIPR Inside, a working group within the CIPR, has recognised the best in internal comms through its #InsideStory Awards.

The awards event recognises best practice in internal communications. Judges are experienced industry professionals that assess entries against a rigorous criteria that the group has created.

This year, there have been some changes to the awards categories: 'Future Leaders' and 'Most Innovative Approach to a Communications Challenge' are both additional categories, whereas some of the more popular categories have been split to avoid unfair competition. With varying entires for each sub-category, some have been merged to ensure a high standard of entry.

Jenni Field, chair of the CIPR Inside group says, “It’s super to see such a fantastic group of organisations on the shortlist. We had a wonderful response to the awards again this year, the competition is tough and the judging rigorous. This shortlist shows how internal communication continues to grow in importance for businesses and public sector organisations of all shapes and sizes. The awards are a brilliant way to benchmark your work, get recognition and share best practice.”

CIPR Inside has asked communicators to get involved and cast their votes on the #ICHero nominees of the Clare Latham award by last Friday. Winners and highly commended entrants for each of the categories will be announced at a reception on 25 February at the Curzon Cinema.

The following is the full shortlist for the awards by category:

Best employee engagement (small/SME, medium, large, extra large)

Anchor
blue goose Anglo American
blue goose Sodexo
Carillion
Coca-Cola Enterprises (Finance)
Deloitte
Essex County Council
Fast Metro Riyadh
Nationwide – Pensions
Nationwide – SCARF
Powys County Council
Sherbank of Russia
Wheatley Group

Best change communication
Imperial Tobacco Group
Manchester Airports Group
Nationwide
Verve EKHUFT

Best public sector or charity campaign
Bank of England
Powys County Council

Best digital magazine or newsletter
Imperial Tobacco Group and Powell Media
NBCUniversal International
Sequel and Nationwide

Best internal event
Axa
Macmillan
O2
Top Banana
ustwo

Best use of video
Deloitte
Imperial Tobacco and Powell Media
Nationwide – Pensions
Nationwide – Specialists
Verve EKHUFT

Best use of intranet or ESN
Barclays
Nationwide
NBCUniversal International
Vodafone GmbH
Wellcome Trust

Most innovative approach to an internal communication challenge
Aviva and CA3
AXA
British Airways
Carillion
ustwo

Best in-house team 1-6 & best in-house team 7 or more
Imperial Tobacco Group
O2
Post Office

Future leader
Lisa Pantelli
Russell Norton
Teri Nicklin

Best agency
AB
Fifth Business
H&H
scarlettabbott
Sequel

Clare Latham Award (#ICHero nominees)
Asif Choudry
Gloria Lombardi
John Townsend
Kevin Ruck
Sue Dewhurst

Best print magazine or newsletter (Classes 1, 2, 3, 4)
AB Courier
AB KPMG Highlights
AB Post Office WOW
British Airways Cabin Crew News
FCO
Interfleet
Northstar Bentley
Norton Rose Fulbright
Dixons Carphone with scarlettabbott
SGM with scarlettabbott