Content-driven strategy has swiftly become the bedrock of today's corporate community, and as corporate communications broaden, so too has the need for compelling stories. The Corporate Content Awards, introduced earlier this year, speak directly to the vast intersections of today’s far-reaching corporate narrative, benchmarking and rewarding corporate storytelling across several disciplines. Its inaugural shortlist reveals not only the inherent diversity across the landscape, but also the abundance of quality work.

Complementing the varying aspects of content-focused work across this year’s awards, its categorisation breakdown considers several entities within corporate storytelling. Categories such as ‘Best content campaign to assist with corporate positioning,’ acknowledge positive action in transforming businesses through content-driven campaigns. Similarly, categories such as ‘Best use of digital,’ and ‘Best use of print,’ look at how brand messages are disseminated, and what tools and platforms are harnessed to deliver those stories.

Across the inaugural entry class, companies such as BT, Anglo American and Adidas join a plethora of forward-thinking organisations, committed to enhancing engagement, audience reach and corporate reputation. Yet between interactive content, corporate blogs and data usage, the evening’s top prizes – ‘Best corporate storyteller’ and ‘The Grand Prix for best overall content use of strategy’ – will be awarded to those companies whose efforts in transforming corporate content not only deliver thoughtful and engaging communications, but also deliver them in a creative way.

Katarina Giannini, awards judge and corporate communications manager at Boeing, says, “The calibre of entries in this year’s awards was very high and I was impressed with so many of the content campaigns which drew from tangible insights to create compelling stories.  It was clear that the most effective content messaging was drawn from brand purpose and a real understanding of how to connect with the target audience to instill action.”

The Corporate Content Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in early February 2018, with sponsors including the likes of Gorilla Gorilla, Tint, Hill + Knowlton Strategies and Rocksalt Copy Creatives.

The inaugural Corporate Content Awards shortlist is as follows:

Best content campaign to assist with corporate positioning

Anglo American and Investis

Tata Consultancy Services (#DigitalEmpowers)

Tata Consultancy Services (Generation Direct)

uSwitch and Brands2Life

 

Best content campaign to assist with reputation management

Ministry of Defence and GROSVENORFILM

Tata Consultancy Services (#DigitalEmpowers)

Tata Consultancy Services (Generation Direct)

 

Best content targeted to the CSR community

Barefoot Computing Project and drp

Ministry of Defence and GROSVENORFILM

 

Best content targeted to the investor audience

ASOS and Investis

Xeros Technology Group and Instinctif Partners

 

Best content targeted to the internal audience

Barclays and Wardour

BT

BT and Brand Conversation

Cisco Systems

MyCSP

Nationwide Building Society and drp

Suez and MerchantCantos

 

Best use of video

Jaguar Land Rover and drp

Ministry of Defence and GROSVENORFILM

NHS Blood & Transplant and Aesop

 

Best use of digital

Church of England

Gemalto and Brands2Life

Jaguar Land Rover and drp

Northern and Blumilk

Rolls-Royce and Investis

SAXOPRINT and Freestyle

 

Best use of print

British Heart Foundation and Wardour

Hays and Wardour

MyCSP

RBS and beetroot

 

Best use of audio

BT and Brand Conversation

Microsoft and Audere Communications

 

Best use of a visual property

Lewis Silkin and Living Group

Michelangelo Foundation and MerchantCantos

U+I and Luminous

 

Best use of a celebrity/influencer

Adidas and Hope&Glory

Church of England

RCI Bank and Lansons

SAXOPRINT and Freestyle

 

Best corporate blog

RCI Bank and Lansons

TCS (#DigitalEmpowers)

 

Best content driven brand created community

Adidas and Hope&Glory

STRIPPD and Hope&Glory

 

Best user generated content (external stakeholder)

Church of England

SAXOPRINT and Freestyle

STRIPPD and Hope&Glory

 

Best use of content in a live or experiential setting

Jameson Distillery and BRC Web

London Legacy Development Corporation

MyCSP

S&P Global Platts and Brand Culture

 

Most creative use of owned media channels

Adidas and Hope&Glory

Cisco Systems

 

Best branded content publication

Alexander Mann Solutions

British Heart Foundation and Wardour

Gemalto and Wardour

Jaguar Land Rover and drp

RBS and beetroot

State Street Global Advisors and Living Group

 

Best branded content site      

EY and Living Group

Gemalto and Wardour

JTI and Investis

Lewis Silkin and Living Group

Tata Consultancy Services (#DigitalEmpowers)

 

Best use of data

Arcadis

EY and Living Group

St. James's Place and Wardour

 

Best interactive content

Logicalis and Luminous

Rolls-Royce and Investis

 

Best use of content in a social context

Barefoot Computing Project and drp

Northern and Blumilk

Tata Consultancy Services (#DigitalEmpowers)

 

Best one-off content campaign

AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians)

Alexander Mann Solutions

Arcadis

NHS Blood & Transplant and Aesop

James Wentworth Stanley Memorial Fund and MerchantCantos

Toyota (GB) plc and DMS Media

 

Best long-term use of content

Alexander Mann Solutions

Tata Consultancy Services (#DigitalEmpowers)

 

‘Best corporate storyteller’ and ‘The Grand Prix for best overall content use of strategy’ will be announced on the night