While historically an industrial powerhouse, Manchester has, like most cities across the UK since the 2008 financial crash, struggled with increasingly precarious, low-paid and inaccessible work.

The Good Employment Charter was developed to counter this. By raising standards of employment across all sectors, regardless of organisation size, the Charter has kickstarted a rising trend where people at work in the Greater Manchester region are paid fairly for their work, treated appropriately and where inclusion at work is so much more than a nice-to-have buzzword.

In this episode, Jen, Dom and Cat chat with Ian MacArthur, Director of the Charter’s Implementation Unit. He shares the origins of the Charter and dives into the role of access to good work in a healthy, well-functioning society.

Takeaways

• The Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter addresses the challenges of the current labour market, focusing on health, wellbeing, and inequality.

About Ian MacArthur

An exiled Scotsman, Ian has spent his career working on environmental and public health issues - and the socioeconomic policies that underpin them - from community to international levels.

Starting his career as an environmental health officer with Carlisle City Council, he has worked for Edinburgh City Council, the Health and Safety Executive, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, The World Health Organisation, the UK Public Health Association, Groundwork UK and STaR Procurement.

More recently he led the GC Business Growth Hub’s priority sector development and relationship management activities, before becoming the Director of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter -a key Mayoral priority initiative established in 2019.

How comfortable would you feel if we asked you to walk into a crowded room and find someone to strike up conversation with?

Most of us can relate to feeling stressed by networking events where the focus is on meeting new people. A media that thrives on headlines that accentuate difference and division doesn’t help. Which is perhaps why we were so captivated by the themes discussed by Joe Keohane in his book, The Power of Strangers.

As more and more organisations concede hybrid working is an inevitable part of 2020s work life, how we spend our time when we are together becomes ever more crucial. We need gatherings that build connection, trust, goodwill and community. In this podcast conversation, Dom and Cat chat with Joe to find out what he learned as he researched his book and what we, as internal communicators, can learn about the benefits of creating connection with strangers.  

Joe Keohane mini-biography

I’m a veteran journalist who has worked as an editor at Medium, Esquire, Entrepreneur, and Hemispheres, and the author of The Power f Strangers, and co-author of The Lemon, which we're currently developing for television. My writing—on everything from politics, to travel, to social science, business, and technology—has appeared in New York magazine, The Boston Globe, GQ, The New Yorker, Wired, Boston magazine, and The New Republic. Born in the Boston area, I currently reside in New York City with my wife and daughter.

Hardly a day goes by now without a news article circulating telling us of the boundless benefits of the next phase of AI and how we must all hurry to adapt. There’s little time to think about the pros and cons – the mainstream narrative is get on board or get left behind.

But what’s at stake? What are the downsides? Activist Gerry McGovern is hugely concerned. And rightly so. The environmental footprint of next generation technology is barely mentioned. Author of World Wide Waste, Gerry has committed to sharing the true cost of AI as far and wide as he can.

In this episode, Cat, Jen and Dom chat with Gerry to learn about the carbon impact of all-digital and uncover what internal communicators can do to educate, inform and help their organisations reduce their carbon emissions.

Takeaways

• Recognize the absence of bicycles in advertising and the prevalence of artificial bicycles for indoor use.

About Gerry McGovern

Gerry has published eight books on digital content and data. In 1996, the Irish government published his report, ‘Ireland, The Digital Age, The Internet.’ That same year, The European Union awarded Nua, a company he co-founded, its Best Overall WWW Business Achievement Award.

Gerry’s latest book, World Wide Waste, examines the impact data waste and e-waste are having on the environment and what to do about it. Gerry also developed Top Tasks, a research method used by hundreds of organizations to help identify what truly matters. The Irish Times has described Gerry as one of five visionaries who have had a major impact on the development of the Web. 

www.gerrymcgovern.com

[email protected]

@[email protected]

As economic conditions continue to create complexity, it’s easy to look for quick fixes and short-cuts that ringfence and protect margin and profit. But at what cost?

Almost every week a new scandal breaks of an organisation breaching standards and causing harm either to humans or the environment. Ethics, it seems, are on the wane.

But what are they and why do they matter? In this episode, Jen, Dom and Cat ask Roger Steare – the corporate philosopher – to explain the cruciality of ethics in business, not least in the age of AI. More importantly, we discuss the role internal communication can play in upholding ethics in the workplace, in a way that serves both people and planet.

Takeaways

• Ethics is the way we think about and debate how to lead a good life in every aspect of our lives.

About Roger Steare

Roger Steare is The Corporate Philosopher recognised worldwide as a leading expert on moral reasoning, values-based leadership and culture, and the responsible use of AI.

He has collaborated with CEOs and their teams across multiple industries to address billion-dollar ethical challenges and opportunities, focusing on reflection, learning, and a commitment to positive change. Notable partnerships include working with Joe Garner at HSBC in 2007, Openreach in 2012, and Nationwide Building Society in 2016, aiming to foster a culture of social purpose and ethics. In 2023, Joe wrote this testimonial of their work together. “Roger is brilliant in his field and thinks very differently from most.”

Following the 2010 Gulf of Mexico disaster, BP asked Roger to develop a global Ethical Leadership program for 4,000 leaders. The program was so impactful that it earned recognition from the US Department of Justice in 2016 as part of the US$20.8 billion Consent Agreement with BP.

In 2012, after RBS's massive restructuring, he was sought for a leadership and culture transformation program in collaboration with PwC, earning high praise from CEO Stephen Hester for the shared learning and growth experience.

In 2021, he was invited to help a national government to define those moral values that are essential for a fairer society. Drawing on insights from anthropology, psychology, and moral philosophy, he recommended Humanity, Justice, Wisdom, Courage, Temperance, and Resilience as the values that define a fair and prosperous society.

Find out more about Roger

Website:            https://thecorporatephilosopher.org/

LinkedIn:           https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogersteare/

Books:                https://thecorporatephilosopher.org/book/

In this episode, the hosts are joined by guest Alex Fahie to discuss the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI in internal communication. They explore the potential of generative AI to automate content creation and the impact it may have on the role of internal communicators. They also discuss the importance of upskilling for internal communicators to effectively leverage AI tools. The conversation then shifts to the practical application of generative AI in the education sector, specifically in tasks such as lesson planning and finding cover for absent teachers. They discuss the application of AI in internal communication and the importance of humanising technology. They explore topics such as automating touch points and employee experience, moving from a task-based approach to systems thinking, the role of internal communicators in humanising technology, the challenges of labels and identity, and the risks of data and labels. They emphasise the need for internal communicators to ensure the healthy use of AI in organisations and focus on outcomes rather than tools and tactics. The main takeaway is the importance of play and experimentation in understanding and utilising AI effectively.

Takeaways

• Generative AI uses artificial intelligence to generate new content, such as text, images, videos, and songs.

About Alex Fahie

Alexander Fahie is a semi-good entrepreneur, AI consultant and a very-average author, on a mission to make a difference.

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-fahie/

• Listening is a crucial skill for leaders and organisations to foster trust, engagement, and innovation.

About Howard Krais

Howard co-founded True, a business set up to help organisations build winning cultures through maximising the potential of their people in early 2023.

Before True, Howard spent much of his career in senior in house communications and engagement roles at businesses such as Ernst & Young, GSK and latterly Johnson Matthey. 

Over the last six years, together with colleague Mike Pounsford and Kevin Ruck, Howard has led work focused on how organisations listen. Following four ground-breaking reports, a book, entitled “Leading the Listening Organisation” was published by Routledge in December 2023. 

Howard was President of the UK chapter of International Association of Business Communicators for two years (2019-21), and Chairman of Wealdstone Football Club (2007-16). 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-krais-4094a02/

In this episode, Janet Hitchen discusses the importance of understanding organisational priorities and aligning internal communication efforts with those objectives. She emphasises the need to ask the right questions and challenge assumptions to ensure that the work being done is truly impactful. Janet also highlights the educational aspect of internal communication, both within organisations and in educational institutions. She stresses the importance of business acumen and the confidence to ask questions and seek understanding. Ultimately, Janet encourages internal communicators to reflect on the work they are doing and strive to make a meaningful impact.

Takeaways

• Understand the organisation's priorities and align internal communication efforts accordingly.

About Janet Hitchen

Janet Hitchen is a Internal Communication Leader with 20 years experience working globally in Finance, Tech, FMCG and Retail. She has worked in complex international organisations, start ups and scale ups and, for the world's most admired brand.

In January 2020, she started her Internal Communication consultancy Janco Ltd to help companies create and/or reimagine their internal communication function.

She’s a strong advocate of internal comms as a business driver as she has done it and seen it many times when she and her teams have been given the opportunity to not simply react but proactively develop and craft.

She’s cultivated a deep passion for sustainability over the last few years and how internal communication professionals can help businesses shift to being futureready, strengthened by her recent studies and relationship with Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership.

Outside of work she’s an avid theatre-goer with a review blog she has been writing for 10 years, a gentle runner, a very-amateur film photographer, a prolific bookworm and, she is accompanied pretty much everywhere by her Border Terrier, Mills.

You can contact her on LinkedIn or [email protected] (but she admits email is not her favourite thing)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janethitchen/

In this episode, Jen, Dominic, Cat are joined by Professor Michael Heller and Dr Joe Chick to discuss the institutional history of internal communication. They recap the progress of their research project and share their discoveries from archival research. They explore the concepts of diachronic and synchronic analysis and how the perspective on well-being has evolved over time. They also discuss the factors that have accelerated internal communication, including crises and the changing role of management. The conversation highlights the importance of continuity and change in internal communication and the strategic use of language, such as family metaphors. This conversation explores the history and future of internal communications (IC). The professionalisation of IC is an ongoing process, and the use of rhetorical history and organisational memory plays a significant role in shaping the field. The importance of heritage and history in IC is highlighted, with the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) being one of the oldest IC organisations. The impact of new technologies, such as social media and AI, on IC is discussed, emphasising the shift from content creation to curation and co-creation. The conversation concludes with the importance of listening and learning from the past in order to reimagine the future of IC.

Takeaways

• The institutional history of internal communication involves analysing the past and present to understand the evolution of the field.

About Professor Michael Heller, Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University

Michael Heller is a Professor of Business History at Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University. His research focuses on the history of large-scale organisations, work, corporate communication and society. He has published in a number of leading global academic journals such as Organisations Studies, British Journal of Management, European Journal of Marketing and Business History. He has been researching and publishing on internal communication for sixteen years.

https://historyofinternalcomms.org/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-michael-heller-b94819a5/

About Dr. Joe Chick

Joe is a historian with an interest in long-term changes in social history from the medieval era to the present day. His research at Northumbria University is on the rise of large organisations since the late nineteenth century, focusing on the discourse and practice of employer communication with employees.

The themes of power relations and institutional change also appeared in his previous research into the transition from the medieval to the early modern era. His work looked at the power of the monasteries through their lordship over English towns, looking at town–abbey relations and institutional change with the sudden removal of these exceptionally powerful lords with Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. His first book Urban Society and Monastic Lordship in Reading, 1350-1600 was published with Boydell & Brewer in 2022.

https://historyofinternalcomms.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-chick-36b6aa255/

• Business sustainability encompasses the impact of a company's production processes and the nature of its products on the environment and society.

About Diane Osgood

 Diane Osgood, US/France, is a pioneer in corporate sustainability and human rights. She has over 30 years of helping companies innovate and grow with purpose.  She focuses on the power of consumers to influence brands and shape the economy. Diane served as a senior advisor to President Clinton for the Clinton Global Initiative and on the Vatican Arts and Technology Council. 

Diane has run her boutique consulting business since 2019. Prior to that, she was a Director of Sustainability and Innovation for Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and VP of Strategy at Business for Social Responsibility (BSR). Her consulting clients include Meta, Virgin Hotels, Addison/Sia-Partners, Avnet, Waters, Pega Systems, DuPont, Monsanto, P&G, Aventis Pharma, and social enterprises. She was a senior advisor to President Clinton for the Clinton Global Initiative and served on the Vatican Arts and Technology Council.

She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Economics and Development Studies at the London School of Economics. She’s a co-author and co-editor of the award-winning The Carbon Almanac (Penguin, 2022) and of the forthcoming Your Shopping Superpower. She contributes to Fast Company and GreenBiz.

• Labour market trends in 2024 include a drop in permanent hiring and increased reliance on temporary hiring due to economic uncertainty.

About Neil Carberry