The Core Team provides light touch strategic direction and supporting infrastructure for the EFS movement with hands-on delivery co-ordinated through this network of volunteer hubs.
TAGs Hub
Overall purpose: To facilitate the work of the various Thought and Action Groups (TAGs) connected with Engage for Success (EFS). To encourage the promotion and sharing of their activities, outputs, and research to maximise the impact of EFS.
Topic and Sector Thought & Action Groups (TAGs)
Created to explore a specific topic related to employee engagement or covering a particular sector. Many TAGs deliver some sort of output (report, online tool, conference, video, networking events, comms output etc.). Others act as a forum for like-minded individuals to share ideas and give support and in these cases there may or may not be a practical output such as a ‘How to Guide’.
Area Network Thought & Action Groups (TAGs)
Bringing people in the same geographical location together to promote and explore engagement themes through organising and hosting learning and networking events, conferences and other outputs.
Responsibilities of the Hub
- Support the creation of new TAGs (Area Network and Topic & Sector)
- Connect and share knowledge on an ongoing basis to ensure TAG leads feel valued and to help them better understand the EFS cultural framework and relevant guidelines.
- In collaboration with the Volunteer Hub, deliver activities that support the maintenance of the energy and motivation of the TAGs and their members.
- Encourage the bringing together of the various TAG groupings in regular calls / meetings to facilitate sharing of knowledge and further development of approaches to maximise the impact of the movement.
- Facilitate inclusive and fully representative attendance at regular calls / meetings.
- Work alongside the TAG Steering Group members to encourage the Topic & Sector TAGs to widely publicise and market ongoing activities, interim status reports and final outputs.
- Encourage TAGs to add all events to the EFS calendar.
- Encourage TAGs to work with the Comms Hub and the CIPD media team to communicate and market effectively to those who EFS seek to influence.
- Encourage TAGs to collaborate with the Comms Hub and make pro-active use of social media.
- Encourage TAG members to draft newsletter updates, blog posts and press releases supported by members of the Comms Hub as necessary.
- Work closely with TAG Steering Group members to encourage and maintain their active ‘adoption’ of Topic and Sector TAGs.
- Partner with TAGs to better understand the work they do and the challenges they face.
- Maintain an up-to-date database of all TAG key contacts (past and present).
- Promote the TAGs and influence stakeholders to take part, working with the Partnerships Hub to link individuals, commercial organisations, universities etc,
- Maintain awareness of external issues/topics/reports/contributions from 3rd parties and government related to employee engagement.
- Encourage TAGs to identify key stakeholders and build relationships with regional CIPD contacts
- Encourage all TAGs to work in an integrated and collaborative way across geographies, topics and sectors to take advantage of synergies and traction.
- Resolve any day-to-day issues, facilitate group meetings, identify resource gaps and propose solutions as required.
Partnerships Hub
Overall purpose: To build upon existing relationships between EFS and external partners and organisations; and identify, instigate, nurture and develop new and existing relationships.
EFS currently works or has connections with, to a greater or lesser extent, with a range of organisations including the Cabinet Office, Royal Society of Arts, Be the Business, Ashridge Hult Executive Education, Bristol Business School, Nottingham Trent University, HM Revenue & Customs, Home Office, Federation of Small Businesses, CBI and a huge range of private sector organisations large and small.
In the current dynamic work environment, people frequently move forward and so organisational links with EFS can easily be lost. The Partnerships Hub keeps EFS sighted on activities and developments in external organisations where we can work together, along with keeping EFS’s profile high, so that it retains its position as the ‘go-to’ people for anything employee engagement-related.
Relationships may present a variety of opportunities eg sponsorship, secondment, resources, sharing content, providing speaker platforms, collaborate on output/policy/reports.
Responsibilities of the Hub
- Research potential partners, identify key players and generate interest.
- Create and maintain a database of existing and potential relationships and key individuals /segments involved eg public sector, academic, professional bodies /member organisations etc.
- Identify and source partnership opportunities through inbound lead follow-up via info@EFS, TAGs, other Hubs, etc and add to database as appropriate.
- Manage and instigate relationships with partners to build the EFS movement and ensure good relations are maintained and opportunities are capitalised on.
- Develop a clear set of next steps to build on opportunities when uncovered ie what needs to happen in a given scenario eg liaise with other Hubs, introduce to TAGs, raise with Core Team, TAG Steering Group or Board.
- Liaise with partners to solve issues, communicate needs and create synergy.
- Collaborate with the TAGs Hub and other EFS colleagues to align our internal goals with new and existing partner relationships.
- Represent EFS by networking at events and meetings (government and commercial organisations, ISO, universities, etc.), using a network of engagement contacts to maximise these opportunities.
- Work closely with and influence relevant policy decisions of representative bodies such as the Federation of Small Business, trades unions, CBI, etc.
- Analyse and report on partnership initiatives and developments.
- Keep great ongoing relationships with current partners and offer new ways to grow the partnership.
Comms & Social Media Hub
Overall purpose: To manage all EFS social media channels and campaigns to sustain an engaging audience experience and to increase audience engagement and participation. Research and analyse social media trends, including web visitor data, to improve social media presence and campaign efficacy. Work with various EfS and CIPD colleagues to promote the overall brand through social media channels. Support campaigns, research and TAG outputs through impactful communications activities
Responsibilities of the Hub
- Oversee and manage all EFS social media accounts.
- Website – update website content and maintain functionality and links
- Develop engaging, creative, innovative content for website, media and social media through regularly scheduled posts to enlighten internal and external audiences and promote EFS-focused primary messages as outlined in the Strategy Refresh.
- Ensure co-ordinated social media communications positioning and messaging with the EFS Core Team, Hubs, TAG Steering Group.
- Work with EFS (Core Team and Hubs) and CIPD colleagues to develop targeted communications activity coinciding with new TAG outputs or campaigns and in line with organisational objectives and purpose.
- Audit and analyse EFS social media presence and campaigns to gather visitor data and determine efficacy and areas for campaign improvement.
- Monitor partnership activity within social media spaces and maximise and leverage networks to raise awareness, inspire, influence and create impact among audiences; liaise with partnerships hub
- Success is measured by
- Clear alignment of core strategy, messaging and communications activity
- Raised awareness of EFS, its purpose and strategic themes to internal and external audiences
- Co-ordinated campaign deployment and increased engagement
- Supporting increase in partnerships and collaboration to further the impact of our campaigns
Volunteer Hub
Overall purpose: To be the first point of contact for potential volunteers and assess their levels of interest, capacity and capability. Share information in respect of the EFS approach to volunteering. Introduce volunteer to potential roles/opportunities to contribute and to relevant volunteer colleagues. Provide induction support to enable volunteers to contribute effectively.
Responsibilities of the Hub
- Be first-point-of-contact for potential volunteers. Demonstrate an enthusiasm and passion for Employee Engagement and the movement to new volunteers.
- Support with recruitment of volunteers, working alongside Core Team, TAGs and Comms Hubs. Co-ordinate recruitment drives, networking events, social media campaigns, partner outreach, etc.
- Assess new members’ interests, expertise and capacity.
- Point new volunteers to areas where EFS needs support.
- Introduce new and existing volunteers to each other as requirements from Hubs and TAGs arise.
- Moderate the internal online forum for EFS volunteers to share knowledge, answer questions, connect with each other.
- Onboard new volunteers with EFS induction by sharing: vision, mission, objectives; EFS past, present, future; key internal and external stakeholders; tools, achievements, successes.
- Create an induction framework to inspire, empower and support new (and existing) volunteers.
- Hold regular or ad hoc introduction sessions.
- Aim to retain a sustainable level of active volunteers to ensure continuity and consistency of numbers and knowledge, in partnership with the Core Team.
- Create and maintain a GDPR-compliant volunteer database with volunteers’ details such as contact details, areas of expertise, interest levels, sector experience, etc. (for internal use only).
- Keep in touch with alumni using channels such as: newsletters, networking events, comms, direct contact.
- Become an internal resource centre.
- Maintain a record and a history of EFS’s strategic narrative for volunteers, starting with induction materials.
- Store and maintain the latest (and historical) assets for EFS use on EFS website (and/or Google docs).
- Deliver engagement best practices within the volunteer community that showcase the EFS proposition.
- Create a sense of community of EFS contributors using activities such as: networking events, thank you lunches, keynotes, engaging comms.
- Establish an environment of ‘we are EFS: created BY volunteers FOR volunteers’ in collaboration with TAGs, Comms Hubs, TAG Steering Group.