In August 2017, we were tasked with creating a digital newsletter to serve the 80 or so employees of a fledgling joint venture company, SCSJV (Skanska, Costain and Strabag). They were one of four main contractors successful in winning bids to work on the HS2 project to construct a new high speed railway from London to Birmingham. SCS is responsible for constructing the London tunnels from Euston to West Ruislip.
During the initial ECI (early contractor involvement) period, – the first two-year phase of designing and constructing the tunnels - Platform South was produced bi-monthly with the purpose of keeping the ever-growing number of employees up-to-date with the fast-paced changes and developments of the project.
As an internal newsletter, confidentiality of information shared with personnel was paramount and observed by situating the e-magazine on a private digital platform.
When the second, construction phase of the of the project began in April 2020, Platform South switched to become a monthly periodical.
We covered stories from across the project covering all aspects of the business including latest technology developments, innovation, supply chain, training, recruitment, equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives, through to the on-site works and actual construction. We also highlighted personal staff stories and flagged many, many milestone achievements and awards.
During the four years of engagement, 76 online issues were published ultimately serving a workforce upward of 1,800 staff and construction workers.