With a group structure and a diverse range of experts spread across different disciplines, regions and sectors, Wates had a crucial need to connect its capabilities on a national basis. Underpinning both Wates Construction and Wates Integrated Construction Services, the Technical Excellence Centre (TEC) was created to ensure consistency throughout the whole Construction Group.
TEC is a knowledge and inspiration hub for the people of Wates. It’s a centralised resource for employees to find solutions, connect with technical experts and get inspired to bring new ideas that create value for customers based on market trends and demands.
Created to connect employees with industry experts, both internally and externally, it enables colleagues to collaborate and co-create solutions that meet and exceed customers’ growing expectations. It comprises an extensive technical expert directory, along with key trends Wates experts are seeing across a variety of sectors, and success stories and case studies from across the Group.
We helped mobilise the TEC team and prepare for launch. From discovery sessions to strategic support, site maps, wireframes and content planning, we worked closely and extensively with Wates to set up for a successful launch.
An ‘HHH’ content strategy ensured a rich mix of help, hub and hero content, devised on a quarterly basis.
We supplied tone of voice and set writing styles for the various features on TEC, including expert profiles, case studies and sector insights. Working collaboratively, we wrote the site’s content from information supplied, information sourced, and information gathered through online interviews.
TEC launched at a point of transition for the business, positioning it as more forward thinking, innovative and modern, so we needed to ensure it looked the part. A new visual identity alongside new logos, icons and image sourcing helped position it correctly for launch.
A launch video, which we helped script, direct, film and edit, helped explain the value of TEC internally and was shared through emails and internal channels including Yammer.
With the hub in place, we needed to help change behaviours in the business, so TEC is the first place employees think to source information and expertise. We helped ensure the hub’s longevity by building further content to encourage repeat visitors; an annual content plan with monthly focus areas and calendar dates focused our content. For example:
Monthly status calls outlined the agency support needed, and we enjoyed a collaborative relationship where each party played to their strengths, with Something Big creating the high-value content pieces, including thought leadership articles (written following online interviews with key Wates experts) and animations and videos.
To help streamline activities and continue our collaborative partnership, we also created numerous templates for pillar and sector leads to keep hygiene content up to date (managed internally).
In the complex world of construction, Wates knew its customers were looking for partners with multiple services under one roof. TEC was a catalyst for future innovation, testing and development, and brought together the technical and engineering capabilities across the Wates Construction Group, while responding to the needs of customers by enhancing the customer proposition.
An aligned workforce and better customer proposition ensured more consistency across its work and greater access to specialists both internally and externally for customers.
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