National Grid
Living our Values

Currently shortlisted for:

ICE AWARDS 2026: Best Communication of Corporate Culture
ICE AWARDS 2026: Best Engagement of a Disparate or Remote Workforce
ICE AWARDS 2026: Best internal communications by sector – Energy & Utilities
ICE AWARDS 2026: Best Event, In-person

Results announced here in July 2026

THE CHALLENGE
Our award-winning BIG Work campaign for had reinvigorated what internal comms should look, feel and sound like, so in 2025 we were asked to strengthen links to culture even more. The brief: to reinvigorate National Grid’s ‘Living our Values’ recognition programme. The aim: to clearly link colleagues’ day-to-day work (what they do) with the values (how they deliver it).

OUR APPROACH
Inspired by the success of peer-to-peer activation across the BIG Work campaign, business units were empowered to tailor communications, meaningfully engaging the hardest to reach colleagues – remote field teams – who represent 70% of the workforce.

THE SOLUTION
We blended successful elements of the existing programme with more colleague-focussed photography, storytelling, and a suite of tailored assets to create a system that flexed across all touchpoints. Bold simplicity and peer-led content drove engagement, with colleagues responding energetically to authentic storytelling and a less corporate tone.

A new judging process and categories (including a Colleague Choice award) were all promoted through teaser and launch films, nomination totaliser, digital and physical comms, and BIG Reveal bronze and silver films, before an outstanding BIG Celebration event, brought winners from the UK and US together at London’s iconic Battersea Power Station (where else?!) for a night of electrifying recognition.

THE RESULTS

More Strategic Alignment

• A +2 point pulse survey uplift for colleagues feeling their work is part of BIG Work.

More Nominations

• Over 4,500 nominations (up 353%)
• +1146% across Electricity Distribution unit
• +380% field-based winners

More Recognition & More Impact

• 92 finalists
• 54 winners
• 3 bonus awards
• 4.86/5 overall programme rating
• 99% Viva Engage reaction rate
• Highest channel engagement of the year

“The whole execution of the Living our Values campaign was fantastic. You’ve made something truly special that encapsulates everything that’s good about National Grid.” – CEO John Pettigrew