Walk for Hearts, Walk Together: Driving Culture Change with Digital Comms

Insights From Jo Pitchford, Internal Communications & Engagement Lead at ScS and Katy Mogra, Customer Success Manager at Oak Engage.

When it comes to driving meaningful employee engagement, few stories capture the power of modern internal communications quite like the one shared on the Internal Communications stage at the Employee Engagement Summit. This session, featuring ScS and Oak Engage, offered a behind-the-scenes look at how one of the UK’s leading home retailers turned communication challenges into a catalyst for cultural transformation. It’s a must-listen for anyone passionate about elevating internal comms to its rightful seat at the table.

Speaking with Katy Mogra, Customer Success Manager at Oak Engage, Jo Pitchford, Internal Communications & Engagement Lead at ScS took us through ScS’s impressive journey from disconnected systems to a thriving, digitally connected workforce. With 80% of colleagues working without desks across over 100 stores, nine distribution centres, and a Sunderland-based support centre, reaching everyone consistently used to be a tall order. Outdated newsletters, inaccessible documents, and limited recognition channels meant many employees simply felt out of the loop.

That changed when Jo and her team set out to rebuild the internal comms ecosystem from the ground up. Using employee insight as their foundation, they partnered with Oak Engage to create Our ScS Home, a digital platform that gave everyone – whether on the shop floor or out on deliveries – an instant connection to company news, training tools, and recognition opportunities. From day one, this wasn’t a top-down rollout. Jo described how colleagues helped shape Our ScS Home through naming competitions, feedback forums, and co-design workshops, all under a “we said, we did” approach designed to prove that employee voices truly mattered.

The launch campaign was just as creative and people-driven. From teaser competitions to a “from our home to your home” leaflet sent to every employee, the rollout brought excitement and energy to the business. Even those less comfortable with tech were supported – ScS set up tablets in common areas to ensure everyone could take part. Soon, Our ScS Home wasn’t just another app; it became the beating heart of the organisation.

The platform’s success went far beyond better communication. When ScS launched its Walk for Hearts campaign for the British Heart Foundation through Our ScS Home, colleague participation soared by an incredible 88%. Engagement tools like push notifications and user-generated stories turned corporate initiatives into shared moments of pride.

And this is just the beginning. Jo hinted at what’s next – new features like a fleet section, a service desk function, and even exploring international expansion following SCS’s acquisition by Poltronesofà. But perhaps the most powerful takeaway was Jo’s reflection on how internal comms has evolved. What once needed IT ownership is now led by comms professionals who understand both people and data. As Jo put it, “We created a movement.”

To register for the 2026 Engage Employee Summit click here.