Sara Kent Email & Phone Number

London, Gb

London, England, United Kingdom

Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom

I developed the inaugural role of Internal Communications Manager and supported the business through the Covid-19 pandemic through an emergency IC infrastructure whilst developing the full strategy and plan for Internal Communications and Engagement (IC&E) at EWR Co. The key elements of this extensive role included:- Co-auditing the current state of IC&E and researching the company’s needs, delivering a co-authored 60-page report of the results and recommended options.- Developing and… Show more I developed the inaugural role of Internal Communications Manager and supported the business through the Covid-19 pandemic through an emergency IC infrastructure whilst developing the full strategy and plan for Internal Communications and Engagement (IC&E) at EWR Co. The key elements of this extensive role included:- Co-auditing the current state of IC&E and researching the company’s needs, delivering a co-authored 60-page report of the results and recommended options.- Developing and delivering: - a crisis-internal comms plan to support the business through the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic and homeworking. - the business’ first strategic Internal Communications and Engagement plan. - EWR Co’s first intranet to support the induction of new joiners – scoped and delivered in 6 weeks. - IC&E plans to support the high volume of change programmes within the growing business, in particular the business growth from a team base of 40 people to 430 in two years. - Advising, coaching and educating the C-suite in best practice IC&E. - Creating and supporting the middle management forum as the business changed rapidly in both numbers and organisational structure. Show less

London, United Kingdom

Connecting people to purpose, I delivered a comms strategy to give people line of sight to the business goals at a critical time of change for the organisation. Working to the Train Services Director I developed the new role of Performance Communications Manager, business partnering with the directorates responsible for service delivery and customer service with the key objective of improving operational performance through the frontline employees. This role also involved a close collaborative… Show more Connecting people to purpose, I delivered a comms strategy to give people line of sight to the business goals at a critical time of change for the organisation. Working to the Train Services Director I developed the new role of Performance Communications Manager, business partnering with the directorates responsible for service delivery and customer service with the key objective of improving operational performance through the frontline employees. This role also involved a close collaborative working relationship with Network Rail.This work was achieved through:- Building the business partnering model for the new role and developing strong relationships with the key stakeholders, breaking down operational silos.- Developing a communications strategy and plan specifically for engaging with service delivery colleagues – the largest part of the business.- Creating the ‘Performance Narrative’ as the basis for all communications and engagement activity.- Producing the annual directorate business plan conference, a face-to-face event with 80 senior leaders and managers. Included event management, content creation, workshop delivery and senior leadership support.- The business-wide campaign to launch and develop awareness and understanding of the new, industry-wide, transparent measures of performance – On Time – which came into operation in April 2019.- Instigation and management of the network-wide ‘Let’s talk…’ engagement events. A week-long focus devoted to frontline-generated operational improvements, senior leadership visibility and feedback. Over 60 events held across the network, co-hosted by Southeastern and Network Rail senior leaders.- Jointly developing and delivering performance improvement campaigns based on nudge theory, involving frontline colleagues in the development of the ‘nudges’ to be delivered.- Jointly developing in-house online training solution to support behavioural change campaign around dispatch. Show less

Working specifically with the Docklands Light Railway team I supported key business activities:- DLR's 30th anniversary: delivering a fully integrated internal and external engagement plan to involve and motivate the DLR team and increase service patronage, resulting in passenger increase, high staff engagement maintained and a formidable return on investment;- Collaborative working and achievement of BS11000: development and delivery of joint internal communications and engagement plan… Show more Working specifically with the Docklands Light Railway team I supported key business activities:- DLR's 30th anniversary: delivering a fully integrated internal and external engagement plan to involve and motivate the DLR team and increase service patronage, resulting in passenger increase, high staff engagement maintained and a formidable return on investment;- Collaborative working and achievement of BS11000: development and delivery of joint internal communications and engagement plan including a comprehensive programme of events with franchisee to develop collaborative culture and new ways of working;- Refranchise and mobilisation: supporting the senior management team with extensive strategic communication plans and specific programmes throughout the 2-year process;- Post-Olympic Games strategy: senior leadership team strategy development to generate 5-year post-games strategy and delivery of engagement plan to support the new strategy and maintain staff engagement levels; and- 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games transport delivery programme: created and delivered a multi-channel engagement plan to involve, engage, inspire and connect the DLR team over the summer of 2012 and record the business' experience as a principal Games transport provider. Increased engagement by 14% during the six-month period and 44% increase in 'Pride in the Business'. Show less

Supported the strategic review of internal communications and delivery of the organisation's business development and transformation programme, including the production of an interim intranet solution, management conferences, staff engagement events, bespoke communication channels and IC measurement.

In this new role for the premium rail service I delivered the strategic internal communications plans supporting business as usual and key business activities including the introduction of the extended rail service into Heathrow's Terminal 5; the launch of a sister service, Heathrow Connect; the business' first intranet; crisis communications during times of industrial action; vision and values transformation programme and head office relocation.

As the Alliance's first internal communications specialist I developed and delivered the internal communications plans and managed the tactical frameworks for each Express, in some cases from scratch.

Supporting the group-wide IT function, this role was instrumental in creating a common communication platform with the launch of the group's first intranet and internal communications plan.

Working in the company secretariat the role included event management and stakeholder engagement.

In this start-up philanthropic venture to rejuvenate local high streets, the role included community relations, stakeholder engagement and communications management.

Ba (Hons) Psychology & Business Management And Administration

Post Graduate Diploma Internal Communications Management

Pgdipicm - Internal Communications Management, Distinction

Education record