Bringing out the best in You
It’s all about You within British Gas Services these days. Redhouse Lane has worked with the Centrica division to launch a new staff publication aimed at keeping 15,000 engineers and call centre staff up to date on news from throughout the business. The bi-monthly magazine, called You, brings together two different audiences who work collectively to keep customers' homes working. Replacing heritage magazine Inside, You appeals to busy staff and those on the road with a bright, eye-catching design and straight-talking, jargon-free news and features dissected into bite-size chunks. It's proving to be a hit with staff, said Stephen Chawke, British Gas Services' Communications Manager: “Redhouse Lane has so far proved a first-rate partner in producing our new-look employee magazine. They've matched our enthusiasm for snappy, engaging copy and striking design. Our people remain at the heart of our publication's agenda and it's good to see more employee opinions being aired, which was high on our audience wish list.” You's designer, Tony Beresford, took inspiration from a novel source. “TV guides are among the best-selling magazines in the UK and appeal to a wide demographic, covering a broad spectrum of messages, from comedy and news tit-bits to in-depth interviews and behind-the-scenes features,” he said. “Likewise, You had to be an essential tool for readers, appearing friendly and approachable, with a vibrant typographic style. The BGS branding offered us a choice of warm fonts and colours, but allowed us to convey serious business messages and safety issues.” As its name suggests, the magazine offers plenty of opportunities for readers to feature in the magazine and feed back comments. Redhouse Lane is currently working on the launch issue of Centrica's new group-wide, international publication.
