HR team makes all the right connections at THUS : Key role of internal communications during period of expansion

Purpose – The paper aims to describe the policies that helped business‐telecommunication specialist THUS plc to win the HR Team of the Year title at the HR Network (Scotland) awards, after 12 months in which the firm saw its headcount increase by 60 percent through organic growth, winning new orders and acquiring two new businesses. Design/methodology/approach – The paper outlines the importance of strong and effective policies in the areas of recruitment, retention, policy consolidation and business restructuring, but concentrates on the key role of internal communications. Findings – The paper shows that, to ensure effective consultation throughout the integration process, THUS worked closely with its employee forums, while also making the most of its weekly all‐employee e‐newsletter, the business information team‐briefing cascade process and the quarterly employee magazine. Practical implications – The case study emphasizes the role of good internal communications during a period of major organizational change. Originality/value – The paper reveals that, throughout the integration process, HR team members maintained their focus firmly on delivering value to the business and its employees.