2010
A Financial Life Unplanned – every cloud has a silver lining!
September 2010
We have been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to our new animated financial education series starring the fiscally challenged character of Wee Willy. Designed to drive home key learning objectives in the area of financial planning, this series shows how a creative approach to communication can make a big impact.
Watch the first episode "A Financial Life Unplanned".
Bluefin join as IN POCKET content partner
August 2010
We are pleased to welcome leading employee benefits consultancy Bluefin to our growing list of financial education partners. Experts in the area of occupational pensions, Bluefin are supporting the development of the latest Spectrum episode: "Pensions and Me". This interactive module allows people at all stages of life to quickly find personalised, relevant, and action-oriented guidance on making the most of their employer’s pension scheme.
Named "Best Corporate Adviser" at the Money Marketing Financial Services Awards 2010 and "Firm of the Year" at the Corporate Adviser Awards 2009, Bluefin will help ensure IN POCKET subscribers continue to receive the best financial education available in the UK workplace.
Smith & Nephew move to interactive
July 2010
We are delighted to be working with Smith & Nephew on the communication of their new Global Share Plan. Smith & Nephew are no strangers to electronic communication and have asked us to help them copywrite, design and produce interactive PDFs for their new plan which will be introduced this Autumn.
Interactive PDFs enable a reader to have a more ‘weblike’ experience without developing a website. They can’t replicate the experience completely but if technical constraints and time are against you, they can be a good solution.
We will also be working with Smith & Nephew to introduce greater clarity into their communications using a combination of copy and design strategies, such as straight-forward copy, personalisation of the plan, instructional design and clear navigation.
Comms Manager™ gives local teams control over global comms
June 2010
Our Comms Manager™ product gives local coordinators the chance to build a communication campaign that meets the needs of their audience, all within the framework established by the group HR function.
Similar to the way a supermarket website works, local coordinators use Comms Manager to pick the communication elements they want – emails, letters, brochures, PDFs, videos, calculators, reminders, intranet banners etc. and add them to their basket, telling us how many they need, in which languages, providing details of where documents will be hosted online as well as any special delivery requirements. On checkout, Copperfield takes the information and works with group HR and suppliers to create the products needed and distribute them.
Comms Manager is a service which has been provided by Copperfield for Vodafone on their global share plan communication projects over the last two years.
Vodafone choose Copperfield for a second year
April 2010
We are excited to have been chosen to work with Vodafone for a second year on the communication of their global and UK share plans. Following the success of the communication toolkit approach implemented in 2009, our focus will be on increasing the use of email and reducing the number of hard copy packs to a minimum. We'll be providing additional support to the share plans team and will work with them to streamline the processes and communications even further.
Henderson again recognised as leaders in employee financial education
April 2010
Once again, we would like to congratulate Henderson Global Investors on yet another award nomination! Henderson has been shortlisted for the Employee Benefit Awards 2010. For more information on the awards, click here. Fingers crossed for June!
Sarah Pennells joins IN POCKET as Content Partner
March 2010
We are pleased to welcome personal finance journalist and broadcaster Sarah Pennells to the IN POCKET family. Sarah Pennells is the founder and editor of SavvyWoman.co.uk, a money website for women, and regularly appears on BBC Breakfast, Working Lunch and the BBC News Channel. Before launching SavvyWoman, Sarah worked as a freelance personal finance reporter and covered consumer and finance stories for BBC1 Saturday Breakfast. She has also written three books on money and relationships, green and ethical money and divorce and finance.
Sarah will be presenting a new IN POCKET series that helps both women and men navigate the tricky world of personal finance by understanding how they can make better decisions. Topics covered will include pensions, investing, employee benefits, and decision making guidance.
PFEEF release ROI calculator for Financial Education
February 2010
Research shows that poor employee financial literacy costs employers dearly. Whether it be through increased productivity, enhanced value of employee benefits, or reduced operational risk, the US-based Personal Finance Employee Education Foundation helps companies put a clear cost against a financially illiterate workforce. Typical return on investment on financial education can be as high as 300%. Find out how your company might benefit from financial education by using the PFEEF ROI calculator - click here.
Vodafone commended at ifs ProShare Awards
January 2010
Congratulations to Vodafone who were commended at the ifs ProShare awards for Most Effective Communication of an Employee Share Plan.
The judges commented that "Vodafone are always strong in this area and employee involvement plays a big part in the design of documentation. The 'Not just for a rainy day' campaign led to an increase in take-up for SAYE. Impressive use of SMS texting, two-way communication channels on the intranet and a share plan blog all led to the judges awarding Vodafone this commendation."
Henderson win big at ifs ProShare Awards
January 2010
Copperfield would like to congratulate IN POCKET pioneers Henderson Global Investors on winning the ifs ProShare award for Best Financial Education Programme for Employees.
According to ifs ProShare, the judges had no hesitation in awarding Henderson Global Investors winners for the second year running. 'The sheer breadth of information accessible to employees is awesome' is how one judge described this entry. A wide range of external providers are used to harness expertise in particular areas and a raft of communication methods are used. Their financial education programme is fully integrated within the organisation and continues to grow from strength to strength and sets the standard for others to follow.
2009
Click on the headlines to read the news items in detail.
Henderson to provide IN POCKET as new employee benefit
November 2009
We are pleased to announce that Henderson Global Investors will be rolling IN POCKET out to their workforce in Q4 2009. As acknowledged leaders in employee financial education (we've stopped counting the awards), Henderson have identified the unique role IN POCKET can play as a platform for ongoing education across a very broad range of financial topics.
Shelly Ribbons of Henderson says, "We believe that now more than ever employers should provide employees with a solid financial education programme. With the current economic climate, it is imperative that financial awareness is highlighted."
"By providing our employees with an informative and interactive education programme like IN POCKET it will be able to help their financial position. If an employee is suffering financial difficulty it could affect the output that they have in the workplace. We believe that with employees having to take ever more responsibility for their financial future, financial education has moved from being a 'nice-to-have' to an essential part of any responsible employer's offering."
FSA join as IN POCKET Content Partner
November 2009
We are delighted to welcome the Financial Services Authority as IN POCKET content partners for the film noir style interactive tutorial series "The FSA Case Files". Taking users on an episodic adventure in financial education, Case Files encourages learners to use FSA online tools at www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk in the context of their personal financial situation. As a multi-channel approach, we believe seminars like those offered by the FSA workplace team provide an effective complement to the ongoing educational platform provided by IN POCKET. We will continue to work with the FSA to look at further innovative ways to enhance learner experience as the need for effective financial education in the UK workforce continues to grow.
IN POCKET highlighted in EUROFINAS review of Financial Education
October 2009
This e-publication is the result of extensive collaboration between Eurofinas, its member associations and consumer credit providers. It offers a unique overview of Financial Education initiatives launched by the consumer credit industry across Europe.
Given the current debate on responsible lending and borrowing and what it may lead to in terms of new regulation, it is particularly important that our industry as a whole be seen as being active in the field of Financial Education.
You can find the full publication here.
Even within the context of such an extensive review, we believe IN POCKET stands out as a unique and innovative approach to delivering effective Financial Education where employers need it most - to the workforce, whether at work or at home with the family.
Copperfield deliver ifs ProShare workshop on Share Plan Communication
October 2009
Copperfield have delivered their newly developed workshop on making the most of share plan communication in the 21st century to enthusiastic response. Focusing on applying modern communication planning frameworks and implementation techniques, this workshop delivers practical guidance on getting share plan communications right from the top down. Additional investigation of new digital channels vs. traditional prints formats allows participants to consider their most effective approach through the campaign cycle. Finally, a look at assessment and measurement so that effort spent on improving communication almost always provides a positive return investment.
Click here for more information on how Copperfield can help your organisation.
Copperfield projects shortlisted for ifs ProShare Awards 2009
September 2009
We are pleased to congratulate our clients Vodafone and HBOS on inclusion in the list of nominees for awards in Share Plan Communication and Financial Education respectively.
Julie Richardson, Head of Employee Share Ownership at ifs ProShare said, "ifs ProShare has been delighted with both the number of entries received for our 2009 awards and their impressive quality. Any organisation that has been shortlisted should be very proud of their achievement in getting this far because they have already beaten stiff competition to do so."
Fingers crossed for the big night!
Credit Action join as IN POCKET Content Partner
September 2009
We are extremely pleased to welcome Credit Action, the UKs leading national money education charity, as an IN POCKET content partner. With the guidance of Credit Action debt specialists, our First Aid series now includes an interactive, self-help Debt Diagnosis module. As part of the IN POCKET Essentials, users will have this valuable tool available from day one. Help is not that far off for those who need it, but taking action as soon as possible is essential. Debt Diagnosis helps people do just that.
Click here for more information on becoming an IN POCKET content partner.
Mark Sheppard and Paul Stoddart to speak at ifs ProShare ESP Conference 2009
August 2009
Mark Sheppard of Copperfield and Paul Stoddart of HBOS EES have been invited to speak at the ifs ProShare Employee Share Plan Conference 2009. They will be presenting a financial education case study, exploring the launch of IN POCKET within HBOS EES.
IN POCKET® uptake exceeds expectations
July 2009
Upon launching IN POCKET Issue 01 to their own employees, HBOS EES realised an immediate 42% uptake! In the following days and weeks, strong word of mouth generated ongoing interest and HBOS saw registrations rise to over 65% of eligible employees.
HBOS will be using their own experience with this innovative financial education service to optimise the effectiveness of IN POCKET as it is launched, promoted and supported within client organisations.
Vodafone UK plans are brought in line with new plan communication strategy
June 2009
We are delighted to be helping Vodafone with the communication of their Sharesave 2009 launch and maturity and as well as revamping their SIP communication materials. Applying the methodology we developed for the global plans by developing learning objectives and deriving the right mix of deliverables, we have shifted much of the communication away from paper based materials.
Supporting Vodafone with project management and developing copy, we have worked with their two plan administrators to ensure the campaigns run smoothly.
Ernst & Young join as IN POCKET Content Partner
May 2009
We are extremely pleased to welcome Ernst & Young as an IN POCKET content partner. With their expertise in all areas related to employee benefits, E&Y will be an invaluable partner in providing UK employees with the best possible guidance on financial matters particularity related to making the most of their employee benefits. Our first production together is a Special Report news video and includes an in-depth discussion with Sophie Black, an employee benefits specialist.
Click here for more information on becoming an IN POCKET content partner.
Cadbury work with Copperfield for a third year
May 2009
Copperfield are delighted to be working with Cadbury for the third year running. We are once again helping Cadbury with the communication of two of their highly-valued performance share awards. This year Cadbury started to make the move towards online communication and we look forward to being able to assist them further in their objectives next year.
Punch SIP website is updated
May 2009
Following a change in administrator and the full integration of the Spirit Group into Punch Taverns plc, Punch approached Copperfield to make some changes and updates to the Punch SIP website which were to be completed within tight timescales.
Copperfield partner with HBOS to provide IN POCKET® to UK Employers
April 2009
We are pleased to announce that HBOS Employee Equity Solutions will be distributing IN POCKET to companies across the UK, including to their many current share plans clients. The link between financial education and the increased understanding of, and appreciation for, employer benefits like share plans and pensions, is strong. HBOS believe that, where companies invest in such benefits already, good financial education like that provided by IN POCKET will enhance the value of this investment through increased participant understanding and appreciation.
For more information on HBOS, please visit the HBOS website.
For more information on IN POCKET please have a look at the Financial Education Special Report video.
Vodafone global communication challenges require innovative approach
March 2009
We are excited to have been given the opportunity to work with Vodafone on the communication of group share plans to approximately 70,000 employees worldwide. Copperfield were asked by Vodafone to help provide a fresh approach; using our project management support and our online Comms Manager™ product, we are helping to make the process more streamlined and efficient for the local coordinators to manage.
Our strategy focuses on defining clear learning objectives and developing communication methods and channels which best deliver these to the employees. To ensure local needs are met, local coordinators are provided with a toolkit of communication materials and usage guidance from Copperfield. This approach lets them build the right communication package for their audience, while retaining central oversight and programme management control for Group HR.
Copperfield are working with a combination of their own and Vodafone suppliers to deliver this large scale project on time and on budget. Our role is to provide Vodafone with the flexibility they need whilst providing them with structured project management to help them achieve their communication goals.
Innovation in Financial Education: introducing IN POCKET®
February 2009
It has been years in the making and Copperfield are extremely proud to announce the launch of IN POCKET. Based on our previous work with clients such as Orange and Reuters, this innovative digital financial education service is now available for companies to provide as a valuable benefit to their own employees. IN POCKET is a unique solution in trying times with clear benefits for both employee and employer.
IN POCKET provides employers with a turnkey approach to improving employee financial literacy, understanding and appreciation of company benefits, and even a better appreciation of the financial aspects of their business.
Built on the new Adobe Flex platform, IN POCKET makes the most of the latest digital communication technology. Employees experience financial education in the same way they choose to consume entertainment and information online in their own time.
With a broad and ongoing curriculum of informative and engaging content, an IN POCKET subscription provides employees with learning for life - at work and at home with the family (where decisions are often made).
In turn, businesses providing their employees with effective financial education have been shown to increase productivity, reduce risk, and see greater return on their already substantial investment in employee benefits - particularly share plans and pensions schemes.
2008
Click on the headlines to read the news items in detail.
Congratulations to Henderson on their award
November 2008
Copperfield would like to congratulate Henderson Global Investors on their award in the 'Best Financial Education Programme for Employees' category at the 2008 ifs ProShare Awards. Henderson were commended for their awareness of the complexities and barriers surrounding the provision of financial education in the workplace and the way in which they had overcome these. Henderson are using a prototype of the financial education programme, IN POCKET, which is being provided by HBOS EES in partnership with Copperfield.
Copperfield projects shortlisted for the 2008 ifs ProShare Awards
October 2008
Two of Copperfield's projects were shortlisted for the 2008 ifs ProShare Awards in the 'Most Innovative use of Technology' and the 'Most Effective Communication of an Employee Share Plan' categories.
We entered our recently launched digital financial capability network, IN POCKET, for the 'Most Innovative use of Technology' award with our financial education partner HBOS Employee Equity Solutions.
Earlier in the year Thomson Reuters enlisted our help in managing their share plan participant communications throughout the merger and acquisition process. This work was submitted and shortlisted for the 'Most Effective Communication of an Employee Share Plan' award.
Julie Richardson, Head of Employee Share Ownership at ifs ProShare said: "ifs ProShare has been very pleased not just with the number of entries for our 2008 awards but their impressive quality. So, any organisation that has been shortlisted should be very proud of their achievement in getting this far because they have already beaten stiff competition to do so."
Mark Sheppard to speak at ifs ProShare ESP Conference 2008
September 2008
We have been invited to speak at the ifs ProShare Employee Share Plan Conference 2008. Mark will be speaking with Paul Stoddart of HBOS EES about financial education in the UK. They will be exploring the business case for introducing financial education and how to overcome the barriers.
Cadbury rewards excellence
July 2008
Cadbury approached Copperfield to assist them with the communication of two of their prestigious share awards for the second year. A recent demerger of part of the Cadbury business resulted in a re-brand; these two awards were the first under the new Cadbury brand. It was an excellent opportunity to communicate the Company's new brand values and to reinforce the message that Cadbury values and rewards excellence, linking this to the Company's approach to employee share ownership. For the 2008 awards, major changes were made to the 2007 communication materials in order to bring them in line with the new branding and Tone of Voice guidelines. The materials were designed to be engaging and memorable, imaginative and creative, accessible and easy to understand.
Emma Dawson speaks at the GEO European Regional Event
June 2008
Copperfield were pleased to be asked to present at the GEO European Regional Event in Paris in June. Emma spoke about financial education and the key ingredients in getting it right. Not so Financial 'ED' was delighted to make his public debut to illustrate how a dry topic can be transformed into something entertaining and engaging.
Punch SIP wins Employee Benefits award
June 2008
Punch Taverns were presented with the 'Most effective all-employee share scheme strategy' award for the Punch SIP at the Employee Benefits awards held on 18 June.
The judges were impressed with Punch's extended offering last year to Spirit Group employees. Read more about the Punch SIP in the 'SIP launch packs a Punch' news story below. To discover why Punch Taverns received the award visit the Employee Benefits website.
Coming soon! The Copperfield financial education platform
April 2008
We have been working for several years with our clients to implement successful financial education programmes and are now excited to announce the imminent arrival of our own multimedia financial education platform.
Our solution can provide your company with an interactive digital platform to deliver ongoing, engaging and effective financial education to your employees. One of the foundations of our platform is the well developed curriculum which addresses hundreds of topics across the broad areas of financial literacy, financial products and services, corporate products and business literacy.
Gain a sneak preview of just one of the modules which will be appearing in the platform. Follow ED on his voyage of discovery into the world of financial jargon.
Further information and news of the launch will be available shortly. In the meantime, if you would like to find out more about the Copperfield financial education platform, please contact Mark Sheppard.
Copperfield contributes to Employee Benefits magazine
April 2008
Employee Benefits asked Copperfield to contribute to an article in their magazine which addresses how to implement a financial education programme in the workplace. The article appeared in the April edition of Employee Benefits magazine.
Reuters acquisition requires Copperfield communication expertise
March 2008
Reuters enlisted the help of Copperfield when faced with the difficult challenge of managing participant communications through the M&A change process.
As part of the programme, Copperfield developed a dedicated website which enables the Reuters Share Plans team to keep employees informed of the progress made and the actions required of them throughout the acquisition process.
The regularly updated website provides the latest news and details how each share plan is affected. It also provides a facility for submitting questions which are answered and made available to all employees via the searchable questions answered section.
Particularly popular features are the in-depth online calculators specific to each plan in each territory. Using real time price and exchange rate feeds, these help participants model scenario outcomes in as little or as much detail as they like. In addition, global tax guides support further planning and decision making.
Finally, entertaining animated tutorials provide a bit of relief and a refresher on the basics of share options and restricted share plans.
Andrew Walker, Head of Share Plans at Reuters comments "The dedicated website is the best way for us to communicate with our large population of share plan participants spread across 90 countries. We have been able to continually update the site as new information becomes available or relevant. The site has had a great positive impact and has been extremely well received by our employees and senior management alike. I am extremely grateful for the high quality work Copperfield has been doing for us."
Capita and Copperfield working together in Share Plan Communications
February 2008
Copperfield have been continuing to supply Capita Share Plan Services clients with Share Plan Communication programmes. Projects have included SIP and Sharesave launches for companies in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
If you would like to find out more about how we could help with your Share Plan Communications please contact Emma Dawson or Sarah Lisle.
2007
Click on the headlines to read the news items in detail.
Copperfield is invited to speak at Citi Smith Barney conference
December 2007
Mark Sheppard was invited to speak at the annual Client Advisory Board. The event was held in Barcelona and attended by a number of Citi's top clients. Mark spoke about Copperfield's experience of building financial education programmes for employees and, in particular, addressed the valuable lessons we have learned whilst developing programmes for our clients. Read more about the lessons learned.
Mark Sheppard speaks at the GEO UK Regional Meeting
November 2007
The GEO UK Regional Meeting was held in London on 30 November. Mark Sheppard was invited to speak about the financial education multimedia magazine designed and built for Orange by Copperfield. In presenting the Orange solution, Mark covered some of the lessons learned whilst developing financial education programmes for our clients.
A very special award at Cadbury Schweppes
August 2007
Copperfield were asked to design and develop the communication of an extremely special and prestigious share award. The award was to be presented to a select few Cadbury Schweppes employees who had demonstrated a very high level of performance over the past year. The award needed to be accessible to employees globally enabling them to understand the value of the award both to them personally and to the company. It was to stand out as unique and special, recognising those employees as key to the success of the company. A clean, striking design, upbeat, clear and concise copy with a special message from the CEO and the addition of translated notes ensured a successful and well-received campaign.
SIP launch packs a Punch
July 2007
When faced with the challenge of delivering a SIP launch to 16,000 Spirit Group employees, Halliwell Integra, share plan managers, approached Copperfield to produce and distribute the communications. The launch was another step towards integration of the company with Punch Taverns plc following the acquisition in 2006. Employees received a postcard inviting them to go online to view a dedicated SIP website detailing the plan in simple, digestible chunks. The interactive site, also designed and built by Copperfield, offered employees the chance to calculate how much they could afford to contribute, a quiz made employees think about whether the plan was really right for them whilst a video of an interview with the CEO put the SIP and the launch into context. Posters, payslip inserts, presentations and intranet banners made this multi-channel and multi-phased campaign complete.
Read more about the SIP launch and benefits offerings at Punch Taverns on the Employee Benefits website.
SAYE launch for LSL Property Services plc
May 2007
Copperfield were approached by Capita Share Plan Services to work with them to create a communications campaign for the launch of a 3-year sharesave scheme for LSL Property Services plc. The launch coincided with the IPO of the company and was the first benefit of this kind which had been offered to the employees. A multi-channel, ‘plain English’ campaign was highly successful resulting in 33% take-up and showing support from employees of the IPO. Both Capita and LSL were very pleased with the campaign and feedback from employees was extremely positive.
Multimedia magazine delivering financial education to Orange employees
April 2007
Copperfield has been appointed by Orange to deliver an innovative way of providing ongoing financial education to its employees in the UK. We have developed a multimedia 'magazine' accessible via the intranet and over the web so that employees can access the information where and when they need it. The magazine contains a range of 'articles' delivered in a variety of engaging and interactive serial formats including video, animation, e-learning, interactive games, and podcasts. The magazine will also introduce some social networking technologies, such as blogs, to Orange employees. The Copperfield e-communication and education platform is based on innovative Adobe technology that will easily support up-scaling to broader internal communications such as Total Reward and Benefit communications.
If you would like to find out more about the project, please contact Mark Sheppard.
Copperfield delivering employee e-learning with Halliwell Integra
April 2007
Halliwell Integra have appointed us to work with them on creating an online tutorial and guide for myPlan, their online share plan participant service. The guide is aimed at helping employees understand the benefits of the online system and to encourage even more widespread use. Clients will be able to host the tutorial on their corporate intranet or Halliwell Integra can host it on their behalf.
Lisa O'Connell of Halliwell Integra commented "we are delighted to be able to offer this facility to our clients. myPlan is an excellent tool which offers huge benefits to our clients and the tutorial that Copperfield are building will help them realise those benefits."
SIP launch for major UK retailer achieves higher than expected take up
March 2007
Copperfield worked with creative agency TomTom to create a communications programme for a large national retailer who were launching a SIP. Combining our specific share plan communications experience, with TomTom's creative campaign expertise, together we developed an integrated campaign using multiple channels. The launch was a great success with higher than expected participation and excellent feedback on the communications programme itself – with of course a few suggestions that we can build into next year's campaign!
http://www.tomtomcom.com
Copperfield discuss share plan communications with Fred Whittlesey of GEO
March 2007
Fred's discussion with Mark Sheppard of Copperfield Communication covers the topics of communication effectiveness and ROI, the challenge of communicating "value" in light of legal constraints, the role of technology in communication including the web 2.0 trend, and the important distinctions between plan communication, financial education, and business education for share plan participants. Listen to the discussion here:
http://www.globalequity.org/memberaccess/keepingUp/KeepingUp_Main.php
Copperfield becomes a partner to Global Shares
March 2007
We are delighted to be listed as a partner to Global Shares. We have found a natural fit between the philosophy of our two companies; both of us believe that a client's needs are best served by appointing a team of specialists to help launch and run their share plans. Each of us can offer a solution specifically tailored to the client's needs rather than applying a one size fits all solution to all clients. To find out more about Global Shares and what they are doing, visit their website: http://www.globalshares.com
Copperfield deliver e-learning solution to France Telecom
January 2007
Working alongside France Telecom's UK shareteam and an expert educational consultant, we delivered an interactive educational solution that specifically targeted the learning needs France Telecom employees. Segmented by level of financial literacy, our e-learning modules take employees on an interactive and entertaining journey through concepts such as risk, markets, diversification, and financial planning. These subjects are then put in the context of France Telecom share plans providing a better platform for employee understanding and personalisation of financial and benefits information.