The challenge

Every year, Boehringer Ingelheim hosts a Value Through Innovation (VTI) Day – an internal event to celebrate the company’s commitment to innovation and foster a sense of togetherness among employees. The event is global and each year a different country takes the lead in developing the theme. Approximately one and a half hour’s worth of material is shared to communicate during the day, but outside of that, local sites are able to shape and create a day of activity and celebration, centred around the key theme, but in their own way. The day focuses on bringing these key messages to life, while highlighting the many ways in which the company gives back to the community and engages with local charities.  

The solution

For the UK&I, Boehringer Ingelheim enlisted our help to create something truly unique that would resonate with the team regardless of location. We responded to the brief by proposing an engaging radio show in which attendees would become active participants rather than passive bystanders - a live broadcast complete with radio hosts, interviews, music dedications and staff shout-outs. 

We worked closely with staff who volunteered to be coached and mentored by our team to become radio DJs for the day. We then crafted over eight hours of content, curated a diverse line-up of speakers and assembled a team of audio engineers, live stream specialists and creative talent. Our production team designed soundscapes and music beds to enhance the atmosphere and immerse listeners into the show. We broadcast from the UK HQ, but created radio hubs at different locations so that the whole company could tune in, including field teams who could connect online.

The result

The radio day achieved unprecedented participation and engagement rates. Over 250 colleagues attended in person, and more than 350 joined online, with an average listening time of nearly two hours. Colleagues from all locations and levels of seniority took part in the show, from new starters to the longest serving member of staff. 

VTI Radio also proved to be a long-lived asset that served its purpose well beyond VTI Day. The station is still accessed on demand and content is still being enjoyed by staff, delivering great ROI.