Pictured above: Dale Parmenter

Dale Parmenter, managing director of the drpgroup, has spoken at the PR Week 'Develop Robust Internal Communications Strategies' conference.

The event, which was held at the Thistle Hotel, in Marble Arch, London, at the beginning of December, brought together senior figures from businesses such as E.On UK, British Airways, Oxfam, BUPA and GlaxoSmithKline to discuss and share best practice in internal communications.

Dale provided the agency perspective at the event and spoke to the delegates about just how vital engaging their people through a comprehensive programme of video, digital and face to face live event communications is to any successful business. Dale places internal communications as one of the most vital departments in a business and sparked lively debate by insisting that many organisations do not place enough importance on that role, saying that it should sit above other functions.

Dale also reiterated his belief that a business director or executive who does not believe in and support a good internal communications programme within their organisation does not deserve to be a leader.

Using examples and case studies, Dale showed how internal communications happens whether companies are managing it or not and how a good, honest communications strategy, using the right mixture of face to face live event, video and digital communications can engage the workforce and ultimately deliver on the bottom line.

"A good internal communications strategy should cost you very little. It should drive engagement, productivity and therefore profit," he told delegates.

Dale also commented on the event overall, saying: "I felt that the conference provided real benefit to those in attendance. A great range of speakers were presenting from a huge cross-section of business fields and, following my presentation, I had the opportunity to speak with delegates keen to share best practice and learn the best techniques for communicating in uncertain financial landscapes.

"The event was a great advert for the strength of the internal communications profession and its indispensability to the wider business world."