Embedding new culture pillars through a unifying internal launch film
British Gas | Energy behind the energy
Context
After a challenging couple of years, British Gas were going through a culture change programme. Leaders needed employees to understand and feel these new behaviours in practice so they could deliver the new strategy with pride and unity.
Approach
As part of the wider campaign, we created a launch film introducing ‘We are the energy behind the energy’. Knowing that employees needed to feel reenergised and better connected to their peers, it was performed by real employees, bringing the new behaviours to life in a way that resonated at a personal level.
Outcome
The film played a central role at the strategy launch event. It helped employees connect with the new culture, feel more aligned with what was changing and understand the part they plan in it.
British Gas Energy had been through a period of change, including the pandemic and various restructures. Following a challenging couple of years, they identified that employees needed reassurance and something to bring them closer together.
The business had already defined its new culture pillars – ‘making energy simple’, ‘in it together’, and ‘always learning’ – all underpinned by ‘setting the standard’. But leaders recognised the culture needed to launch in a way that felt relatable and peer-led, not instructional.
Creating an internal film that connected employees to new culture pillars
We began with thinking about the people behind the work. By putting them at the centre, the film aimed to build pride and show that everyone plays a part in setting the standard – introducing the idea of people being ‘The energy behind the energy’.
We wrote an original poem that reflected pride, resilience and collaboration across the British Gas Energy workforce. The language brought the three culture pillars to life in a way that felt authentic and relatable, rather than instructional.
To strengthen credibility, real employees delivered the lines. We filmed across offices and home working environments, grounding the story in lived experience. The result was a launch film that felt personal and unmistakably theirs.
The film premiered at the Centrica Strategy and Culture launch, helping set the tone for the wider strategy launch and bringing together people from across the organisation.
How we made a meaningful difference
The film made the culture shift easier to relate to – helping employees see what it meant for them in their day-to-day work, while creating pride at a time when coming together really mattered.
Big Insight
The most effective culture launches translate strategy into everyday meaning. When culture is felt, not just explained, it becomes something employees connect with.
What we delivered
- Video concept and script development
- On-site filming with employees
- Video editing and post-production
- Final launch film
Award recognition
The film received Silver at the MUSE Creative Awards in the Video – Internal Communication category, recognising its creative approach to helping employees connect with British Gas Energy’s new culture pillars.
