Wolseley UK's communications team has scooped two awards at Europe's largest competition for communications strategy.

'Building for Tomorrow', the first phase of communications for Wolseley UK’s £100m investment programme in its logistics network, won ‘best in class’, as well as an award of excellence at the Communicators in Business (CiB) 2006 Awards held in London.

Wolseley UK's entry in the employee communications strategy category beat off stiff competition from 65 others in its class, including finalists Barclays, Virgin, Vodafone and Orange.

Head of Communications Pete Maginnis, who led the project, said: “It’s great to have the quality of our work recognised by our peers, especially as this is a new team, which has come together over the past year.

"Logistics is central to our business, and 'Building for Tomorrow' was especially challenging because we had to communicate sensitive messages about the restructuring of our logistics network, including news of job losses.

"This was the first time in the company’s history that a coordinated, multi-site, multi-shift, structured briefing had ever been conducted. Internal and external communications and HR worked closely together on the messaging, communications materials, planning and execution of the communications strategy for this project, which was key to its success.

"Previously, when projects on a much smaller scale and impact were announced, productivity dipped. This time, in contrast, there was minimal disruption at the affected sites."

The award judges concluded: "This is a well-executed campaign, against tight timescales with challenging internal logistics. The messages were not all good news, but they seem to have got through. Well done!"