Work in progress: Digital channels in the construction and engineering sector.
Work in progress: Digital channels in the construction and engineering sector.
What are construction and engineering companies doing to rectify what some see as being their long-standing communication and reputation problem? We looked at the online communications of 10 construction and engineering companies from the FTSE 100.
The construction industry faces great scrutiny. Following the Grenfell Tower disaster every incident and workplace injury will be investigated with the potential for criminal prosecution; in the past, these may have been treated solely as accidents. For most firms, dramatic shifts in contracting, technology and compliance are proving to be tricky.
Our benchmark research picks out some of the things companies are doing to rise to these challenges through their website and social channels. Alongside the general presentation of content and the experience for all corporate stakeholders, we have looked for evidence of investment in infrastructure and technology, collaboration with partners and suppliers and assurance of their business operational setup.
We studied their websites and approach to social media to observe:
- how effectively they engage with the interests of their stakeholders
- how up to date they are in content, design and user experience
- how clearly and convincingly they present their sustainability and governance credentials
We used our methodology to compare and contrast corporate websites and describe some of the things that they do well and not so well. Being clear about who you are and how you do things differently, arguably matters even more at a time when the UK construction industry is on the brink of recession.