Building Persimmon’s First Intranet
Persimmon is one of the UK’s leading house builders, employing thousands of staff and contractors nationwide. Despite their size, they had no intranet – leaving staff without a consistent, accessible source of information. Frontline workers in particular struggled to stay connected.
ClearBox was engaged to provide clarity. Through our Express Strategy Service, supported by in-person focus groups on building sites, we captured needs across the workforce and assessed potential platforms. The outcome was a clear decision and the launch of Persimmon’s first intranet.
Laying the groundwork
Persimmon recognised that the absence of an intranet was holding back effective communication. Staff relied on email chains, phone calls and digital signageThe organisation knew it needed a more comprehensive solution.
ClearBox became involved through Persimmon’s internal communications team. While the engagement took time to gain momentum, senior leaders recognised the value of a structured approach. Once there was agreement on the way forward, Persimmon was ready to explore its options for a modern intranet.
The communication challenge
Without an intranet, Persimmon employees lacked a reliable way to access information. Staff often depended on colleagues to answer queries or locate documents, creating bottlenecks and delays. Frontline workers in particular faced difficulties logging into systems, with password resets and IT call-backs challenging while on building sites.
A further constraint was the large number of contractors who still needed access to policies and updates but sat outside standard channels. At the same time, the organisation had not agreed whether SharePoint or another platform would provide the best way forward.
ClearBox’s approach
ClearBox delivered its Express Strategy Service, a structured but flexible process designed to help organisations quickly identify intranet needs and suitable platforms. The service combined a series of workshops with leadership and project teams, alongside in-person focus groups on building sites. Meeting frontline workers gave the project team valuable first-hand insights that might otherwise have been overlooked.
We used our Cityscape digital workplace framework to assess the current environment and surface gaps. From there, we developed a longlist of potential platforms, refined it to a shortlist, and even extended the process to include an additional product at Persimmon’s request. Throughout, we worked collaboratively with the client team, sharing outputs iteratively and ensuring IT, HR and communications voices were all represented.
Outcomes & results
The engagement gave Persimmon the clarity it needed to move forward. ClearBox delivered a longlist of viable options, refined to a shortlist of five platforms, including both SharePoint-based and independent intranets. This broader assessment ensured that all possibilities were fairly considered, supported by additional research into products not yet fully reviewed.
Armed with clear comparisons and a shared understanding of requirements, Persimmon selected Omnia as its first intranet. This was a significant milestone – for the first time, the organisation had an intranet and a central hub for policies, news and updates, reducing reliance on informal networks and bottlenecks.
The process also highlighted future opportunities, such as extending access to contractors and creating a mobile experience for frontline staff. Beyond the immediate choice of platform, the project laid strong foundations for a more connected and inclusive digital workplace.
Lessons from the journey
Several factors contributed to the project’s success. Persimmon valued the simplicity of the Express Strategy framework, but also the flexibility to adapt it – from adding in-person focus groups to expanding the shortlist. Taking the time to consider multiple perspectives, rather than rushing to a decision, built confidence in the outcome.
For other organisations, a key lesson is the importance of including frontline voices early. Their input gave weight to requirements that might otherwise have been overlooked, ensuring the chosen solution served the whole workforce.
Building for the Future
The Persimmon project shows how a structured, inclusive approach can transform uncertainty into action. By combining ClearBox’s Express Strategy with insights from all workers, the organisation chose its first intranet with confidence. Selecting Omnia was more than a platform decision – it was the foundation for stronger communication, better governance, and a digital workplace that can grow with Persimmon’s future needs.
