A Full Communications Strategy

Toyota Tsusho UK

Toyota Tsusho UK is a subsidiary of the Toyota Tsusho Corporation, the sixth largest trading company in the world with 26,000 employees and over 30 offices and 180 subsidiaries around the world.

Toyota Tsusho UK Ltd was formed when two existing UK branches of Toyota Tsusho Corporation based in London and Derby were combined in order to support existing customers and to provide manufacturing and supply chain support to the UK Toyota Motors manufacturing plants.

In 2009 Toyota Tsusho (TTUK) reviewed their pension scheme because they felt a more comprehensive and relevant package of benefits was needed for their employees. They consulted with many advisers and finally made the decision to appoint Creative Benefits (Creative), primarily because they found them to be the most cost effective, helpful and professional. They were also impressed with Creative’s focus on helping the employees.

Once the decision had been made and the details of the benefits had been agreed between TTUK and Creative it was vital that the communication process to inform the staff of the changes, and the reasons why the changes were being made, was carried out swiftly, clearly and effectively.

Richard Hughes, HR manager at TTUK said "Pensions can be a very emotive subject and it was important that our members were fully informed as to why the changes were needed and, more importantly, agree to the changes being proposed."

Creative immediately set up and carried out a series of group presentations to TTUK staff, followed by individual one to one discussions with employees. Using a combination of printed material and easy to follow technology platforms Creative were able to explain clearly the overall features of the new plan, together with what these features meant specifically to the employees with whom they met.

TTUK were impressed not only with the smooth transmission from the old plan to the new but also with Creative’s ongoing communication programme. This includes regular meetings with them as the employer to keep them abreast with any legislative or market changes, and also regular consultations with all the members to ensure their personal situations are reviewed and their individual needs catered for, if and when they change.

"Creative’s regular consultations with our members has created a feeling of trust" said Richard Hughes "and can only be described as a win, win situation for all concerned."

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