BBC
Ateb was initially commissioned by the BBC in 2016 to provide support and advice on Welsh language standards compliance.
We worked closely with key service areas across the organisation to help make sense of the standards, to produce “how to” guides for staff as well as to develop essential compliance documents. In such a large and complex organisation, internal communications was an important feature of our work to ensure requirements were understood – this included delivering awareness and briefing sessions to key staff in Wales, Birmingham and London.
We continue to work with the BBC – providing a range of compliance related services. These include staff briefings, advice on dealing with complaints, compliance audits, communications with the Welsh Language Commissioner, responding to Welsh language related queries.
The Open University
We have worked with the OU Since January 2017, initially to raise awareness about the standards internally, before a shift in focus which saw us lead the organisation through the process of preparing for and complying with the Welsh Language Standards.
Work has included developing a compliance plan and an internal communications campaign as well as producing guidance for staff across the University. A key element of our work was to assist with the formal process of successfully challenging aspects of the standards. Ateb has also delivered Welsh language awareness sessions for OU employees in Cardiff, Milton Keynes, Manchester and Nottingham. We have also worked with the OU to develop policies and matrices to ensure they comply with standards.
The OU continues to benefit from Ateb’s services through our retained support on matters relating to the standards and the Welsh language.
Wales Millennium Centre
The Centre commissioned Ateb to help with preparing for the Welsh language standards. Welsh medium services were well established at the Centre, but additional support was needed to guide the organisation through the process of meeting new requirements and to identify areas of potential non- compliance.
We spent time getting to know the client, and by working together we have put processes in place to achieve the standards.
The Centre is on a firm platform to ensure its services are bilingual and staff are well informed regarding requirements. We continue to work with the Centre delivering staff training sessions, advice on standards and Welsh language related matters.
Business Wales
Ateb was commissioned to design and deliver a communications campaign for Business Wales to raise awareness and increase the use of its Welsh language services.
Facilitated sessions were held with Business Wales staff in order to develop a campaign strategy, messages and action plan which met objectives. Campaign tactics included production of video case studies, animated gifs for social media, targeted news stories, advertisements in Welsh and English language publications as well as printed promotional materials distributed to relevant business hubs. An event was held at the end of the campaign to celebrate the use of the Welsh language in business and to provide opportunities for key individuals and organisations with in the business support sector to network and share ideas.
North Wales Housing
Following a competitive tender, Ateb worked with the Llandudno Junction based housing association to provide strategic and operational communications support and capacity.
The work we undertook included delivering a quarterly tenants’ newsletter, handling media relations, drafting award submissions, crisis communications, and providing support on internal communications matters. As part of this work we also produced North Wales Housing’s annual review as well as developed a framework for self-assessment.
Menter Môn
North Wales-based social enterprise, Menter Môn engaged Ateb to provide strategic and operational communications support on a corporate and project level. The main challenge of this work was to ensure that the range of individually branded projects tie-in with the Menter Môn brand, on a corporate level.
Our work also included production of Menter Môn’s first interactive digital newsletter, annual report as well as handling media relations and public relations support for its Welsh Government and European funded projects.
Welsh Language Commissioner
Ateb has been commissioned twice by the Welsh Language Commissioner to undertake research into the behaviour of Welsh speakers as they access different online, face to face and phone services. The main focus of the work was to look at how different factors influence language choice. Working with Bangor University we used a variety of research methods including facilitated focus groups and ‘user shadowing’ as well as discussions on behavioural triggers.
With the participants asked to access and discuss experience of services provided by public organisations within the scope of the Welsh Language Standards, Ateb’s knowledge and understanding of the standards framework ensured that services tested were varied and ‘real’.
The feedback provided at the conclusion of the research noted that the practical nature of the exercises significantly added to the validity of the work. Research findings formed part of the Commissioner’s Assurance Report for 2017/18 and 2018/19.
Financial Conduct Authority
Financial services regulator, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) initially commissioned Ateb to undertake a full review its Welsh language scheme and to develop a thee year implementation plan. The work involved internal consultation to understand capacity as well as discussion with the FCA’s internal legal team to map out implications of a renewed language policy. We also facilitated contact with the Welsh Language Commissioner on behalf of the FCA.
Having continued to provide ad-hoc support including preparing its annual report on Welsh language services, the FCA has recently contracted Ateb to provide a longer term, planned support service, ensuring that the organisation has the capacity to continue to strengthen its Welsh language services.
The services we now provide include content for the FCA’s Welsh language social media platform, delivering regular language awareness sessions for staff at their headquarters in London as well as advising on Wales and Welsh elements of communications campaigns.
The FCA now offers more Welsh language services and advice to its clients and with the support of Ateb there are plans in place to increase these services further.
Gwasanaeth Cerdd Ysgolion Gwynedd a Môn
The schools music service for Gwynedd and Anglesey was keen to raise its profile, increase engagement with pupils and schools as well as update its branding.
Ateb led the service through the process of modernising its brand. We worked with a designer to develop a new identity and style for Gwasanaeth Cerdd which was appropriate for its target audience. The new brand identity was rolled out across the organisation, its publications, events and on-line presence.
We also supported Gwasanaeth Cerdd during a period of change, advising on internal communications and policy development.
Morlais
Morlais Energy is a tidal energy project run by Menter Môn. At the key consenting stage of the project, Ateb was commissioned to undertake community engagement and consultation activities as well as to support the internal team with PR and communications.
Ateb produced an engagement and consultation strategy to ensure that the local and wider community had an opportunity to have their say on the project at this crucial stage. Detailed stakeholder mapping was undertaken, as well as key message testing. Ateb was responsible for the implementation of the strategy and played a key role in consultation events as well as meetings with consultees at all levels.
Our ability to use our local and national contacts, and our understanding of the context in the north west as well as the Welsh level, contributed to our ability to deliver successfully.