100% Activation within First Week: Byron’s Recipe for Success

"Engagement is better than ever – already we can see numbers going up in active posts and comments, or liking. Everyone is posting, our CEO, Directors, GMS, Waiters, Chefs. Absolutely everyone is getting involved." 

Ellie Wardlaw
People Co-ordinator, Byron

Company Overview 

Founded in 2007, Byron has been a pioneer in Britain’s premium burger revolution, expanding to 21 locations across the UK. Known for their high-quality ingredients and distinctive brand, they’ve built a loyal customer base. However, behind the scenes, their team struggled with fragmented communication, making it difficult to maintain consistency and engagement across their growing workforce. 

The Challenge

Since launching in 2007, Byron has been a driving force in Britain’s premium burger scene, expanding to 21 locations with over 700 employees. Despite their strong brand identity, internal communication was fragmented. With 99% of their frontline workforce lacking corporate email, most communication happened via WhatsApp, leading to inconsistent messaging, siloed information, and disconnected company culture. 

Byron faced several key challenges: 

• Lack of unified communication: Important updates were scattered across various WhatsApp groups, leading to miscommunication and inefficiencies. 

• Employee disconnect: Without a centralised platform, different locations had developed their own versions of Byron’s culture, making it difficult to maintain a cohesive brand identity. 

• Onboarding and engagement hurdles: New employees had no structured way to integrate into the team, and existing staff struggled to stay engaged with leadership and company-wide initiatives. 

As they navigated the post-2020 landscape, Byron knew that a thriving culture, clear communication, and an engaged workforce were essential for success. They needed a single, intuitive solution to unify their team, celebrate achievements, and drive collaboration. More importantly, they sought a strategy that put their people first—ensuring that every team member, from kitchen staff to leadership, felt connected and valued. That’s where Cocentric came in. 

The Solution 

Byron partnered with Cocentric to transform its internal communication and engagement strategy. Our consultancy and expertise helped them design and execute a seamless rollout plan, ensuring their people were at the heart of the transformation.

We worked with Byron to implement:

• A centralised communication platform to replace fragmented messaging and ensure all employees had access to company updates and conversations.
  
  
• Connect by Cocentric, seamlessly integrating with their HR system (Fourth) to automate account activation, ensuring a smooth transition for employees.
  
  
• The Activation Portal, enabling frontline staff to self-serve and claim their accounts effortlessly without requiring corporate emails.

With a clear vision in place, Cocentric developed a communications strategy to drive adoption, build excitement, and ensure lasting engagement. A team of Employee Champions was trained to promote the platform, armed with engaging content, best practices, and practical guides to help employees maximise its benefits.

Our hands-on approach ensured that the rollout was more than just a technology change—it was a culture shift that empowered every team member to stay informed, feel connected, and actively participate in shaping Byron’s future.

The Results

Byron’s team embraced the transformation, exceeding expectations from day one:

• 70% account activation on launch day, a record-breaking success that was widely celebrated across the company.
  
  
• Six locations reached 100% activation within the first week, despite the challenges of a midweek UK lockdown and hospitality restrictions.
  
  
• All levels of the business—from frontline staff to leadership—actively engaged, with everyone from waiters to the CEO participating in conversations, sharing updates, and celebrating wins.
  
  

The platform quickly became more than just a communication tool—it evolved into a hub for ideas, collaboration, and growth at Byron. Dedicated groups for company news, customer success stories, and career opportunities have ensured that every employee has a voice, strengthening engagement and reinforcing Byron’s unique culture.

Byron’s journey with Cocentric proves that with the right strategy, tools, and people-first approach, building a connected, engaged, and thriving workforce is not just possible—it’s a game-changer.

Ready to see how Cocentric can revolutionise your team’s communication and culture?

Get in touch with us today and find out how we can help you and your team exploit the power of meaningful employee engagement.