About Communications

About the team

The Communications team has grown significantly in recent years. We form part of the Communication & Customer Services directorate, which exists since 2021. We have grown into a full team of six staff, each with their own specific expertise. We have several communications advisors, a content officer and an online marketing specialist. We work very closely with other teams within our organisation, such as Customer Services, IT and the Legal team. Ellen is the Communications team coordinator and Yves is the manager. 

What makes the Communications team unique? 

Everyone is driven and eager to learn in their own way, and there is a strong desire to work better or to progress further. You could see it as a sort of internal engine that is constantly turning. If you see an opportunity for something, go ahead and grab it. If you are struggling, let's see how we can help you. We trust each other and – very importantly – we have a lot of fun with each other. In addition, as we said, the Communications team is in contact with absolutely everybody in the organisation. After all, communication is everywhere 😊.  

What we do

The work of the Communications team is extremely varied. We all have our own specific expertise and tasks. Here is a quick look at the team’s work: 

• External communications and PR: responsible for clear communication with entrepreneurs and IP professionals, development of PR strategy, advice & implementation, project management for various projects with a diverse group of stakeholders, cooperation with Benelux and international partners in the field of communications. 
• Online marketing: monitoring and implementation of the online strategy, such as content on the website and the social media channels, online advertising, coordination of video creation, target group surveys. 
• Social and online media: responsible for ensuring the website and social media channels are visually attractive, as well as producing good, interesting social posts and news articles. 
• Internal communications: coordination of our intranet and increasing the involvement of staff via the intranet, strengthening the employer branding together with providing advice on internal communications and implementation.  
• General communications tasks: drafting texts and final versions, providing translations, image editing, communications advice for projects and activities, organising and guiding internal and external events, managing agencies. 

BOIP as a 'Great Place To Work' 

You have probably already read that BOIP is a ‘Great Place To Work’. We also really see this in the Communications team. For instance, the work can easily be combined with your life outside of work. Flexible working hours cater for a good work-life balance, which is seen as a significant luxury. There is also a great willingness among colleagues to help each other, should you have a question.  

BOIP’s international character is also really nice. You are working in an international political playing field and have to constantly think about communication matters from an international or a political angle. You are dealing with different nationalities and working languages. It makes your work just a little bit different to that of the average communications function. Also, at BOIP the customer really does comes first. That is what your day-to-day work is all about. 

In addition, the Communications team coordinator and manager are very supportive, and they are happy to help you further. That is also very important. 

An average working day

In the Communications team every day is different. Here is an example of an average Tuesday: 

We always begin Tuesday mornings with a ‘week start’ meeting. Here you discuss in broad outline what you are going to do that week and whether you need help from other colleagues. After that we fan out to our own individual appointments, such as a discussion meeting with the intranet ambassadors or an appointment with external partners about current projects. 

Then, before coming together for our weekly team meeting, we usually have a sandwich or a salad in our friendly staff restaurant. This is a good opportunity to talk to each other informally or to chat with colleagues from other departments. It is always a nice moment in the busy day.  

In our team meeting we discuss current projects, listen to presentations by colleagues and ask each other’s views on projects we are busy with. Our manager also always updates us on what is going on in the organisation.  

The rest of the afternoon you might be busy, for instance, with an action plan for a project, preparing a brainstorming session for a new campaign, discussing the latest designs with the design bureau, evaluating the results of the newsletter, working on the content calendar, and so on. 

Quote from the department

Which brings us to our team quote. So, what is, according to our manager Yves, the real force behind a communications dream team?  

“COMMS people are just born cool.” 

Naturally, we all totally agree 😉