Raising the profile of research and innovation at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

The challenge

Through internal research, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust identified that its existing research and innovation content was failing to meet a number of key requirements. 

Alongside increasing public engagement and participation in research, the Trust wanted to strengthen its ability to attract research collaborators, commercial partners and funding, as well as highlight research career pathways.

Existing content did not consistently communicate the breadth of expertise, facilities and research achievements across the organisation, which limited its effectiveness as a tool for partnership development, public engagement and reputation building. 

In addition, there was a recognised need for clearer and more accessible guidance for both existing staff and researchers and those interested in research careers, training pathways and support opportunities within the organisation.

To address these challenges, the Trust initiated a comprehensive refresh and restructure of its research and innovation content. This included:

• reviewing and rewriting existing content

• conducting interviews with key researchers

• improving information architecture and navigation

• developing clearer audience-focused messaging

• creating a more coherent digital experience aligned with organisational priorities 

Delivering the scale of transformation required within the timeframe put significant pressure on internal communications capacity. The communications team therefore required additional editorial support to help ensure the project could be delivered effectively and to a high standard.

The solution

The Trust brought in two Scroll content designers to help manage content development, stakeholder engagement, drafting, editing and implementation.

The content designers:

• created new profile pages for the Trust’s research facilities, improving visibility of expertise, infrastructure and capabilities

• produced career pathway information and profile pieces for clinical academics and researchers 

• translated complex scientific and clinical work into clear, accessible content for public audiences

• produced detailed, technically complex research case studies tailored for specialist audiences

• simplified user journeys by improving content flow and structure 

How we worked

• The team of two Scroll content designers worked collaboratively to deliver the project at pace while maintaining consistency across the site.

• We used collaborative tools to share, track and refine content efficiently.

• We developed structured interview templates to guide conversations with subject matter experts and capture key insights.

• We worked closely with the communications team and research facility leads to ensure alignment with the website’s strategic objectives while remaining responsive to stakeholder feedback and priorities.

What they say about working with Scroll

”The Scroll content designers were thorough, professional, and a pleasure to work with. Their perspectives and attention to detail enhanced what we were able to deliver and helped us establish deeper connections with clinical academics and research delivery staff within our organisation. The whole process was seamless – we would love to work with them again.”

Senior Communications Manager, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust