Paula Darch 2 July 2025 4 min read

How Intranet Managers Can Embrace Summer Themes to Boost Engagement

How Intranet Managers Can Embrace Summer Themes to Boost Engagement
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Summer is here and while many of us might be dreaming of beaches, BBQs, and brighter days, it's also the perfect opportunity to bring some seasonal spirit into your intranet. A summer theme isn’t just a fun design tweak, it’s a great way to boost engagement, refresh routine content, and bring a bit of energy into your digital workplace.

If you manage an intranet, especially for a dispersed or hybrid workforce, seasonal content can go a long way in making your platform feel more human, relevant, and connected. Here's how to do it effectively:

🌴 1. Give Your Homepage a Summer Makeover

A subtle refresh to your intranet design can immediately signal a shift in season and tone. Think:

  • Bright, warm colours or summer-themed banners
  • Light animations or illustrations (e.g. sunshine, flip-flops, sunglasses)
  • A cheerful update to your welcome message or tagline
  • Just make sure it stays on-brand and accessible, it should feel uplifting, not overwhelming

🍉 2. Launch a Summer Content Series

Summer is a brilliant hook for internal storytelling. Try:

  • "Summer Spotlights" on employees: Share holiday plans, favourite summer recipes, or seasonal tips.
  • Wellbeing content: Think hydration tips, sun safety, or healthy lunch ideas.
  • “Where in the World…” photo competitions for holiday snaps or staycation fun.
  • You could even theme your news items and blog, linking back to company culture or values, while keeping it light

🏖 3. Promote Summer Events and Activities

Your intranet is the ideal place to promote:

  • Summer socials (virtual or in-person)
  • Charity fun runs, sports days or picnics
  • Employee volunteering opportunities
  • Use dedicated event pages or interactive calendars to keep everyone in the loop

☀️ 4. Support Holiday Planning and Flexibility

Make it easy for employees to:

  • Submit holiday requests
  • Check holiday policies
  • Track team availability
  • Consider a “Summer Hub” section on your intranet with all the essentials in one place, quick, helpful and stress-free.

🍦 5. Don’t Forget Frontline Workers

If your intranet reaches frontline or deskless staff, make sure your summer content is accessible on mobile and relevant to their context:

  • Updates for summer challenges or shout-outs
  • Localised weather-based tips or wellbeing support
  • Quick polls or feedback forms with a summer twist
  • Inclusivity should shine through, no matter where your people are

🌞 Final Thought

Seasonal content brings a fresh rhythm to your internal comms and summer is one of the easiest and most fun themes to work with. So don’t be afraid to bring a bit of sunshine to your intranet. A small shift in tone and content can spark big improvements in engagement.

#DigitalWorkplace #IntranetEngagement #InternalComms #EmployeeExperience #SummerVibes