How Intranet Managers Can Embrace Summer Themes to Boost Engagement

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.

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