Customers
From factory floor to Head Office: Mallaghan Engineering unites its workforce with Thrive
Industry
Engineering
Company Size
500+ employees
Introduction
Mallaghan, an engineering firm based in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, specialises in manufacturing ground support equipment for airlines and airports. In 2022, the company embarked on a cultural journey to enhance communication and collaboration between production staff and office employees.
“Because there’s so many people that work here, getting the word around can be a bit difficult.”
Courtney Gallagher
Assistant Management Accountant, Mallaghan
The Communication Challenge
Dispersed teams with no access to email, feeling left out
Mallaghan identified a significant communication gap between its production and office staff. Many employees lacked access to desktops or laptops during their workday, making it difficult to share company news, updates, and essential HR information effectively. Additionally, with a large workforce and numerous departments, disseminating information efficiently was a growing challenge.
With a considerable number of employees working away from a desk, having no regular access to work emails or a desktop, enhancing communication and promoting positive engagements with every employee was essential. The company needed a communication channel which was instant and accessible to everyone, including the significant percentage of deskless teams.
Finding the Best Solution
One digital, instant channel that worked for everyone
After some research, the company decided that an internal communications app was the best fit for their diverse workforce. To bridge the information gap, Mallaghan implemented Thrive, a mobile-first internal communications platform that offered a centralised hub for company-wide engagement. The app provides essential features such as company notice boards, career opportunities, HR information, employee benefits, and real-time updates.
“When I researched Thrive, I knew it was the right fit. It had everything we needed within the one digital platform, from company notice boards, to careers, all our HR information, our company benefits, and more. It was everything in one place.”
Laura McGrath
Marketing & Corporate Communications, Mallaghan
Implementation and Adoption
Initially, Mallaghan aimed for 60% employee adoption of the Thrive employee app. However, the response exceeded expectations, with usage rates climbing to 80-85% of employees. The app quickly became a vital tool for both office and production staff, allowing them to stay informed, collaborate, and participate in company culture.
Key features that drove adoption included:
- Latest News Section: Keeping employees updated on company events, charity initiatives, and internal milestones.
- Bright Ideas Section: Encouraging staff to submit suggestions for process improvements, resulting in faster implementation of beneficial changes.
- Multi-Language Support: Automatic content translation. Ensuring inclusivity for the company’s diverse workforce by offering content in multiple languages.
Impact on Employees - A Thriving Workforce
The introduction of Thrive transformed workplace communication and collaboration. Employees praised the app for its accessibility and efficiency, noting that it eliminated lengthy approval processes for ideas and provided instant updates on company activities.
For example, Nigel Boyd, a production employee, shared an idea through the Bright Ideas section regarding improved PPE gloves. Within a week, the company approved and implemented the change—demonstrating the power of direct, transparent communication.
“I posted in the Bright Ideas section, and I got great feedback from it. In my job I use a lot of cleaners and oils, wearing gloves. I just needed a different type of glove. I suggested this in our Bright Ideas section, got a response back within a day, and within the week, I had a new PPE. Before the app, if you had an idea, you had to go to your Team Leader, then he would’ve had to go to someone else. By the time you hear back it could have been weeks. Now you can just put it up on the app, and within the week, you’ll find out whether it’s a good idea or bad idea. And not just that, you also get a good reason as well.”
Nigel Boyd
Production Team Leader, Mallaghan
Employees also highlighted the app’s role in strengthening workplace culture
The introduction of the employee app also enabled better event coordination, social committee engagement, and company-wide involvement.
Key takeaways
- The Thrive employee app successfully addressed communication challenges by providing a single platform for all employees, regardless of department or location.
- Thrive’s features facilitated real-time updates, streamlined feedback processes, and encouraged employee involvement.
- Multi-language support enhanced inclusivity and engagement among diverse employees.
- The company’s cultural shift toward collaboration helped improve employee satisfaction and retention.
The implementation of Thrive has had many positive impacts across Mallaghan. One of the main impacts is the visible increase in collaboration between Production and Head Office employees.
The overall culture of the organisation has improved across Mallaghan. Everyone is getting up to date information, the latest news section of their app is very popular with various departments contributing to updates. Employees are making use of a Bright Ideas section where they can give feedback and suggest ideas to make improvements in their internal processes.
"We, as a sales team, travel in and out of the factory so much. We get hundreds of emails weekly. Now that we have Thrive, we can keep up to date with, company events, staff changes, new roles being introduced, and to just keep a general overview of what’s going on whilst we’re away.”
Shane Donnelly
Regional Sales Manager, Mallaghan
The Thrive Effect
Highly engaged employees, using the app regularly, and contributing to ideas to drive business success.
Conclusion
Mallaghan’s implementation of the Thrive app highlights the importance of digital transformation in modern workplaces. By prioritising employee engagement and communication, the company created a more connected, collaborative, and efficient work environment.
For other businesses, particularly in the engineering sector, this case study highlights the value of investing in internal communication tools to bridge gaps between office and production teams.
As Laura McGrath, a key advocate for the app, states,
“For our culture and our people, it’s really important to put employees first.”
