Companies using the latest technology to communicate with staff have boosted business at a West Yorkshire specialist agency, which has recruited three extra staff to its digital operation.

The move comes as Otley -based communications specialists Words& Pictures is helping more clients communicate with employees through media such as video, microsites and devices such as iPads and mobiles.

Former Saatchi & Saatchi man Jason Stocks-Young has been appointed as digital partner to lead W&P’s digital development. He has 15 years of London agency experience.

Graeme Davidson has joined W&P as video producer. He is responsible for the agency’s video journalism operations, where short video films are used in conjunction with digital magazines and on company websites to increase the impact of staff communications.

Holly Watts has also joined the company as client manager.

Graeme said: “People now expect video as routine on websites and other digital means of communication, making high-impact, cost-effective video production a key tool in engaging stakeholders across the business world.

“The cost of video production has fallen in recent years and this means a company like Words&Pictures can now incorporate a ‘video-journalism’ strand as part of their digital offer at a very reasonable price. We produce compelling content through co-development and translate that into first-class moving image work of near-broadcast-quality.”

Video journalism is being used within the AON digital magazine VISION, and Words&Pictures is increasing the amount of digital employee communication for AON. Shire, a specialist medical drugs company, has also used W&P to develop video messages and a microsite for staff.

Smith & Nephew has also appointed Words&Pictures to create a digital magazine for its 3,000 employees in six languages, including Chinese.

KCom (Kingston Communications) is working with the agency to engage employees digitally on a change-management programme – which includes developing KCom’s intranet.

Andy Holt, W&P creative director, said: “Words&Pictures are experts in employee engagement through communication via the most appropriate medium.

“We are at the forefront of digital development to support effective employee communication, co-developing multi-device communication with our clients and also having launched Avviso, our creative platform for Sharepoint 2010, last year.”