In 2011, British Airways faced mounting economic and compliance pressures. Fuel costs were skyrocketing, emissions targets were tightening, and operational expenses threatened profitability.
Rather than impose top-down cost-cutting measures, BA leadership believed that the best ideas don’t always come from corner offices but from the frontlines where team members are actually doing the work.
The result was the launch of the Staff Suggestion Scheme – a structured program inviting employees from across the organization to submit ideas for operational improvement. From cabin crew to ground staff, mechanics to catering teams, every voice was invited to contribute.
The ROI of Employee Ideas at British Airways
British Airways’ Staff Suggestion Scheme received approximately 200 suggestions with prizes for top suggestions reaching £10,000, incentivizing serious thinking while signaling organizational commitment to rewarding innovation and going beyond innovation theater.
The result of the campaign was over £20 million in documented savings from a variety of incremental ideas. One suggestion, something as seemingly mundane as removing mineral buildup in the toilet-pipes on planes, delivers £600,000 in annual savings. That’s one simple observation that compounds year after year.
Other implemented suggestions included:
- Replacing glass wine bottles with plastic bottles
- Cleaning engines more frequently for improved efficiency
- Switching to lighter catering trolleys and cargo containers
- Using lighter cutlery throughout the fleet
These weren’t revolutionary concepts. They were practical, frontline-driven observations from people who understood the business intimately. Yet collectively, when you add a lot of small improvements together they can generate tens of millions in value.
Why It Worked: Best Practices from BA’s Success
British Airways’ Staff Suggestion Scheme succeeded because it got three critical elements right:
- Structured Process with Communicated Goals: While the scheme welcomed all ideas, it wasn’t a free-for-all. The program was organized, with clear submission processes and evaluation criteria that were communicated to staff before the initiative was launched. This structure ensured quality suggestions rose to the top and received proper consideration.
- Leadership Support & Recognition in Dollars and Cents: Ideas don’t flourish without organizational backing. BA’s leadership actively championed the program, with environment teams publicly acknowledging team efforts. Financial incentives, including cash rewards demonstrated that the company valued employee contributions.
- Actually Focusing on Measuring Outcomes: BA didn’t just collect ideas, they tracked results in dollars and cents. Every shortlisted suggestion was evaluated for impact, and successes were documented. This created accountability and proved ROI to stakeholders.
Ready to Unlock the Innovation Potential of Your Workforce?
Your frontline employees are sitting on ideas worth millions. The question isn’t whether employee suggestion programs work, but instead are you equipped to capture, evaluate, and implement the ideas that come from them at scale?
Many companies rely on outdated tools like spreadsheets, email threads, or ad-hoc Slack conversations to manage suggestions. These approaches create friction, lose ideas in digital clutter, and make it impossible to track ROI. You can’t measure what you can’t see.
This is where idea management platforms like Ideawake make the difference. Unlike spreadsheets or Teams channels, a dedicated innovation platform creates a structured, transparent process that:
- Captures ideas systematically from across your organization
- Tracks ROI with measurable outcomes and impact metrics
- Accelerates evaluation so good ideas move from concept to implementation faster
- Recognizes contributors publicly, building a culture of innovation
- Scales effortlessly as your program grows
Book a demo today to see how we can help your organization build an innovation program that can produce measurable financial impact.