LONDON--Global consulting firm Towers Watson has brought in Octopus Communications as it seeks to step up growth of its talent and rewards practice. 

The professional services giant selected Octopus following a review that featured as many as 12 other agencies. 

Octopus is charged with raising the profile of a practice that provides a range of workplace planning services, including employee engagement, rewards, talent management and HR technology.

Talent and rewards is the smallest of Towers Watson's practice groups, behind benefits and risk/financial services. The $3.2bn company was formed two years ago by the merger of Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt Worldwide. Last year, it hired MHP Communications to handle its overall reputation management.

"There is a wealth of information and experience within the practice on issues ranging from employee engagement to talent management and this gives us the opportunity to develop strong communications campaigns in this area of the business," said Towers Watson EMEA PR manager Jamie Kilduff.

The project will be led by Octopus’ head of professional services, Tom Holland. The agency's professional services clients also include Alexander Mann Associates, Adecco and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.

“Towers Watson has an incredible contribution to make to the numerous workplace debates playing out at the moment, they have fantastic data and insights from their global client base which we’ll be looking to showcase in our campaigns,” said Holland.