Intranets have dreary reputations: dull versions of the internet, reserved for truly idle moments when you want to peruse the canteen’s weekly menu or discover how your holiday entitlement will shape up over the next six years.

But all this is changing. American Energy overhauled its intranet last year, giving employees the opportunity to sell sofas and spare concert tickets in an Ebay-like marketplace. It also offers bespoke corporate e-greeting thank you and congratulations cards, and the network will soon list staff service anniversaries and host personal pages.