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STRATEGY SURGERY

  • The Studio 7 Cannon Street Birmingham, England, B2 5EP United Kingdom (map)
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STRATEGY SURGERY

THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW SOLD OUT

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE WAITING LIST FOR A SECOND WORKSHOP DATE PLEASE EMAIL

darrencaveney@gmail.com

A tailored new workshop to support public sector communicators in creating effective strategies

Communications without strategy does not work

This brand-new workshop has been developed by Fran Collingham, Paul Masterman and Darren Caveney - three senior communicators leaders with a combined 60 years of experience in leading communications teams and developing effective strategies in the public sector.

Workshop outline

The new year brings with it the chance to shape and develop new communications strategies to deliver against your organisational priorities and reduce the amount of non-priority work which teams are often asked to deliver.

The workshop will focus on all stages of strategy development - from objective setting and ensuring senior buy-in, through to effective evaluation and reporting back. It’s been carefully developed to offer the right mix of current theory, latest research and practical, tailored support and tips.

Whether your communications strategy needs a light refresh, a major rewrite, or you’re starting with a blank piece of paper, this strategy surgery will give you the chance to:

  • understand the importance of an effective organisational communications strategy

  • explore the myths surrounding strategy and build confidence around your skills

  • understand the key relationships to ensure internal understanding and buy-in so that your strategy gets embedded into your organisation

  • hear how other organisations create their strategies - understand what good looks like

  • build effective stories - how to create a compelling and authentic story for your organisation or campaign

  • ensure the effective evaluation of your strategy - tools and techniques to give you the best shot at success

  • gain access to a planning template to simplify the strategy process

  • get your objectives right from the start

  • work through - live in the session - your new strategy or campaign plan

  • test your newly created strategy in a safe space with a live critique from Fran, Paul and Darren

  • get guidance and advice about your next steps when you’re back at your desk with your new communications strategy through a follow up call or emails with Fran, Paul or Darren

What do we mean by strategy?

Whether your remit is to create any communications strategy - organisational, internal, transformational, change comms or campaign specific - this workshop will help you develop an effective strategy for 2019.

How will it work?

You turn up with a blank piece of paper and some broad objectives and you will leave the workshop with a communications strategy that’s fit for purpose with a practical plan for next steps to embed it within your organisation.

Who is this workshop aimed at?

Any communicator from the public, education, third and charitable sectors needing to create a new strategy, plan or campaign in 2019.

Tailored to you

To make sure that you get the most from the session we’ll be sending you a pre-workshop survey to find out all about what you need to deliver and to also get you thinking about your SMART objectives in advance of the day.

Timings

The first workshop will take place on 25 March 2019 at The Studio in Birmingham.

The workshop will run from 10am - 4pm, with registration from 9.30am.

About the trainers…

Fran is a strategic communications consultant, working as an associate with the LGA and as a writer and editor for Shared Press producing a wide range of publications about and for the public sector. She began her career as a journalist before working for district councils in Worcestershire, Birmingham City Council and Coventry City Council, where she was assistant director for communications.

Paul has been speaking, blogging and consulting on strategic communications in the public services for 15 years, after a career in the media and private sector agencies.  He has worked as as a permanent or interim head of communications at seven top tier councils, as well as advising on or reviewing communications in the NHS, central government and the police service.  He is an associate of the Local Government Association and editor of the #FutureComms strategic communications resource (https://www.local.gov.uk/future-comms)

Darren is creator of comms2point0 and owner of Creative Communicators Ltd. His 23 years in communications includes 10 years as a head of comms in local government and two years as a director of comms in the NHS. He has delivered in-house training and consultancy for over 100 organisations and has spoken at over 150 events in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. He is an associate with the Local Government Association, is a mentor to several UK communicators. He also runs the unique UnAwards, is a co-organiser of Comms Unplugged and co-hosts the Talking Comms Podcast.

Venue

To get your creative juices flowing we’ve booked The Studio in Birmingham. If you’ve not been before you’ll love it. The food is great and tea, good coffee and snacks are on tap all day long.

The venue is just a 3-4 minute walk from New Street Station and with easy access to several nearby car parks.

Costs

The workshop is carefully priced for public sector budgets at £295 + vat per person

If you prefer to pay via invoice please email Darren to reserve your spaces at darrencaveney@gmail.com

And if you would like us to run this workshop in-house for you please shout Darren at darrencaveney@gmail.com