Comms Academy has been a big fixture in the industry events calendar for well over a decade. But this year it’s going to be a little bit different.

by Simon Jones

Remember the days of almost dozing off as a plenary speaker trundled through 30 pages of Powerpoint?

Well, those days are gone. We have a new format and style for this year’s LGcomms /GCS Public Sector Communications Academy which will keep you on the edge of your seat.

In fact, it won’t keep you on your seat at all because with so much happening at any given moment there will be something for everyone whatever rocks your boat.

Academy this year takes place on 18 and 19 October at Cloth Hall Court, in Leeds City Centre, which is part of Leeds Beckett University. We’re adopting a ‘Uni feel’ to Academy with so many workshops, masterclasses and skill clinics happening at any one time you will be deciding the agenda based on what is right for you.

And there is so much to pick from with sessions covering the full gambit of issues on your plate, including crisis communications, campaign planning, best in class social media, place making, evaluation, employee engagement, behaviour change, culture change, community engagement and commercialisation.

There will be fewer but better plenary session with world class speakers, including David Yelland (ex-editor of the Sun), Professor Paul Willis, Anastasia Knox of Britain Thinks and John McTernan who has advised countless Governments around the world on strategy and communications.

Plus I am pleased to say that Academy is brought to you with the help of comms2point), LGA, Local Government Chronicle and PRCA.

Al this means that we are bringing you the biggest and best Academy yet, but hurry if you want to go… there are only 50 places left.

See you there

Simon Jones is Chair of LGcomms

The Public Sector Communications Academy happens at Cloth Hall Court, Leeds on October 18 and 19th. To find out more and register go to http://www.lgcomms.org.uk/academy-awards/academy-2017

image via Ravi Shah