Most people don’t start quoting Napoleon when giving career advice. Ah well…
by Ben Raza
Read moremoving beyond the "default patient" - using AI to deliver truly inclusive and personalised healthcare communications
As healthcare communicators, we have an important role to play in protecting and improving health. Our job is to create clear, accessible and engaging communication that encourage people to make healthier choices, improve the patient experience, and reduce patient safety risks.
by Michael Mbanunu and George London
Read morenew webinar: how to win an UnAward
Winning an UnAward is a very special thing.
But how can you win one?
Find out exactly how by getting the inside track from past winners, partners, sponsors and current judges in this all-new webinar.
by Darren Caveney
Read morea glimpse behind the scenes of the UnAwards
It’s Thursday morning and, between (expensive) errands like taking the dog to the groomers, I am working away on some UnAwards work. Given that they’re in their 11th year now - and pretty popular with the comms community - I thought I might share a few behind the scenes insights to reveal some of what goes on working on my number one passion project.
by Darren Caveney
Read morethere’s something rather lovely about coming home
After eight years in the Civil Service, I’ve found myself back where my career began: local government. My roots have always been here, although, interestingly, they weren’t always in communications – well not as a profession.
by Helen Card
Read moreUnAwards tickets are LIVE
freelance = freedom
“You have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable”
“Comfort zones are great, but nothing ever grows there”
This is just some of the advice from a ‘Going Freelance’ call I was a part of this week.
by Dee Cowburn
Read moresocial media and the death of critical thinking
During lockdown (which seems such a long time ago, and slightly surreal now), I did a lot of work on my mental health. Not because we were in lockdown, as an introvert I thrived on it, but because I’d recognised earlier that year that I wasn’t in a very good place mentally. If you have ever done my “Imposter Syndrome” workshop, you will know that one of the things I found really effective was daily gratitudes, which in turn impact your internal dialogue making it much more optimistic, positive, and kind.
by Jill Spurr
Read morewhat would dolly do?
The outpouring of love and affection for Dolly Parton from everyone from Beyonce to our own Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been extraordinary.
I have been a Dolly fan for 25 years, since I moved into a tiny bedsit and my neighbour in the much bigger flat next door used to blast out Jolene on a regular basis through our shared wall. I never had the courage to complain and gradually found myself becoming intrigued by the story of the song and loving it too.
So I’m so pleased to write a blog which talks about comms and Dolly!
by Kristina Fox
Read morethe 11th annual UnAwards launch TODAY
If you’re new to the UnAwards, they're the most exciting, accessible and fun industry awards around. Loved by many, they are back even bigger and better than before and now is the time to showcase your best work.
by Darren Caveney
Read morethe comms rock star - what winning best comms pro in the unawards means to me
Well. Who’d have thunk it? Eight months on, I still relive the moment when I asked Darren and Emma Rodgers “Are you flippin (insert more forceful word here) sure?” when they announced that I’d actually won the Best Comms Pro category in the 2025 UnAwards.
by Clare Abbotts
Read moreso, it's your first major incident… a four step guide to help
“Don’t worry about being on call.”
That was the advice from my colleague and boss, Ben.
by Ben Raza and Girlie Garduce Burn
Read morea practical guide to dealing with racism online
If you have spent any time on social media in the past few years, you've probably noticed a concerning trend.
by Robin Marshall
Read morewhat happens when you have an idea to share your learning?
The ripple effect. A butterfly flutters its wings that ends up changing the weather on the other side of the world.
Alice Hoffman, The Ice Queen
by Dee Cowburn
Read morenow you see me
What working in the adult social support sector taught me about disability inclusion.
by Jill Spurr
Read morethe football manager problem in local government communications
There is an uncomfortable truth about being a Head of Communications in local government that we do not discuss nearly enough. Possibly at all, at least in public.
by anonymous guest contributors
Read morehardest game in the world: 30 years man and boy
If you’re of a certain vintage you’ll remember the 1990s comedy sketch show, The Fast Show. There was a Paul Whitehouse character in it called Archie the pub bore, who claimed to have done every job under the sun, when striking up unreciprocated conversations with confused pub customers. Long distance lorry driver, vicar, boxer, pianist, ballet dancer – he’d done them all. Archie claimed each of these jobs to be the “hardest game in the world, that” “I done it myself – 30 years man and boy”. Each week his claims got more and more unbelievable. But I don’t think he ever claimed to be a comms person.
by Darren Caveney
Read more7 big reasons to review your comms team + the benefits it brings
Have you ever been in that position where someone senior says the comms team needs reviewing? I have, and it can be a worrying time. But actually it can be a very positive opportunity. And it can bring real attention and benefits to the team if done well.
by Darren Caveney
Read morea change is gonna come
Anyone who queued for the toilets during the breaks at last month’s UnAwards Masterclass in Birmingham can testify to one thing: there are far more women than men in communications. Yet we don’t see the same representation at senior levels. There are lots of factors that play into that, but one that doesn’t get as much attention as it should is menopause.
by Eva Duffy
Read more9 top tips for running effective election comms – before, during and after
Elections are just round the corner, I’ve covered a few in my time - council, generals, Europeans, and PCC. The best ones for you, the comms team, and the elections team are the ones where you put some planning in first. Below are some tips for working an election – before, during and after.
by Louisa Dean
Read more
Quisque iaculis facilisis lacinia. Mauris euismod pellentesque tellus sit amet mollis.