Last year the Government Communication Service - or GCS - announced reforms to professionalise government communications. Part of this reform aims to create excellent Internal Communications across government. Victoria Ford, Head of Communications at DVLA, has been leading a project to deliver a toolkit for internal communicators to support this aim.
Can I let you into a secret? *whispers* I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for internal communications. When challenged by my Head of External Comms I would deny it, but with a background in operational delivery and change management it’s inevitable I should realise its importance. So, when I got a call back in October from Russell Grossman, SRO of the Internal Communications Excellence project, asking if I’d lead a piece of work to deliver an online toolkit to support internal communicators I was always going to say yes.
For me it feels like internal comms takes a bit of a back seat. It is the area of comms everyone thinks they know best about and the one everyone thinks they can do themselves. I think there has been a real lack of investment in the profession and the people who serve in it. That’s why I loved the idea of bringing together what is now known as ‘The IC Space’ – a site for internal communicators to learn, share and borrow from.
What I wasn’t expecting was the huge amount of enthusiasm and support I have received from communicators across government who believe in the product and wanted to do all they could to bring The IC Space to life. The result is a truly collaborative, cross government effort. From Whitehall departments, to devolved government and agencies, I have received not only insight, experience and wisdom, but the skills and creativity of film makers and designers to make this happen.
So what’s the result? Well it is a resource that, although aimed at government communicators, is open to those outside government as well with an interest in internal comms. It is a place to find best practice. What I want it to become is a community, a place where internal communicators can seek advice and share their experiences. The site we are launching today isn’t the finished article. It isn’t meant to be. It is a site we are hoping you will go into, have a look around and let us know what you think. It is being delivered iteratively based on feedback from the people it has been designed to help. We’ll add what you want to it, just tell us what that is. So over to you. Go and take a look. Let us know what you think and, you never know, you may end up with a soft spot for internal comms yourself.
You can take a look at the new toolkit for internalcomms here.
Victoria Ford is head of communications at the DVLA.
