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The latest public sector news, opinion and features.
Got a story? Contact Ian Griggs on 020 8267 4893 or ian.griggs@haymarket.com.
News and news analysis
#OurDay: Hundreds of local authorities celebrating public sector workers today
Millions of Britons are getting a glimpse of life inside hundreds of local authorities across England and Wales, thanks to a 24 hour tweetathon taking place today.
72Point marketing manager leaves for Havering Council
Emma Blint has left her job as marketing manager at consumer PR agency 72Point to take up a new role as change communications lead at Havering Council.
Police campaign highlights the warning signs that can lead to murder
The danger signs that someone may be stalking you are highlighted in a campaign launched by Staffordshire Police today, amid mounting concern over a crime that can escalate and end in murder.
Electoral Commission in race for two million applications with registration campaign
The Electoral Commission aims to get two million people to apply to register to vote in time for next month's general election, in a major new campaign costing £1.48m.
Trafford Council appoints agency to promote local town
Boutique communications consultancy Philosophy PR has been appointed by Trafford Council to boost the profile of Urmston town centre, near Manchester, and increase the number of visitors to the town.
Is the NHS being 'weaponised' for the General Election? Healthcare comms experts give their verdict
As the general election campaign heats up and political parties compete with each other to present the most attractive policy platforms, the UK's most cherished institution - the NHS - is in danger of being 'weaponised' for political purposes, health chiefs warn.
Public risking future generations' lives with inappropriate demands for antibiotics, says government campaign
Parents are being warned that antibiotic resistance threatens their children's future and could cause more deaths globally than cancer and diabetes in 30 years' time, in a campaign urging them to accept medical advice on antibiotics.
Engine | MHP joins global drive to prevent childhood pneumonia deaths
A death counter is being used in a powerful social media campaign by Engine | MHP to raise awareness that childhood pneumonia is the world's biggest infectious disease killer of children - claiming more than 800,000 lives annually.
Former Vote Leave campaigner and education specialist to join Public First
Campaigns and policy consultancy Public First is adding two senior people, from the CBI and Crown Estates, to its senior team.
Exclusive: London Fire Brigade overwhelmed by media during Grenfell disaster
There were not enough senior officers to deal with the media and undertake other "non-firefighting tasks" during the fire in which 72 people died, according to a fire chief who gave evidence to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
Exclusive: Most of the £100m for the Government's Brexit campaign remains unspent
Less than five per cent of the £100m budget allocated to the Government's flagship campaign to promote Brexit has actually been spent, according to a PRWeek analysis of new Cabinet Office data.
Exclusive: Reputation of London Fire Brigade undiminished by Grenfell Inquiry report, survey shows
The majority of people across the country do not think the Grenfell Inquiry's criticisms of London Fire Brigade (LFB) were fair, according to an exclusive survey for PRWeek, conducted after the independent public inquiry's 'Phase 1 Report' was published last week.
Charity Commission's comms chief to become CEO of youth foundation
Sarah Atkinson, executive director for strategy, policy and communications at the Charity Commission, has been appointed chief executive of the Social Mobility Foundation. She will take up her new role in January.
Case study: Spy agency breaks cover to promote Poppy Appeal
A mission involving British intelligence helped propel the annual Royal British Legion (RBL) Poppy Appeal onto the national news agenda in the run-up to this year's Armistice Day.
Opinion and features
The Election Diaries: leaders deadlocked following debate and voters view them as 'weasel, fox, snake, or sloth'
The turning point for me in the 2017 campaign was when a focus group participant told me that she'd trust Theresa May to look after her house when she went on holiday - but not to look after her pet cat.
The Election Diaries: 'It doesn't matter to me - they're all a bunch of clowns'
PRWeek has partnered strategy and insight consultancy BritainThinks to take the temperature of the nation and its response to politicians' attempts to win their votes in the weeks leading up the general election.
Mental Health First Aiders in PR: on the wellbeing front line
As the stigma around discussing mental-health issues reduces, more firms are taking steps to ensure their employees' wellbeing. PRWeek meets four people trained in Mental Health First Aid.
The Election Diaries: Mood of the nation is 'divided, angry and broken'
PRWeek has partnered strategy and insight consultancy BritainThinks to take the temperature of the nation and its response to politicians' attempts to win their votes in the weeks leading up the general election.
Political messaging: there will be not one general election, but 650 local ones
One of Labour's leading advisers recently did an audit of the plans for digital campaigning and, after a full presentation, still wasn't satisfied. When asked why, they replied: 'The strategy can't be the right one - I've never seen one of our ads.'
Four ways not to do diversity comms
At most large corporates, the idea that diversity and inclusion isn't just the right thing to do, but 'makes business sense too', has become a mantra, with 'D&I' getting dedicated channel and comms space.
PR and comms must counter the instinctive ageism in the media
The notion of a study-work-retire life pattern is becoming increasingly old-fashioned as more of us try out different careers, travel the world, or begin new relationships in our 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
Three pieces of friendly comms advice for Extinction Rebellion
During the past 10 days Extinction Rebellion has taken over our capital city and conducted a sustained, high-profile, high-impact campaign, that I think few of us have ever seen in London before (apart from the last one!).
Why internal comms is as important as external in an age of purpose
Why is it that internal comms is so often external comms' poor relation - the place where half-baked creativity goes to die? It makes no sense.
My PR failures: What have they taught me?
Working in an industry that's often voted one of the most stressful, PR has opened me up to my share of failures, and I'm certain that there are more to come.
Local government faces unprecedented comms challenge amid political chaos of Brexit
Whatever happens on 31 October, local government comms professionals will have an essential role in dealing with the wide-ranging impact of Brexit.
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Communications and Engagement Manager Croydon Council Croydon, London (Greater)
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Digital Communications Lead Nuclear Decommissioning This role can be based in any of our Cumbria, Cheshire, Oxfordshire or London locations
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Senior Account Manager / Account Director – Strategic Communications JFL Search & Selection London (Greater)
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Graduate Trainee Portland Communications London (Central), London (Greater)
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Senior Account Executive Spotlight Communications Hammersmith and Fulham, London (Greater)
Recent public sector people moves
Prince Andrew's former PR man joins Finsbury after 'amicable split'
Jason Stein, the PR professional who advised against Prince Andrew's BBC Newsnight interview, has joined Finsbury. Stein previously worked for Amber Rudd, the sister of Finsbury founder Roland.
Labour Party deputy leader Tom Watson loses political secretary to Lodestone
Political strategy and corporate comms agency Lodestone has hired Tom Watson's former political secretary Jo Dalton.
Ruth Davidson u-turns on Tulchan role following backlash
The former leader of the Scottish Conservatives and sitting MSP Ruth Davidson has u-turned on her appointment to Tulchan following a backlash from the lobbying industry and political rivals.
Exclusive: Green Party appoints head of comms as general election looms
The Green Party has named Gemma Walker as its head of comms, with a mission to ride the 'Green Wave' and return more Green MPs to Parliament at the next general election, which is widely expected to be called soon.
Exclusive: Hanbury Strategy takes on former Number 10 senior staffer
Public affairs agency Hanbury Strategy has secured the services of Joe Moor, former director of legislative affairs at Number 10, who will join the agency as a director later this month, it announced today.
Cascade Communications makes trio of senior hires
Public policy, campaigning, development and planning specialist Cascade Communications has created a new senior advisory consulting team.
Exclusive: DfID head of media departs for top UN comms role
Zoe Paxton, head of media at the Department for International Development (DfID) and a rising star in the Government Communication Service, is leaving for a top comms job at the United Nations, PRWeek can reveal.