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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
Parliamentary officials begin internal comms campaign to help staff stand up to bullies
Senior officials will show staff at the House of Commons how to stand up to bullies by taking part in a role play in a film being shown to workers internally.
Anti-scamming campaign receives top gong in PRWeek Awards' 'best public sector' category
Unity has been announced as the winner of the best public sector campaign at last night's PRWeek Awards, for 'Scammer Nanas'.
GCS highlights the five major trends shaping future comms
Comms professionals need to be digitally savvy if they are to operate effectively in a time of change accelerated by technological advances, amid an onslaught of fake news that is alienating the public, according to the Government Communication Service.
Government's homes agency announces new brand identity
Homes England unveiled its new brand today, centred around a 'making homes happen' slogan.
NHS England celebrates the Fry and Turnbull effect on prostate cancer
National treasure Stephen Fry and former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull have become celebrity influencers in the fight against prostate cancer, according to NHS England.
Case study: Slashing the Stoptober budget backfired, PHE admits
A controversial decision to slash the amount spent on the Government's annual stop smoking campaign resulted in a sharp drop in awareness, health officials have admitted.
Facebook demands political advertisers prove their identity in transparency push
Facebook is demanding that UK political advertisers verify their identity on its platform as part of a range of transparency measures announced today.
PM appoints Karen Blackett as race equality business champion
Karen Blackett OBE, WPP UK country manager and chairwoman of MediaCom UK & Ireland, has been appointed race equality business champion by the Prime Minister as part of a Race at Work Charter launched at a roundtable hosted by WPP today.
New comms director cements gender balance across government departments
The Department for Work and Pensions has appointed Lisa Hunter as its director of communications.
Health membership association picks BBC veteran to lead comms
NHS Providers has appointed seasoned former BBC health correspondent Adam Brimelow as its new director of communications.
Government campaign launched to promote a green Britain
This week's headlines about the dangers of climate change have been used as a hook by the comms team at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), ahead of the first Green Great Britain Week.
Post-APPC merger reaction: 'Time for unity, wider consultation and opportunity to improve governance'
PRWeek approached APPC members on both sides of the merger debate to gather their views on what the vote means for the industry and what should happen now.
Manchester comms agency wins place on government's £1.2bn digital framework
Integrated comms agency One has been accepted as a supplier on the government's digital procurement framework, run by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
Case Study: Fire service campaign achieves large reach and partial reduction in deliberate fires
More deliberately set outdoor fires were started overall this summer following a campaign by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, but there was a reduction in the county in the closing weeks, compared with the same period in 2017.
Opinion and features
Climate change comms in the post-truth, fake news era
Scanning the news headlines last Monday morning, the scale of communicating the climate change challenge waltzed past my eyes.
How the Rapid Response Unit actually works (and why it's important)
In April 2018, the Cabinet Office launched the Rapid Response Unit (RRU). The team operates across Number 10 and the Cabinet Office, working to counter misinformation and disinformation, and reclaim a fact-based public debate.
Two views on Comms Academy 2018: Weaponised comms and the value of data
The annual Public Sector Communications Academy, or Comms Academy, organised by LGComms and the Government Communication Service, brings together local and central government communicators to hear sessions on cutting-edge insight into modern public sector comms.
So, you want my job? PR apprentice at the City of London Corporation
PRWeek takes a sidelong look at recruitment in public sector comms. Do you fancy Elhaam Sahebdin's job as PR apprentice at the City of London?
Why agencies are sitting on the next pay gap time bomb
Comms professionals should be sounding the warning bell and providing counsel on what the ethnicity pay gap consultation and its findings could mean.
So, you want my job? Press officer at Transport for London (TfL)
PRWeek takes a sidelong look at recruitment in public sector comms. Do you fancy Danielle Eddington's job as press officer at Transport for London?
They say I'm crazy; I really don't care
When I saw those statues aboard ITV last year, I thought one thing: stunt!
Using micro-influencers: C.A.N. you do it?
Prior to the explosion of social media, deciding on an influencer to help promote a brand meant choosing between either a known celebrity or a trusted expert.
We're on the brink of a health-tech revolution
Eighty-five per cent of us now have a smartphone, which we check every 12 minutes; 50 per cent of people use the internet to attempt to self-diagnose, while 75 per cent of people seek health information online. There is clearly a rapidly increasing public desire for accessible health information.
So, you want my job? Media and public affairs manager at London Air Ambulance
PRWeek takes a sidelong look at recruitment in public sector comms. Do you fancy Alexandra Sutherland's job as media and public affairs manager at London Air Ambulance?
The key measure of reputation risk is the gap between stakeholders' expectations and reality
For a skill we are taught from pretty much the moment we can talk, the ability to apologise continues to trouble companies as much as a four-year-old who doesn't really regret pulling their sibling's hair.
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Project Communications Officer Winchester City Council Winchester, Hampshire
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Senior Press Officer CPS London (Greater)
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Communications and Stakeholder Relations Director Magnox Ltd Nationwide
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PR FREELANCERS NEEDED NOW** Carter Ferris London (Greater)
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Head of Communications South Kesteven District Council Lincolnshire
Recent public sector people moves
In brief: Vuelio acquires ResponseSource, Milk & Honey bolsters leadership, account wins for PHA Group, Splendid
Lgcomms unveils executive team, account wins for Brandman, Aduro and Ignition, software firm acquires ResponseSource, Milk & Honey bolsters leadership, and more from PRWeek UK.
Former Bush official Lanhee Chen joins Brunswick Group
Brunswick Group has appointed former George W Bush administration official Lanhee Chen as a senior counsellor.
Public First launches new practice to focus on pay-gap, skills and social mobility
Policy, strategy and comms specialist Public First has launched a new 'Human Capital' practice, staffed by two high profile hires from the worlds of politics and public affairs.
New registrar named for ORCL as ministers rapped by parliament over appointment process
The Government has named the former chief executive of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Harry Rich, as its preferred candidate to be the new Registrar at the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (ORCL).
Downing Street events adviser joins Portland
Portland has appointed former Downing Street senior staffer and Conservative Party operations and events manager Jonathan Stock as its head of events and marketing.
Philip Morris International hires Aaron Sherinian
Sherinian previously worked at the U.N. Foundation and Aga Khan Development Network.
HMLR appoints new media chief with a mission to up-skill comms team and transform data access
HM Land Registry has appointed Alastair Clifton as its new head of media, campaigns and planning.