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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
Truly, madly, deeply: the PR apologies (and non-apologies) of 2018
PR gaffes, blunders and mistakes are nothing new, and neither are the resultant apologies - or lack of them. PRWeek looks back upon a 'sorry' 2018...
Exclusive: Scotland Office appoints new comms director as Government turbulence intensifies
The Scotland Office has appointed Anna Macmillan as its new director of comms during a turbulent week for the Government.
Renters reminded of responsibilities in new local authority campaign
Prioritising paying the rent ahead of buying Christmas presents is the key message of a seasonal campaign launched by Basildon Council in a drive to reduce the number of tenants getting into arrears.
Public sector Christmas: contrasting police approaches to promoting safety
Major differences in the ways in which police comms teams are tackling seasonal campaigns are reflected in the sheer diversity of comms activities running over the coming weeks.
NHS leadership body appoints director of comms to help communicate 10-year plan
The NHS Confederation has named Daniel Reynolds as its new director of comms, with a remit to support healthcare leaders in delivering the service's 10-year plan.
Health trust comms chief moves to NHS Improvement role
Career NHS comms specialist Jack Adlam has been appointed head of comms for the Midlands and East region at NHS Improvement.
PRCA Council picks first chair from the public sector
Amanda Coleman, who next month will become the first public-sector comms professional to be made chair of the PRCA Council, has identified boosting PR as a career option in schools and promoting its social benefit as her two priorities.
Police force teams up with Mumsnet to give a voice to victims of coercive control
Harrowing testimonies from women bullied into harming themselves, trapped in abusive relationships and driven into drug addiction feature in a powerful new documentary made for a campaign by Surrey Police, the Women's Aid charity and parenting website Mumsnet.
Government plans push to promote T Levels next year
The Government's controversial policy to introduce T Levels - a vocational equivalent to A Levels - will be promoted in a new campaign next year, after delays to the qualification's introduction and concerns raised by senior civil servants.
Former FirePRO chair takes on senior local authority role
James Morton, external comms manager at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS), has been appointed comms manager at Winchester City Council.
Case study: LGA's #OurDay shines light onto lives of local authorities, reaching nearly 30m
The Local Government Association (LGA) co-ordinated another annual 24-hour tweetathon designed to give consumers a look into the 'secret life' of local authorities, reaching an audience of nearly 30 million and trending on Twitter.
MoD battles to improve public perception of veterans
More needs to be done to promote the Armed Forces Covenant, amid concerns over negative attitudes towards veterans, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has admitted.
Case study: MHRA campaign bolsters awareness of #FakeMeds and smashes targets on behaviour change
Fake medicine is a lucrative business for dodgy online retailers, which is why the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) decided to highlight the health risks to consumers with its hard-hitting #FakeMeds comms drive. It not only changed attitudes and behaviour, but also achieved an ROI of £125 for every £1 spent.
Fire service's smoke alarm campaign stars England Women rugby player - and firefighter - Shaunagh Brown
Brown is fronting a video campaign by Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) aimed at persuading sports fans to remember to test their smoke alarms.
Opinion and features
Why I decided to become an ambassador for Women In PR
Growing up, my parents gave me the confidence to think I could achieve whatever I wanted to if I put my mind to it, and they ensured their two daughters were determined and single-minded.
Public sector Christmas: Festive fire safety campaigns take a comic approach
Humour is the hallmark of a number of innovative campaigns taking place during the Christmas period, with talking pets, trainee firefighters telling jokes and a parody of the John Lewis Christmas campaign among the approaches being used.
Parental leave: let's not judge the different choices mums and dads make
Maternity leave. Paternity leave. Parental leave. They're all the same, right?
PR is in urgent need of a strong, independent research sector
The relationship between PR and research has always been controversial.
'Progressive' PR cannot be a feeble branding exercise; it just smacks of insincerity
In the wake of soul-searching by leading agencies on the nature of public relations, Robert Phillips writes for PRWeek exactly six years since he quit as boss of Edelman, proclaiming 'PR is Dead'.
What I hope to achieve as the new chair of FirePro
I've been reflecting quite a bit recently about the future for communications professionals; what will we do? How will future communications teams operate? What skills we will need?
The 'overtime epidemic' in PR is a myth
The economist, Keynes, predicted in 1930 in his famous essay that we'd all be working 15-hour weeks and we'd be confronted with how to find purpose with all our leisure time.
Ten things I learned in my first year in public sector comms
It can be frustrating - even heart-breaking at times - but it's a fantastic place to be, so here are 10 things that, on reflection, were valuable lessons to learn in my first year.
PR agencies rebranding as PR agencies - please stop
I think it was early 2016 at another 'Future of PR' event when I'd had enough; all 17 stone of me lurched forward to intercept the microphone from some poor, weary, events administrator.
Why immersive technology will transform communications across sectors
Imagine getting a virtual tour of a blackened lung as part of a smoking cessation campaign, being able to test cutting-edge equipment located on the other side of the world or having a politician campaign in your living room.
Imagine if Downing Street cancelled a reporter's credentials and accused them of assaulting staff
Fake news has been a long running theme of Trump's presidency, although last week it seemed to be coming directly from the White House itself.
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Digital Account Manager – Doha Office, Government Advisory, Top PR Agency, Great Benefits Portland Communications Doha (QA)
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Executive Director needed for leading FinTech agency - "Second in command" role Premier Resourcing UK London
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Account Manager – public affairs - top 10 agency hiring Premier Resourcing UK London (Central), London (Greater)
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Graduate Trainee - Top PR Agency, London, Great Bens Portland Communications London (Central), London (Greater)
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Internal Communications Officer JFL Search & Selection London (Central), London (Greater)
Recent public sector people moves
In brief: Ready10 wins Ideal Home, Story Comms rebrands, wins for PHA and The Communication Group
The Communication Group picks up AllBright, Gough Bailey Wright grows team, Story Comms adds clients, and more from PRWeek UK
Claire Rowney to succeed Richard Taylor as Macmillan's marcoms head
Macmillan Cancer Support has appointed Claire Rowney as executive director of fundraising, marketing and communications.
Publicis.Sapient appoints Ashish Prashar as global comms chief
Publicis.Sapient has appointed former political press secretary Ashish Prashar as senior director of global media and analyst relations.
Hill+Knowlton Strategies names Simon Whitehead as UK CEO
Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K) has promoted its global energy boss Simon Whitehead to UK chief executive.
Vince Cable's senior spin doctor joins Powerscourt
Powerscourt has hired senior Liberal Democrat spin-doctor Mark Leftly as a senior consultant and Victoria Ryzhykh as a consultant to strengthen its issues management and special situations team.
Senior Cabinet Office press officer to lead comms for apprenticeships organisation
Siobhan Bruce, chief press officer at the Cabinet Office, has been appointed head of communications at non-departmental independent body the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA).
Former Labour senior policy adviser joins MHP Communications
MHP Communications has appointed senior Labor policy adviser Tom Hamilton to join its public affairs leadership team as an associate director.