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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
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue reworks Oompa Loompa Song to urge 'Get out, stay out' message
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has launched a campaign urging people to 'Get out, stay out' in the event of a fire, juxtaposing the humorously psychedelic in a musical video with the distressing real-life stories of victims.
GMP arms traffic officers with 'trauma teddies' to help comfort children at accident scenes
Greater Manchester Police has equipped its traffic police with teddies to help comfort traumatised young children at the scenes of road accidents.
Select committee inflames row over NHS Digital and Home Office data-sharing agreement
A Parliamentary select committee has called for NHS Digital to suspend a controversial data-sharing agreement with the Home Office to trace and deport immigration offenders that, it says, breaches current confidentiality rules.
South Tyneside Council increases emphasis on social for local elections campaigning
In the fourth of PRWeek's series on voter-registration and turnout campaigns, we take a look at how South Tyneside Council's comms team is making the most of its limited resources to tell local residents to 'Have your say'.
Scottish Government unites with public sector bodies for £6m global 'Scotland is now' campaign
The Scottish Government is extolling to the world the virtues of living, working, studying, investing in and visiting Scotland with a £6m global ad and comms campaign using the banner 'Scotland is now'.
University of Sussex appoints first director of external relations
The University of Sussex has created its first director of external relations role, promoting Michelle Gordon to the position.
Case study: Highways England's fashion-first comms drive garners 1.5m views
Highways England's creation of a 'fashion' brand and viral video to warn young male moped riders of the dangers of wearing non-protective clothing used a unique comms approach to great effect, generating 42 per cent campaign awareness and resulting in more than 1.5m video views.
Birmingham City Council sounds 'Your Birmingham. Your vote' rallying cry ahead of local elections
In the third of PRWeek's series on council voter-registration and turnout campaigns, we look at how Birmingham City Council has escalated its comms ahead of holding the first local all-out elections in 14 years.
London Ambulance Service appoints Network Rail's Pauline O'Brien as head of media and campaigns
London Ambulance Service has hired Pauline O'Brien as head of media and campaigns. She talks to PRWeek about her love of public sector comms and the challenges she faces in her new role.
London's Air Ambulance comms chief departs for freelance role
London's Air Ambulance head of PR and comms Siobhra Murphy has left the organisation after seven years, embarking on a career as a consultant while she looks for her next big comms role.
ACT campaign tells public how terrorists plan attacks and encourages reporting
Counter Terror Policing has launched the next phase of its Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) campaign with a new film designed to educate the public about suspicious behaviour when terrorists plan attacks.
Case study: One third of the travelling public recalls rail network suicide prevention campaign
Network Rail, British Transport Police and the Samaritans used the real-life story of someone planning to take her own life to markedly shifted attitudes and boost awareness among rail travellers of the role they can play in saving lives, with a third of consumers recalling the campaign.
Manchester Arena bombing: 'Fundamental mistake was failing to communicate with partner agencies'
Poor communications and procedures between emergency services on the night of the Manchester Arena bombing in May last year meant that firefighters were kept away from the scene of the atrocity for two hours and were unable to assist the public, an official review concluded yesterday.
Ignored by the board: CIPR survey reveals challenges faced by public sector comms professionals
Under-representation of comms roles at board level is a key challenge for public-sector workers, while strategic thinking, emotional intelligence and problem-solving skills are considered key assets in senior hires, according to the findings of the CIPR's annual State of the Profession report.
Opinion and features
How to go viral on Twitter with a sheep and no budget
Look at this absolute unit! Our tweet from the Museum of Rural English Life account was a simple enough command.
So, you want my job? Senior comms manager, media and campaigns, Health and Safety Executive
PRWeek takes a sidelong look at recruitment in public sector comms. Do you fancy Jane Gregory's job as senior communications manager, media and campaigns, at the Health and Safety Executive?
The Brexit Diaries, revisited: No one feels like they are winning
PRWeek continues its partnership with insight and strategy consultancy BritainThinks in a unique project to take the temperature of both leave and remain voters.
So, you want my job? Head of media, campaigns and digital at the Office of Rail and Road
PRWeek takes a sidelong look at recruitment in public sector comms. Do you fancy Lisa O'Brien's job as head of media, campaigns and digital at the Office of Rail and Road?
In an integrated world, PR must trade on its 'secret sauce': storytelling
All marketing is meeting in the middle: PR agencies are increasingly focusing on paid tactics; digital and media agencies are looking at earned media; and every man and his dog is peddling owned content.
The Beeb and C4 offer public sector comms renewed impetus to think regionally
Major news organisations in the UK are showing determined commitment to regions outside London, aiming to better represent the UK in the media, and more reporting about local government and public sector institutions.
We all need to tackle diversity in PR in 'defining year'
There is a lot more we can and must do to improve diversity in PR, and new guidelines will help the industry make a difference, says PRCA director-general Francis Ingham.
SXSW: Alexa, how do you define PR? Sorry, I don't know that...
As an industry, we sometimes have a reputation as lazy early adopters. We are fascinated by new technology, but it takes a lot for us to actually start using something.
PRWeek UK Power Book 2018: Top ten in public sector comms
PRWeek's UK Power Book reveals the PR professionals who lead the way in their respective areas. Today, we rank the top ten in public sector communications.
A perfect storm for university comms but there's never been a better time to work in the sector
Benjamin Disraeli said a university should be a place of light, liberty and learning. If you are currently working in a university, you might disagree.
So, you want my job? Head of campaigns and digital comms at the Local Government Association
PRWeek takes a sidelong look at recruitment in public sector comms. Do you fancy Hannah Berry's job as head of campaigns and digital comms at the Local Government Association?
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National Campaigns Manager British Transport Police Camden, London (Greater)
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Corporate Account Executives Prospect Resourcing Ltd London (Central), London (Greater)
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ACCOUNT MANAGER | temp to perm or perm Carter Ferris London (Central), London (Greater)
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PR Account Director – public sector, charity & health clients Premier Resourcing UK London (Central), London (Greater)
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Account Manager - Corporate/Crisis f1 Recruitment London (Greater)
Recent public sector people moves
Number 10 makes ex-Sun PR man Dylan Sharpe head of broadcast
Dylan Sharpe, a former adviser to Damian Green, has been named as Theresa May's new head of broadcast.
New government comms chief plans to build HMRC's reputation and review 'brand persona'
HMRC has appointed veteran government communicator Poli Stuart-Lacey as its new director of comms with plans to build the department's reputation and review its "brand persona".
UK Anti-Doping completes new-look comms team with hire from LTA
The agency responsible for combatting drug use in sports has fully revamped its comms team ahead of the launch of a new organisational strategy in April.
In brief: Network Rail hires comms chief, Ayles and King launch agency, Hall joins uni body, Frank's new Apprentice briefs
Murdoch takes Network Rail comms helm, Ayles and King launch Eleven Hundred and more from PRWeek UK.
APCO hires former State Department envoy as global solutions practice leader
Frank Lowenstein is joining APCO after two years as special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations for the State Department.
Press regulator hires former Michael Howard and PCC comms man to code committee
Alternative press regulator Impress has appointed Jonathan Collett, a former spokesman for ex-Conservative Party leader Michael Howard, to its code committee.
Does God do Twitter? Church of England appoints new director of comms with focus on social media
The Church of England's communications department will be headed up by new director Tashi Lassalle.