Getting your comms ready to deliver LGR

If you’re a comms professional leading the work for LGR (local government reorganisation), then you’re in for a ride! It will be challenging, inspiring, frustrating and fulfilling –  one of the defining projects of your career. Position yourself right and you’ll be making sure comms is:

1️⃣ at the heart of the strategic programme with narrative, internal comms, branding, key updates, launch campaign and more.
2️⃣ embedded in service workstreams to help them communicate the key messages bespoke to specific customers and staff groups.
3️⃣ getting your own service ready. A unified new council presence on vesting day is a non-negotiable.
4️⃣ delivering BAU and existing member priorities which, with the desire for legacy projects, may well increase over the next 18 months.

Many people I’m speaking to are focusing on the ‘what next’ issue of responding to the government decision when it comes, or looking at specific, way off issues like “how do we create a single website?” (answer – you won’t). Doing this work well needs resilience, order and planning. There are overlaps and complexities. Audience drill-downs and politics. I know because I did it as comms lead for the creation of BCP Council. I am so proud of what I helped to create – and  you will be too. Good luck!

Attendees at one of my LGR readiness workshops – getting confident and organised!