We offer thought leadership experiences, courses and networking events designed to support public sector communicators. Here’s what you can expect when you take part:
Our training and events are led by experts in the public sector. From Directors in Research to Creative Strategists, Policy Professionals, Special Advisors, Journalists, and Crisis Communications Leaders, our trainers have decades of hands-on industry experience and expertise.
Our programme of training and events is continually evolving, so check back regularly to see what’s on offer. Here are some of our most popular topics include:
Try one of our new Async courses. These courses are designed for you to learn on your own schedule and at your own pace.
You’re also encouraged to join our campaign community where you will receive access to resources and collaboration opportunities, that help us all keep changing lives for the better through strategic communications.
Once you enrol in a Westco Academy course, you not only have access to our exclusive online learning platform, but also a number of complimentary, members-only experiences in and around our courses.
Comms Café
Inspired by TED’s mission of Ideas Worth Spreading, Westco Academy learners and trainers let’s come together and connect over ideas-inducing conversations, current comms trends and daily life as comms professionals in a busy world. Join us once a month to hear about exciting, new comms campaigns and meet others in your industry. Get ready for a revitalising and refreshing moment in your work week.
This course will help you polish your presentation skills, whether that’s for on-stage or in-person delivery of any content is a key life skill.
This an Async course - learn on your own schedule.
This course will help you understand which free planning tools are available and which to choose for what you are trying to deliver. We will also discuss some key shortcuts in using them are key to helping your productivity
This an Async course - learn on your own schedule.
This course will help you understand social media channels, audiences and features and how they differ from each other. This is critical for living in our mobile-first world.
This an Async course - learn on your own schedule.
This course will help you to understand how to have new ideas, and giving you a step-by-step process to form them can help in any area of your life.
This an Async course - learn on your own schedule.
Become the change agent within your business and the one who drives the next frontier in digital transformation with this Async course by Paul Roetzer and Mike Kaput form Marketing AI Institute.
Digital platforms, including social media, have revolutionised interactions with councils, education bodies, and other public service providers. Learn our tried and tested methods to optimise channels strategically, swiftly, and effectively.
Join us online for a lively lunchtime discussion led by Simon Jones, the former chair of LGcomms and current Executive Director of Communications at Westco. If you want to see how your team measures up, don’t miss out!
Learn how to construct a best-practice communications strategy in a methodical way, maximising the use of resources and exceeding your objectives.
Unpack creative strategies and learn how to build successful campaigns that grab attention, engage your audience and ultimately make them reevaluate and change their behaviour.
This training is your passport to navigating the legal intricacies of public engagement. From the Five Strands of Consultation Law to real-life case studies, we equip teams with the insights and strategies needed to consult confidently and lead impactful dialogues.
This course explores what a strategic approach to communication entails and the qualities required of communication leaders in local government.
In this 1-day interactive course, we will share the essentials of how to navigate and manage change successfully to land and sustain that change.
We sat down with acclaimed writer, Rory Sutherland, in April 2021 to discuss how behaviour change influences the public sector.
Join our 3-part series for best practice delivery, designed specifically for public sector communicators aspiring to lead campaigns using the OASIS model.
Develop your crisis communications skills with Amanda Coleman in her masterclass for Westco Academy, where she will share how to communicate before, during and after an emergency effectively.
Join Change Management experts from our partners Clarion Insight for a short introduction to change management essentials.
Digital platforms have revolutionised interactions with councils, education bodies, and other public service providers. Learn our tried and tested methods to optimise channels strategically, swiftly, and effectively.
In this course, you will explore what powers local government uses to affect people’s daily lives, how local government is funded and where the money goes as well as the impact of politics on the work of local authorities
Connecting the dots between policy decisions and how central government’s priorities are delivered on the ground.
Learn how to construct a best-practice communications strategy in a methodical way, maximising the use of resources and exceeding your objectives.
The discovery of an unexploded half-tonne World War II bomb in Plymouth led to the biggest evacuation since World War II with more than 10,000 residents affected.
This course will give you all the information and tools you need to run effective and impactful influencer campaigns in the public sector.
Unpack creative strategies and learn how to build successful campaigns that grab attention, engage your audience and ultimately make them reevaluate and change their behaviour.
In this Webinar, Rhion Jones explains why public engagement professionals, senior Managers and Councillors all need a basic awareness of the legal rules that have evolved over the last thirty years.
What stops your communication team from being even more effective? What needs to change in your organisation to ensure that your team can work at the level that you need to?
Join our 3-part series for best practice delivery, designed specifically for public sector communicators aspiring to lead campaigns using the OASIS model.
Join Lynette to discover how to get the most out of your email marketing software to target different audiences and automate content.
We will be joined by the experts at Broadcast Revolution, including former Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live news reporter, producer, and presenter Mike Young.
Digital platforms, including social media, have revolutionised interactions with councils, education bodies, and other public service providers. Learn our tried and tested methods to optimise channels strategically, swiftly, and effectively.
In-person course in London
This course explores what a strategic approach to communication entails and the qualities required of communication leaders in local government.
Join Lynette to discover how to get the most out of your email marketing software to target different audiences and automate content.
Video is everywhere these days and it is more engaging than text on a web page. Join this course and learn how to harness the power of the device in your pocket.
Amanda will guide you through the elements you need to think about when it comes to strengthening your organisation’s emergency communication plan.
As sustainability rises higher up the agenda, it is crucial that organisations talk about their impacts. Learn how to have more open and courageous conversations about sustainability when you don't have all the answers.
Join Westco's Carolene Méli and guest speaker, Jake Reynolds from the Behavourial Insights Team, to discuss how one can harness communications to promote sustainable behaviour.
Digital platforms have revolutionised interactions with councils, education bodies, and other public service providers. Learn our tried and tested methods to optimise channels strategically, swiftly, and effectively.
Learn how to construct a best-practice communications strategy in a methodical way, maximising the use of resources and exceeding your objectives.
Develop your crisis communications skills with Amanda Coleman in her masterclass for Westco Academy, where she will share how to communicate before, during and after an emergency effectively.
In-person course in Leeds
This course explores what a strategic approach to communication entails and the qualities required of communication leaders in local government.
Video is everywhere these days and it is more engaging than text on a web page. Join this course and learn how to harness the power of the device in your pocket.
In this course, you will explore what powers local government uses to affect people’s daily lives, how local government is funded and where the money goes as well as the impact of politics on the work of local authorities
Connecting the dots between policy decisions and how central government’s priorities are delivered on the ground.
Digital platforms, including social media, have revolutionised interactions with councils, education bodies, and other public service providers. Learn our tried and tested methods to optimise channels strategically, swiftly, and effectively.
Learn how to construct a best-practice communications strategy in a methodical way, maximising the use of resources and exceeding your objectives.
This course will give you all the information and tools you need to run effective and impactful influencer campaigns in the public sector.
This course unlocks the importance of evidence-based, data-driven campaigns and providing evidence of success. Join Jen Compton and master developing audience personas, insight, analytics, and evaluation.
Join us for a 3 hour look at onboarding in a unique way. We will be drawing inspiration from the worlds of events and entertainment and workshoping together what a great, new onboarding experience could look like for your team.
Join our 5-part series for best practice delivery, designed specifically for public sector communicators aspiring to lead campaigns using the OASIS model.
Join Carolene for this 3hr workshop on how to create an event from scratch. Together you will journey through different experience design strategies such as journey mapping, attendee impact curve and the 5 stages on an experience.
Want to learn how to develop your own email marketing strategy? Lynette will show you how to use it as a campaigning tool where you can target different audiences in different ways while automating content.
This in-person course explores what a strategic approach to communication entails and the qualities required of communication leaders in local government.
Learn how to construct a best-practice communications strategy in a methodical way, maximising the use of resources and exceeding your objectives.
This three-hour course is designed for communications officers involved in finding case studies or interviewees and writing about them – whether that be for newsletters, magazines or social media posts.
Develop your crisis communications skills with Amanda Coleman in her masterclass for Westco Academy, where she will share how to communicate before, during and after an emergency effectively.
In this webinar, Wendy Jocum will lead a discussion on the foundational skill of resilience within emotional intelligence and how this has an immediate and positive impact on many areas that are critical to public sector communications now, more than ever.
Digital platforms, including social media, have revolutionised interactions with councils, education bodies, and other public service providers. Learn our tried and tested methods to optimise channels strategically, swiftly, and effectively.
Video is everywhere these days and it is more engaging than text on a web page. Join this course and learn how to harness the power of the device in your pocket.
For many councils pre-budget communications and engagement is going to be more important than ever this year given the scale of the financial challenges. We need to take our communities with us on the journey and involve them in tough decisions ahead.
Unpack creative strategies and learn how to build successful campaigns that grab attention, engage your audience and ultimately make them reevaluate and change their behaviour.
This course unlocks the importance of evidence-based, data-driven campaigns and providing evidence of success. Join Jen Compton and master developing audience personas, insight, analytics, and evaluation.
Find out all about digital content marketing strategy in our upcoming webinar, where our experts will show you how to create a strategy to meet your marketing goals and reach your audiences via the channels they use.
Connecting the dots between policy decisions and how central government’s priorities are delivered on the ground.
Join our 5-part series for best practice delivery, designed specifically for public sector communicators aspiring to lead campaigns using the OASIS model.
Join us for this lunchtime webinar to discuss the impact on public sector communications as Liz Truss takes over as PM.
By reaching your target communities on third-party platforms where they spend their time online and are most receptive, you increase awareness and ultimately drive more behaviour change.
This virtual workshop series will give you tips and techniques for applying effective time management skills for yourself, whether you are a team member or team leader.
Social media influencers are quickly becoming an essential part of any campaign toolkit. How do you go about it in reality and what are the things to think about? Come and listen and chat with our experts who have successfully deployed social media influencers in various local government campaigns.
This in-person course explores what a strategic approach to communication entails and the qualities required of communication leaders in local government.
Develop your crisis communications skills with Amanda Coleman in her masterclass for Westco Academy, where she will share how to communicate before, during and after an emergency effectively.
Learn how to construct a best-practice communications strategy in a methodical way, maximising the use of resources and exceeding your objectives.
Simon Jones and a panel of experts discuss the skills your team needs to be effective.
In this course, you will explore what powers local government uses to affect people’s daily lives, how local government is funded and where the money goes as well as the impact of politics on the work of local authorities
Video is everywhere these days and it is more engaging than text on a web page. Join this course and learn how to harness the power of the device in your pocket.
The course will equip you with the knowledge on how to plan your digital campaigns and social media activity and most importantly, how to report your results using the right measures at each stage of the digital marketing behaviour change funnel.
This course unlocks the importance of evidence-based, data-driven campaigns and providing evidence of success. Join Jen Compton and master developing audience personas, insight, analytics, and evaluation.
From sample design to analysis techniques and stakeholder mapping. Join us for this half-day course to harness the power of our best practice model and turbo-charge your approach to community engagement.
Join our 5-part series for best practice delivery, designed specifically for public sector communicators aspiring to lead campaigns using the OASIS model.
Unpack creative strategies and learn how to build successful campaigns that grab attention, engage your audience and ultimately make them reevaluate and change their behaviour.
This three-hour course is designed for communications officers involved in finding case studies or interviewees and writing about them – whether that be for newsletters, magazines or social media posts.
Digital platforms, including social media, have revolutionised interactions with councils, education bodies, and other public service providers. Learn our tried and tested methods to optimise channels strategically, swiftly, and effectively.
Learn more about how local government works to better understand what is done and where you sit in the machinery of government. In this course, you will explore what powers local government uses to affect people’s daily lives, how local government is funded and where the money goes as well as the impact of politics on the work of local authorities
Learn about and explore what exemplary people management looks like in a hybrid working environment. This series will explore leadership in turbulent times, provide an introduction to coaching and help you provide actionable feedback to those you lead.
Learn how to construct a best-practice communications strategy in a methodical way, maximising the use of resources and exceeding your objectives.
Digital platforms, including social media, have revolutionised interactions with councils, education bodies, and other public service providers. Learn our tried and tested methods to optimise channels strategically, swiftly and effectively.
This three-hour course is designed for communications officers involved in finding case studies or interviewees and writing about them – whether that be for newsletters, magazines or social media posts.
This course unlocks the importance of evidence-based, data-driven campaigns and providing evidence of success. Join Jen Compton and master developing audience personas, insight, analytics, and evaluation.
In this webinar, Wendy Jocum will lead a discussion on the foundational skill of resilience within emotional intelligence and how this has an immediate and positive impact on many areas that are critical to public sectors communications now, more than ever.
Unpack creative strategies and learn how to build successful campaigns that grab attention, engage your audience and ultimately make them reevaluate and change their behaviour.
Join Professor Paul Willis in this webinar as we explore the leadership challenges confronting professional communicators across the challenging context of local government. We'll discuss and introduce different ways of thinking, to positively impact and enhance your leadership skills.
From sample design to analysis techniques and stakeholder mapping. Join us for this half-day course to harness the power of our best practice model and turbo-charge your approach to community engagement.
This will provide you with a tried and tested campaign-build process to research, develop objectives, design a strategy, depict creative assets, set out your implementation plan and evaluate… all within five days.
This virtual workshop series will give you tips and techniques for applying effective time management skills for yourself, whether you are a team member or team leader.
Different audiences require different styles of writing in various formats. In this highly accessible and enjoyable masterclass, we put the fun back into writing and teach you how to adapt your content across the board, including writing a great press release, telling engaging stories, and crafting compelling social content.
Develop your crisis communications skills with Amanda Coleman in her masterclass for Westco Academy, where she will share how to communicate before, during and after an emergency effectively.
This best practice discussion will look at how councils can improve fostering marketing, recruitment and retention. It is specifically for local authorities fostering staff and their communication/marketing teams.
Video is everywhere these days and it is more engaging than text on a web page. Join this course and learn how to harness the power of the device in your pocket.
Bring your public sector marketing skills into the digital age with our practical and relevant half-day course with Westco Academy.
Explore the potentials of immersive technologies to support and enhance education with Louis Nisiotis.
This course is designed to help participants address the development challenges they face as communication leaders, both within their teams and across the organisation.
Join our 5-part Campaign Planning Masterclass Series: ROSIE Model for best practice delivery designed specifically for public sector communicators aspiring to lead campaigns.
What will the UK be like in 2030 when the nation is post-Covid, post-Brexit and post-Johnson? When there is much speculation on what the next twelve months may bring, some are also looking ahead to prepare for the longer term.
Learn how to design, monitor and evaluate your campaigns and better understand the importance of evidence-based, data-driven communication campaigns and providing evidence of success.
The course will equip you with the knowledge on how to plan your digital campaigns and social media activity and most importantly, how to report your results using the right measures at each stage of the digital marketing behaviour change funnel.
Amanda Coleman will share her knowledge of how to effectively communicate before, during and after an emergency. This will include analysing recent case studies to uncover the most up-to-date thinking about what makes successful emergency communication.
(4-Day Training)
Join us for an introduction to the fundamentals of Project Management for those looking to increase their knowledge and skills.
Struggling with the change involved in managing your teams virtually rather than face to face in the office? Join Guy Boyd to learn about and explore what virtual leadership looks like today.
2-Day Masterclass
Learn about behavioural insights; the theory as well as how public sector communicators can apply them to real-life campaigns and more. This 3-part course will introduce you to behaviour change theory and its application.
(Postponed)