Making Sense of Devolution - What Does it Mean for Local Government Communicators?

On April 11th, communications professionals from across the UK gathered online for “Making Sense of Devolution – What Does It Mean for Local Government?”—a lunch and learn session hosted by Westco and LGcomms.

The event brought together senior leaders in public sector communications to unpack the evolving Devolution agenda and explore its implications for local government comms, consultation, and engagement.

 

What We Covered

 

With change on the horizon, the discussion focused on what devolution means for communications professionals navigating an increasingly complex local government landscape.

Key themes included:

• The evolving role of communicators: How devolution is changing expectations, responsibilities, and opportunities.

• Challenges and opportunities in engagement: From citizen participation to managing reputation and trust.

• Future-ready skills and strategies: What today’s teams need to thrive tomorrow.

• Collaboration in a devolved system: Building strong partnerships across new regional structures.

 

Speakers and Panelists

 

We were joined by an incredible panel of experts who shared real-world insights and candid reflections from the front lines of local government:

• Alastair Campbell, Interim Director of Communications, Local Government Association (LGA)

• Andy Allsop, Head of Profession for Communications and Marketing, Essex County Council & LGComms Chair

• Siobhan Bassford, Director of Communications, West Midlands Combined Authority

• Aissa Gallie, Head of Communications, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

• Edward Colman, Head of Communications, Engagement and Public Affairs, Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority

The session was hosted by Simon Jones, Director of Communications at Westco.

 

Why It Matters

 

As regional devolution continues to shape local governance, communicators have a critical role to play—not just in informing the public, but in building trust, fostering inclusion, and strengthening local democracy.

This session highlighted the growing importance of comms leadership in navigating change and ensuring citizens remain at the heart of decision-making.

 

If you attended the session, we’d love to hear your thoughts. What resonated most? How is your team preparing for the next wave of change?

Stay tuned for future events and resources from Westco and LGcomms as we continue to support local government professionals across the UK.