comms2point0 skills workshop: Essential Emergency Comms (Birmingham & Cardiff)
when: Monday November 23 - 10am to 4.30pm
where: Clayton Hotel (formerly Maldren Hotel), St Mary Street, Cardiff
PRICE: £195 plus VAT
There’s been a breach of a riverbank and 500 homes are at risk of flooding … how do you warn people? There’s a town centre bomb threat … how do you communicate with your communities?
In 2015, fires, floods, riots and terror threats are a very real part of modern day life in Britain.
Emergencies represent challenges not just for communities but for communications teams too. Local authorities, NHS organisations, police forces, fire and rescue authorities and many other organisations share a duty to warn and inform the public in an emergency raise public awareness of risk. There are specific legal and practical frameworks that govern how these bodies work together.
Do you know the legal duties on you and your team’s shoulders?
Have you stress-tested your team to see how they handle an emergency?
What steps work in the recovery phase?
That’s why we have teamed up with former head of comms and experienced emergency communications digital consultant Ben Proctor. Ben has drafted emergency planning communications for a large organisation as well as advised a range of other bodies. He has also taken part in international volunteer communications during the recent Nepal earthquake.
Ben will join comms2point0’s Dan Slee to deliver Essential Skills and Know How for Comms Teams in an Emergency. Dan has 12-years experience as a local news assistant chief reporter as well as eight years communicating during emergencies in the public sector. He has drafted a pioneering new approach for emergency communications a group of organisations.
Communications and digital professionals in local public sector organisations will often find themselves working with fellow professionals in many other organisations during an emergency and in the recovery phase.
What you will learn
● the statutory framework that public sector comms teams are expected to know.
● the duties and requirements placed on organisations and individuals
● the practical communications approaches that have been tried and tested in emergencies
● what role social media plays in an emergency
● how to spot and combat rumours online
Who is this for?
This course is particularly tailored for communications and digital folk in what are known as category one and category two responders. The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 puts category one responders as local authorities, fire, police NHS and acute and ambulance trusts as well as Public Health England. Category two include CCGs and public utilities.
It would also be valuable for communications folk working in voluntary organisations or private sector organisations likely to be involved in emergency response or the recovery from emergencies.
What you will learn
- The legislation, standards and guidance relevant to communicating with the public in an emergency
- The theory and practice of undertaking a meaningful warning and informing role within a multi-agency response
- How to develop appropriate plans and tactics to ensure the public are effectively warned and informed at each stage of an incident
- What good practice in warning looks like both in the UK and internationally
- What Ben and Dan have learned in over 40 years (between them) in local journalism and communications roles
How you will learn
- This will be an interactive and participative workshop.
- The day will follow an simulated emergency as it evolves using each stage to explore the framework for planning and decision making.
- There will be an opportunity to debate and explore approaches, to share in the experience of other delegates and Ben and Dan’s experience
Who is this for?
- Communications (PR, social media, customer services and digital) folk in category one and two responders (see below for the full list).
- Communications folk in other organisations likely to be involved in responding to or recovering from emergencies.
How do I get to Impact Hub Birmingham venue?
ImpactHub Birmingham whose postcode is B5 5NY in the creative quarter of Digbeth in Birmingham. It is in the Walker Building a converted maritime instruments workshop. It is 15 minutes walk from New Street railway station, 10 minutes from Moor Street railway station and three minutes from Digbeth Coach Station. It is 10 minutes taxi ride from the railway stations which should cost around £6. There are two long stay car parks one minute walk from the venue in Oxford Street and Meriden Street which cost less than £3 for all-day parking.
How do I get to the Clayton Hotel, Cardiff venue?
But, be quick... there are only limited places available and our previous workshops have all sold out.
You can book through invoice by emailing dan@comms2point0.co.uk or online below:
