Courses and events
Boost your communication skills and knowledge with our free courses and learning resources, as part of our curriculum. Topics include external affairs, internal communications, marketing, media, and strategic communications.
On this page:
- Booking
- Learn and develop
- Online courses (to resume in the Autumn – no date available yet)
- Calendar
Festival of learning (7 to 30 September)
Book your place
You will get 2 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points per session.
Booking
To book your course or access our content, you need to:
- be a government communicator, part of the Government Communication Service (GCS)
- ask the development adviser in your department for the GCS password or contact us to know their details: gcs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk (it is the same password to book events and to watch webinars)
Learn and develop
The majority of our courses are delivered by internal trainers from across departments and organisations. Check your learning pathway with our curriculum then record your activities in your personal development plan (PDP).
On-demand learning
Check your learning pathway with our curriculum and get Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points.
- Listen to podcasts recordings
- External learning resources
- Reading lists by grade and topic
- On-demand webinars
Civil Service Live replay
– Communications: saving lives, delivering priorities
– Behind the scenes: Large cross-government campaigns
– Good intentions, unexpected results: unintended consequences and inequalities
– Think inclusion: communicating with all
Leadership
– Developing your emotional intelligence
– Introduction to project management
– How to manage and improve difficult relationships
– How to run a great training session
– Leadership masterclass: collaborative leadership
– Leadership masterclass: connected leadership
– Leadership masterclass: creative leadership
– Leading diverse teams Leading diverse teams
– Making the values of your organisation stick
– My tips for resilience with Simon Baugh
– Showing vulnerability as a leader
– Working with special advisers and ministers
External affairs
– Introduction to external affairs
Internal communication
– The role of internal communications in business change
– Creating a communications plan for a senior leader
– The importance of listening: from measurement to meaning
– Introduction to internal communication
– Introduction to internal communications with Russell Grossman
Strategic communication
– Communicating locally
– Devolution for Communicators
– Engaging stakeholders and influencers using digital tools
– How to plan for a major event
– Strategic Communications with Clara Eaglen
– Introduction to strategic communication
– Introduction to strategic partnerships
Media
– Media series – Introduction to modern media operations
– Lessons from Washington Embassy
– Secrets of speechwriting Marketing
– Cognitive behavioural therapy and marketing
– How to set up your campaign objectives using the OASIS model
– Social and search listening 101
– The art of a brand
– Union and devolution communications
Diversity and Inclusion
– Digital accessibility for government communicators
– Digital accessibility: best practice essentials
– Inclusive design 101 with Christina Mallon Behaviour change
– Using behavioural science to communicate strategically (COM-B)
For everyone
– Introduction to government communications with Alex Aiken
– Introduction to the Functional Standard, the bedrock of communication
– Resilience: How to keep yourself going in challenging times
Professional bodies webinars
Watch webinars for free or access resources for a discount through bodies we partner with, such as the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) and the Market Research Society (MRS): Professional bodies details.
Comms exchanges
Live online virtual events, Comms Exchanges are regular opportunities to learn about innovation and best practices in government communications, as well as share insight, ideas and knowledge. Check the calendar on this page for the next one.
Online courses with GCSI
2 August 2021 update: due to development work the following courses will resume in the Autumn – no date available yet. We will advertise the next course dates through our normal communication channels.
We work in partnership with the Government Communication Service International (GCSI) team to offer online modular courses to GCS members.
When you sign up you must commit to the full duration of the course; between 5 to 8 weeks, depending on which course you sign up for. Modules are released week by week and you can finish them at your own pace provided this is within the timeframe allowed for the whole course.
The courses available are:
- Campaigning excellence (in partnership with GCSI)
- Crisis communications (in partnership with GCSI)
- Understanding disinformation (in partnership with GCSI)
- Introduction to communications (in partnership with GCSI)
- Digital communications (in partnership with GCSI)
Calendar
| Course/Event | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
|
Webinar An introduction to MS Teams Events Bored of the same old platforms? Try something new... |
Wednesday 15 September 1:00 pm |
Wednesday 15 September 2:00 pm |
|
Webinar Introduction to the GCS Curriculum – ALBs and public bodies Join us for a short presentation about the GCS Curriculum and how it could benefit you and your team. |
Thursday 16 September 11:00 am |
Thursday 16 September 11:45 am |
|
Webinar Comms Exchange: Check your privilege session Ever wondered what the world looks like through someone else’s eyes? |
Thursday 16 September 2:00 pm |
Thursday 16 September 3:00 pm |
|
Webinar Facebook Fridays: Public Service Announcements for Government Organisations How to utilise the biggest social media platforms for your campaigns |
Friday 17 September 10:00 am |
Friday 17 September 11:00 am |
|
Webinar The trials and triumphs of leadership, with Alex Aiken Lessons and advice from GCS' most senior communicator |
Monday 20 September 1:00 pm |
Monday 20 September 2:00 pm |
|
Webinar Time management using Pomodoro Never miss a deadline, meeting, or email again! |
Monday 20 September 2:30 pm |
Monday 20 September 3:30 pm |
|
Webinar Get the F-A-C-Ts! Combatting and responding to mis and disinformation The right way to deal with fake news |
Tuesday 21 September 11:00 am |
Tuesday 21 September 12:00 pm |
|
Webinar Introduction to behavioural science for communicators This is an introductory webinar to behavioural science, explaining the COM-B model and how it applies to communications. |
Wednesday 22 September 11:30 am |
Wednesday 22 September 12:30 pm |
|
Webinar Applying insights from the GCS Benchmark Database to improve comms activity If you are interested in applying actionable and data-driven insights, this is the session for you |
Wednesday 22 September 3:00 pm |
Wednesday 22 September 4:00 pm |
|
Webinar Academy: Citizen Experience This course aims to give participants the tools to create a great citizen experience within the marketing discipline. |
Friday 24 September 9:30 am |
Friday 24 September 1:00 pm |
|
Webinar Facebook Fridays: Introduction to Facebook Ad Measurement This session will introduce Facebook's measurement narrative, methodology, and the the core tools. |
Friday 24 September 10:00 am |
Friday 24 September 11:00 am |
|
Webinar Strategic problem solving and objective setting Become the master of strategic communications! |
Tuesday 28 September 9:30 am |
Tuesday 28 September 12:30 pm |
|
Webinar Leading for your team, putting people first - with Toby Nation How do you create a thoughtful working culture, where everyone achieves their best? |
Wednesday 29 September 10:00 am |
Wednesday 29 September 11:00 am |
|
Webinar Preparing for the Cookieless future Those pop-ups are becoming a thing of the past, what now? |
Wednesday 29 September 2:00 pm |
Wednesday 29 September 3:00 pm |
|
Webinar Academy: Citizen Experience This course aims to give participants the tools to create a great citizen experience within the marketing discipline. |
Thursday 30 September 9:30 am |
Thursday 30 September 1:00 pm |
|
Webinar Guest Speaker: Introducing the British Public - with James Johnson How to land messages effectively, a masterclass from ex-No10 SpAd |
Thursday 30 September 11:00 am |
Thursday 30 September 12:00 pm |
|
Webinar Comms Exchange: Judges - a communications challenge How do you plead? Find out more about comms in a very unique environment at this session! |
Monday 4 October 2:00 pm |
Monday 4 October 3:00 pm |
|
Webinar Facebook Fridays: Ads About Social Issues, Elections or Politics Learn more about Facebook's advertising policy; how do those 'disclaimers' work? |
Friday 8 October 10:00 am |
Friday 8 October 11:00 am |
|
Webinar Facebook Fridays: Messaging for Government Organisations This marketing package will enable governments to have meaningful conversations and build trust with their audience |
Tuesday 19 October 7:00 pm |
Tuesday 19 October 10:00 pm |