5 things you need to know about the new GCS website
Today, we launched the brand new Government Communication Service (GCS) website, having completely revamped it, with you in mind. So what’s changed and how can you make best use of it? Here’s our top 5 things you need to know.
1. It’s designed specifically for you, our 4,500 government communicators
We’ve listened to your feedback on the old site, and completely revamped the design. 70% of participants in our survey said that the website or newsletter were their primary source of information, so we streamlined the content to make it easy to navigate. Find out about the latest in communications case studies and techniques, as well as accessing the learning and development opportunities available.
2. It’s the home of our world-class professional communication standards and best practice
The GCS has set a range of professional standards, designed to make us the best government communication service in the world. These include mandatory evaluation of communications activity, and completion of over 4 pieces of professional development during the year.
For rigorous and systematic campaign development, take a look at the OASIS campaigns framework (Objective, Audience insight, Strategy, Implementation, and Scoring). The aim is to help make the planning process simpler and easier to remember.
Learn to deliver the best communication and meet your department’s priorities by following our standards and using our guidance, written by experts across government.
3. It’s your first port-of-call to build your skills and develop your career
We recognise the importance of ongoing professional development for all our government communicators, which is why we’ve made the new website the place to go to develop your skills. So what’s on offer?
- The Academy helps communication professionals build skills across the key Modern Communications Operation Model (MCOM) disciplines, with a blended learning offer of live and recorded webinars, podcasts, guides and online learning, from introductory to advanced courses – all delivered by communication experts. Topics cover leadership, digital communication, media, marketing, internal communication, external affairs and strategic communication.
- Our Accelerated Development Programmes, which have helped 250 comms professionals progress their careers in the past year, are key to raising our standards, developing inspiring leadership, and ensuring we have diversity in our senior leadership, reflecting the society we serve.
- Through our mentoring programmes, experienced communications professionals can share their skills and knowledge and improve their leadership skills, by becoming mentors. In turn, mentees can plan their career or expand their personal network. We also offer a cross-government mutual mentoring programme.
- We’re offering school leavers, career changers and those without a degree the opportunity to learn and qualify for a Level 4 PR and Communications Assistant Apprenticeship while they work. We also run the award-winning GCS internship. This is the first profession-led diversity programme across government and a key initiative in our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. Find out more about our apprentice and internship programmes and how to apply.
Our approach for all our training is that they are “digital by default” – this means that all the courses that can be delivered digitally, will be. And with regard to diversity and inclusion, we will make sure that courses will be designed to be accessible for everyone.
4. It’s the destination to find your next role in government communication
There will inevitably be a point in your career when you need to find a new role – perhaps to put into practice the new skills and competencies you’ve developed, to meet the needs of a national challenge (for example, the current COVID-19 pandemic), or just to find a new challenge.
To help you find your next role, the site has a career’s section dedicated to career advice through the GCS Career Framework, government jobs and secondments in communication, and opportunities through our COVID-19 response portal.
5. It keeps you up-to-date with the latest news across the GCS
Finally, we know how important it is to stay informed about what’s happening in the GCS, and to provide communicators to contact their fellow colleagues across Government – sharing campaign launches, success stories, best practices, and key insights. There’s dedicated space on the website for this, in our news stories and blog posts sections.
Not only do we think the new site looks and feels great, we think it’s going to help all of us be better government communicators! So why not take a look now, and make a visit part of your weekly, or even daily, routine to helping the GCS be the world’s best government communication service.
As usual feedback and comments are welcomed, email the Professional Development team at gcs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
- Image credits:
- Bychykhin Olexandr/Shutterstock.com (1)
- GCS (2)