future leaders network

by Kim Neville

LGcommunications has nominated 16 communications specialists from local authorities across the UK to take part in a new leadership programme. The LGC Future Leaders Network, aims to support up and coming officers, connecting them with peers and some of today’s local government luminaries to help them shape their thinking and forge relationships for the future.

What does the next generation of local government chief communications officers look like? I may have had a glimpse into the future yesterday when I joined the first gathering of LGcommunications Future Leaders’ Network in Westminster.

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a tale of two teams

A Tale of Two Teams – how Norfolk County Council made Twitter a genuine customer service channel

by Susie Lockwood

In October last year colleagues of mine in our customer service team took over responsibility for replying to enquiries we received through Twitter. I’d like to say it was my idea but actually the desire to do this, and the foresight of how it could be developed, came from customer services.

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toes in the water

by Ian Curwen

In the last week, much has been written about #localgov use of social media. Some people say we’re focussing too much of our time or resources on it, whereas others think we’re behind the curve.

In this blog post, I look at how Copeland Borough Council, a small Cumbrian district authority, has used social media to improve our communications and engagement work.

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social media and the council mag

by Ross Wigham

Council magazines may seem like a strange topic for discussion given the amount of time and effort we now spend on social media (see my previous post) but I just wonder if we’re now discarding a tool that’s still got so much to offer in the internet age.

Whatever the format, people still love reading stories that build a narrative about where they live and what interests them.

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snow champion is, champion

by Claire Bustin

Take 2,500 snow shovels, tubs of rock salt and high visibility vests. Add a band of willing people ready to help their community. Sprinkle generously with snow...

You may have heard about Snow Champions taking to the streets of Sandwell in the bad weather. They’ve certainly been making an impression on Twitter and on the Sandwell Facebook page.

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facebook week and our rather fine facebook event

by Dan Slee

So, Facebook is the biggest platform the web has ever known but has the UK public sector actually cracked it?

There’s 30 million people in the UK using it and there are not masses of examples on how it can be used well.

Look around there’s lots of tumbleweed pages and people scratching their heads.

Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be talking about Facebook rather a lot, both on Twitter and here on the site.

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what if?

by Helen Reynolds

In January 2011, Monmouthshire County Council gave all its staff access to social media. I work in the communications department and I've championed its use ever since I saw how well people responded to a MySpace page I set up to get the community behind the restoration of Shire Hall in Monmouth: suddenly we had a way for people to talk to the council in a convenient, informal way.

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#lgcommscardiff: the welsh are coming

by Dan Slee

For inspiration William Wordsworth used to climb at night over the Cumbrian hills.

With stick in hand he found through walking inspiration from unexpected places.

Sometimes, talking to comms people can be a depressing experience. Rooted in the past, battered by the present and fearful of the future they fear change as a coatless walker fears bruised clouds that promise rain.

A walk along Cardiff Bay to the Pierhead Building for the LGComms social media session ended in some real inspiration.

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