Cabinet Office
This third annual Government Communications Plan sets out an overall vision for the profession. It aims to provide more streamlined and effective campaigns, build effective partnerships, and strengthen the skills of communicators. It covers important events like commemorating World War 1, the Scottish independence referendum, and long running, successful campaigns such as GREAT Britain and Dementia Friends.
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Collective government priorities
For the first time, the plan gives a cross-government view of our collective priorities. All departments will work together on 3 priorities:
- economic confidence: our cross-government economic campaign covers the governments long-term economic plan to reduce the deficit
- fairness and aspiration: we will bring together government communicators to explain how our reforms are creating a fairer society
- Britain in the world: UK and overseas government officials will support the governments communication efforts abroad
The plan also encourages building partnerships with community groups and the public and private sectors to give government a more direct understanding of specific communities or local circumstances. We will continue to work with suppliers for effective campaigns, with at least 40 potential opportunities for suppliers during the year.
Alex Aiken, Executive Director of Government Communications said:
Major events such as the centenary of the First World War and the referendum on Scottish independence will demand the best of communicators in government.
This plan demonstrates our determination to work more collaboratively on government priorities. We will be more unified, more valued, and more skilled than ever before.
Value for money
To provide best value for taxpayers, we will undertake most of this years communication activity through low and no cost campaigns. The total value of planned proactive communications in 2014 to 2015 is 289 million, the equivalent of about 4.50 per person per year. Our successful financial controls will continue; we aim to save at least 40 million in 2014 to 2015, building on the 36 million saved last year.
Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude said:
We are reforming government communications to ensure our civil servants have the skills required for tomorrows world and that their work is effective, delivering best value for hard-working taxpayers.
Before the last general election there was no central control on spend on advertising, marketing and communications. We introduced controls which helped save 378 million in 2012 to 2013 alone.
Government Communication Service (GCS)
The plan outlines the creation of the GCS Corporate Support Service. This Cabinet Office team will provide departments with strategic support to help stop waste and duplication, share insight and research, and encourage innovative approaches across government. It will also support departments to set up shared centres of excellence in areas such as behaviour change marketing, design and professional development.
It also sets out how the GCS change programme will improve standards, including mandatory skills in digital and internal communication and a continuing professional development (CPD) programme for all government communicators. A new national awards programme will recognise success, in partnership with The Guardian and LGComms.