This course is for all people whose job involves organising events with a PR or publicity implications. It is designed to convey the skills, experience, knowledge and tricks of the trade that make the difference between success and failure for PR events. Topics include event management and protocol, developing themes and content, venue sourcing and liaison, supplier negotiation, media events, and on-the-day response. Training consists of incisive briefings from experienced event managers, case studies, role plays and workshops to build practical skills.

This one-week master-class is designed for senior PR practitioners to learn the latest thinking and advanced techniques from some of PR’s leading experts.

The communications function should be represented at the most senior level of any company or organisation. Delegates on this course will learn how to achieve internal buy-in for communications, building the case for its representation at board level and positioning the function, its vision, role and values at the very heart of the organisation.

Almost every organisation or institution operates in a number of diverse and complex areas and many need – or are legally required – to communicate the work they do to different audiences who are not experts, such as publics, customers, politicians and the media. This course provides delegates with all the necessary skills, tools and tactics required to distil complex issues into a form that can be communicated effectively to non-specialist audiences without oversimplifying, patronising or losing meaning – from the development of appropriate key messages to advice on the best channels to use.

This course briefs communications professionals on how to react and respond effectively to a breaking news crisis that threatens their organisation’s reputation. Topics include working with the media during a crisis, internal communications in a crisis, deployment of crisis communications resources, and recovering from a crisis. Training consists of incisive briefings from experienced PR professionals, case studies, role plays and workshops to build practical skills.

This course coaches communications and PR professionals to defend their organisation’s reputation through strong and credible interview performances even in the most hostile and challenging media encounters at the height of a crisis. Topics include the principles of crisis communications response, the role of the spokesperson in a crisis, handling hostile questions, proactive messaging and practicalities of handling TV and radio technology. Training consists of a rolling crisis scenario including a range of media interview formats, along with briefings on core principles of crisis communications response and case studies of good and bad practice. There are incisive briefings from experienced PR professionals, case studies, role plays and workshops to build practical skills.

This course provides the ideas, tactics and inspiration required to create, design and deploy imaginative public relations programmes that exceed expectations. Under the guidance of seasoned PR professionals, and with a combination of case studies and practical workshops, delegates learn how to think more creatively and achieve results that may have been hard to envisage at the outset.

In this course seasoned PR professionals detail the full range of tools and materials that communications professionals and press offices can employ to effectively illustrate and support their media operations, campaigns and key messages to build an organisation’s profile, position and authority. Topics include press kits, fact sheets and case studies to expert viewpoints, placed articles and research reports.

This course focuses on communicating effectively not just with "the world outside", but in a targeted way to engage a wide range of groups within society with special characteristics, needs and expectations such as ethnic minorities, elderly, disabled, gay and lesbian people. Topics include understanding diversity, principles of diversity communications, diversity audiences and media, developing diversity communications campaigns, handling challenges, measurement and monitoring. Training consists of incisive briefings from experienced PR professionals, case studies, role plays and workshops to build practical skills.

Being able to conduct effective public relations campaigns in the face of sceptical or negative audiences is an essential skill for today’s PR professionals. This course explains how to engage different stakeholder groups, neutralise negative views, change perceptions and opinions, and generate positive coverage in difficult situations.

Public relations strategies, skills, case studies and best practice in the specialist field of environmental communications.

Public relations strategies, skills, case studies and best practice in the specialist field of environmental communications.

This course covers the crucial but often neglected function of evaluating the impact of PR activities in order to measure variables like what coverage was generated, how well messages were received, and which tactics worked. Topics include principles of modern evaluation, techniques and technologies to measure success, building evaluation into strategic PR planning, measuring media and non-media PR, online measurement, and using specialist agencies. Training consists of incisive briefings from experienced PR professionals, case studies, role plays and practical workshops to build practical skills.

Companies and organisations which have a duty or desire to report their financial situation often need to inform a number of different audiences including the financial markets, institutions, investors, key opinion formers, consultants and regulators, not to mention customers and supporters. This course takes a strategic approach to the many different situations which may confront a communications professional in the course of financial communications, including relations with analysts, investors, employees and media. It also covers specific situations such as mergers and acquisitions, contested bids and financial calendar support.

Many different companies and organisations which have a duty or desire to report their financial situation often need to inform a number of different audiences including the financial markets, institutions, investors, key opinion formers, consultants and regulators, not to mention customers and supporters. This course takes a strategic approach to the many different situations which may confront a communications professional including analyst, investor, employee and media relations when delivering financial results, in addition to more specific situations such as mergers and acquisitions, contested bids and more general financial calendar support.

This course is designed to help organisations engage the PR agency that is right for them and get the most out of their agencies. Topics include identifying the right agencies to consider for a pitch, briefing documents, evaluating pitches and proposals, team assessment, handling difficult agency situations, relationship management and evaluation. Training consists of incisive briefings from experienced PR professionals, case studies, role plays and workshops to build practical skills.

This course is an intensive one-week masterclass on strategic media relations management for PR practitioners. It is designed to cover all areas of media relations for the international PR practitioner. Topics covered include: creating a media relations strategy and programme; planning media relations activities; building excellent relationships with journalists and editors; preparing spokespeople for interviews; and generating creative coverage. Training consists of incisive briefings from veteran media relations experts, practical workshops and role-plays, case studies, and insight from journalists themselves including on a newsroom tour.

PR professionals are often required to think and act like journalists, for instance when gathering information for internal communications programmes or drafting press releases and media responses. Through this course, delegates understand how to approach a topic like a journalist, learning the art of interviewing to gather the information, quotes and colour they need to create interesting and engaging internal and external public relations materials.

The importance of developing memorable, relevant, clear, concise and consistent communications messages cannot be over-emphasised. Delegates will learn how to approach this critical part of the planning process from a strategic specialist, including: how to identify and develop messages that reflect the objectives of the organisation, the role of key and supporting messages and proof points, the importance of tailoring messages for different applications and situations to ensure resonance with different stakeholders, and advice on successful deployment of messages through a range of communications tactics.

The virtual press office has become one of the most effective ways of establishing and maintaining a profile with journalists in the online age. Through this training delegates will learn how best to approach this important subject and apply the learning to their own organisation, from the best tools to use – such as press releases, images, spokespeople biographies, expert viewpoints and more – through to the key role an online press office can play in establishing authority and respect among journalists.

Thorough and effective insight and research into the media that matter most to your particular organisation is a critical part of the PR process, but is so often an after-thought or even totally neglected. Delegates will learn from a seasoned PR professional who will demonstrate the importance of media analysis through case studies and personal experience, explaining the best ways of approaching the subject, as well as demonstrating how smart analysis can markedly improve PR results.

A practical, hands-on guide to managing the media at large events such as major conferences and summits. This training represents an essential guide to the whole process, from initial planning and preparation to co-ordinating large numbers of journalists, all with differing needs and deadlines.

Often networking is taken for granted as a universal skill yet this is not the case for most people. This course cultivates a systematic approach to relationship building through personal skills and understanding of the importance of establishing and cultivating networks. Topics include principles of effective networking, tips on smart networking, resources and forums for networking, and the networking of existing contacts. Training consists of incisive briefings from experienced and effective networkers, case learning, structured discussions, role plays and practical workshops to build practical skills.

This high-level course is designed to demonstrate the role of communications strategies and tactics in responding to negative campaigns undertaken by special interest and pressure groups against particular organisations or industries, which can otherwise have a damaging impact in critical areas, from corporate reputation to consumer confidence.

Insight and understanding into the practicalities of planning and delivering successful PR campaigns at regional level.

Strategic communication plays a key role in the establishment and maintenance of strong, consistent and well respected brands. Through interactive workshops, role play and expert coaching, delegates learn how to apply the principles to their own organisation, while also considering the importance of anticipating and managing reputational threats.

This course is a comprehensive overview of the principles and practicalities of running an effective press office that will operate as an efficient machine to represent the media interests of your organisation. Topics include press office organisation, roles and responsibilities, tools and tactics, resources, online press office management, media relations, news dynamics and organisational planning. Training consists of incisive briefings from experienced PR professionals, case studies, role plays and workshops to build practical skills.

This is intensive training to provide real insight into the themes, principles and concepts that drive journalists’ news judgements. An experienced journalist trainer will provide the inside track on the media, revealing how journalists think, how different media are organised and operate, how news stories evolve and the ways in which PR professionals can influence journalists and shape the news agenda.

This practical course covers the special skills and insights that official spokespeople need to represent their organisation effectively, or refine their spokesperson abilities. Topics include effectively angling a news agenda, responding to enquiries, handling bad news, managing relationships, presentation and speaking skills at media events, facilitating press conferences, and managing a press pack. Training consists of incisive briefings from experienced PR professionals, case studies, role plays and workshops to build practical skills.

Many organisations today are designing and deploying smart and imaginative public relations programmes that take full advantage of the prevailing news agenda to raise their own profile and demonstrate the expertise of their spokespeople. This course will reveal how to identify and predict the forthcoming news agenda, how to leverage existing news stories for your own benefit, how to draft and sell-in newsworthy viewpoints that generate coverage quickly, and how to extend the lifetime of a story through placed articles, roundtable debates and seminars.

Writing proposals is clearly essential to showcase services and bring in new business, but it is also a time-consuming task that does not always get the attention it deserves. This high-value course begins with a refresher on the core principles of writing winning proposals, then gives practical insights into the key ideas that mark out winning proposals from the also-rans.

This is intensive, one-on-one writing coaching designed around one person's specific needs and based on his or her own written texts and materials. Under the watchful eye of an experienced writing trainer, the participant will learn how to create copy that is relevant, engaging, colourful and, most importantly of all, appropriate for the target audience.

Writing long articles such as features demands specific skills that are not required for shorter pieces such as press releases and newsletters. Learn journalists’ techniques for structuring longer articles to maintain coherence and to hold the reader’s interest throughout – from the initial research and planning required for a feature through the type of language to use, adopting the right tone of voice for the audience and reaching a strong conclusion.

This course is essential for anyone whose job includes checking and improving written texts, from internal communications professionals to press officers and even PAs. Our experienced trainer will explain and demonstrate how to enhance style, create clear and concise copy and eliminate errors, all with a journalist’s eye for detail.

Newsletters, whether paper or electronic, are an effective way of communicating with different stakeholders – both internal and external. However, too many newsletters are ignored or discarded because the content is not sufficiently relevant or engaging. This course will teach the specific skills required to create successful newsletters by looking at the differing requirements of different audiences, along with tone, style, length, content and the appropriate balance of articles. It will also explain the different skill sets required for writing paper and e-newsletters.

At senior levels of management and business, presentation skills become critical to establishing and maintaining credibility and achieving results in all kinds of roles, whether presenting to a board or shareholders, courting investors, or speaking at major public events. This course consists of private and personal presentation coaching from a highly experienced corporate presentation skills trainer, normally one-on-one, but available for up to three colleagues on request.

Spokespeople need to do more than say the right thing: research shows that our ability to communicate and build personal and corporate reputation depends on the entire impression that we generate. Learn how to communicate your message with real confidence, authority and credibility that reinforces the impact of your message, rather than detracting from it.

This course helps delegates improve their presentations through the effective use of audiovisual support which can play a key role in reinforcing key points, making a memorable and convincing – without distracting or detracting from verbal delivery.

Almost everyone with a communications role will need to perfect the art of negotiation and persuasion at some point in their career. For PR professionals this might be on a daily basis, persuading journalists to see your point of view, for others it might be to gain internal buy-in for an idea or concept. This course will give delegates the skills, techniques and tactics they need to communicate clearly, convincingly and persuasively through a series of practical workshops and individual coaching.

This course lays out the core principles to build presentation skills appropriate to each person and the wide variety of situations in which we need to perform. It draws on perspectives from psychology, linguistics, sociology, and hard practical experience to help you create simple, clear and compelling presentations and deliver them effectively. Expect an active and confidence-building day of coaching and fun workshops with an inspiring presentation coach.

This is a highly specialised training course for people who are required to chair or facilitate meetings, conferences or panel discussions, as well as those who moderate events or negotiations. Delegates will learn all the tricks of the trade from an experienced facilitator, including the importance of maintaining control and ensuring all participants have an opportunity to speak, while also maintaining an appropriate pace and constructive dynamic.

Professional and practical management and generation of PR graphics.

Picture desks are bombarded with photography from many different organisations every day. We will show you how to make your images stand out, get noticed and get published, including the best ways to combine relevance with creativity, how to choose the right photographer, manage the photo shoot and sell-in the resulting image to enhance your PR story and drive coverage.

As new media open up new channels for TV news such as Web TV channels and video sharing sites like YouTube, the rise in PR opportunities through TV news is placing a premium on TV news capabilities for PR professionals. This course is designed to help PR professionals think and work like TV news journalists in understanding news and generating stories, and then to express this understanding through technical TV skills applied to PR functions.

As new media open up new channels for TV news such as Web TV channels and video sharing sites like YouTube, the rise in PR opportunities through TV news is placing a premium on TV news capabilities for PR professionals. This course is designed to help PR professionals think and work like TV news journalists in understanding news and generating stories, and then to express this understanding through technical TV skills applied to PR functions.