This is a copy of my weekly blog which I write for work and is published on the council's intranet. The views I express in this log are my own, professional, views as the Head of Communications but do not necessarily reflect those of the authority itself.
I know I often use my Log to ask for your help and today is no exception.
In May, about 400 or so communications people from across local government and the public sector will be in Leeds for a national conference. We ‘bid’ to be host city last year for the event, which is run by LG Communications.
My team and I are really excited and we’ve built up a bit of a reputation for being the most accommodating host city so far. We done everything we can to help the organisers, including a very generous offer from Conference Leeds to sponsor one of the evening gatherings when delegates can do some ‘networking’.
The three-day conference also includes an awards night and for this, the Victoria Hall in the Town Hall has been booked. Clearly it’s a fantastic venue and the awards are billed as ‘the Oscars of the local government communications world’ so it should be a pretty prestigious occasion.
Now, here’s where I need your help.
The physical awards, which are handed out on the night to the winners, have, traditionally had some link or relevance to the host city.
So, last year, the ‘trophy’ was made out of Sheffield steel because the host city was Sheffield and the year before it was Dudley glass because the conference was in the midlands.
You get my drift.
Anyway, I need some suggestions about what material (or otherwise) we could use for the awards for this year please. Could it be something to do with Leeds’ connection with textiles or perhaps something from our industrial past?
If you have any ideas, please email them to me:
andy.carter@leeds.gov.uk
And here’s the deal sweetener – if you suggest the ‘winning idea’ then I’ll pay for you to come along to the awards dinner and be on the Leeds table. It’s a posh affair: four courses, black ties and all that!
Elsewhere this week, our plain English campaign has ‘gone national’.
Yep, I’ve had my 15 minutes of fame.
The story about what we’re doing to rid the council’s communications of jargon and to make it more understandable has gone from the Yorkshire Evening Post to the Telegraph and … the Daily Star.
OK, so I’m not too excited about being in the latter publication, but to be quoted in the Telegraph is good. Clearly, you’ll be very interested in reading the article, but before you do can I please just say ….
The council’s planning people are the best in the country and I have nothing against you. Please don’t think that I am being nasty.
OK then, here’s the article on the Telegraph’s website.
There are a number of inaccuracies with this report though, not least the claim that we’ve hired a ‘core skills trainer’. We haven’t hired anyone. That’s because we have the talent within the council to improve our communications. You and I are both perfectly capable of making a difference.
What is interesting though is the spin offs to the media interest.
I’ve had emails from Joe Public congratulating the council on tackling this problem and the Plain English Campaign has been on the phone as well to praise us, which is fantastic.
There are just two things I’ve not told Claire – who runs the workshops for me.
Firstly, the Plain English Campaign has asked whether it can send one of its trainers along to sit in on the course. And, that I’ve now got five councillors who’ve asked to attend as well to see what goes on.
Plainly, that is a great result.
