Complete Crisis Communications – How to lead when things go wrong

Being able to communicate clearly and convincingly in a crisis has always been vital for leaders and organisations.

The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that getting things right under pressure can often be a matter of life and death. In this interactive course, we look at a range of real-life crisis scenarios and discuss how we can use successful communications techniques in our own work.

At the Civil Service College, we tailor our courses to each attendee’s role and organisation, ensuring that each delegate gets the most out of the training. Our courses and trainers are continuously updated and evaluated to ensure that we are always delivering the best service possible.

 

Key Training Features

Who Can Attend

Learning Outcomes

 


Key Training Features:

  • How to exhibit the key elements of a successful response to any crisis: honesty, transparency, accountability and consistency.
  • Bad news travels fast – there was never a time when sticking your head in the sand was the right response to a crisis.
  • How to communicate early, clearly and often in the age of social media.
  • Always expect the unexpected – we’ll discuss how proper planning can make managing a crisis less chaotic, and less dangerous to the reputation of your organisation.

Who Can Attend:

Anyone who has a role, or interest, in their organisation’s communications team. And anyone with an interest in developing their resilience and coping with high-stakes, high-pressure working environments.


Learning Outcomes:

  • Develop a crisis communications plan for your own organisation.
  • Deal with media during a crisis.
  • Brief and prepare senior leaders and executives during times of crisis.
  • Craft a meaningful apology that moves your organisation forwards.
  • Cope with high-stakes, high-pressure working environments.

 

 

Summary

Duration

10:00 - 16:00

Price

£595 + VAT

Location

Civil Service College, Westminster, London

Dates

Virtual 27 March 2025 Book8

Face to Face 24 June 2025 Book8

In-House Option

This course is available In-House and can be tailored to meet your individual training requirements.

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Lead Trainer

Matthew Greenough

Matthew Greenough

Matt had a successful career in politics, which culminated in his role as Chief Special Adviser in the Welsh Government, leading to the role of Director of Communications for the Labour Party in Wales in 2016.

Read Bio
Matthew Greenough

Matthew Greenough

Matt is passionate about words – and the power they have to make real and lasting change in the world. He had a successful career in politics, culminating in his role as the Chief Special Adviser in the Welsh Government. Prior to that he was the Special Adviser for Media & Strategic Communications, and the Education Special Adviser. As the most senior adviser working for the First Minister of Wales, Matt worked with politicians, officials, and external partners to help deliver the Government’s programme. He also had responsibility for writing keynote speeches and leading on high profile communications challenges. In addition to his work for Government, Matt worked in various roles for the Labour Party in Wales, including as Director of Communications for the successful 2016 Assembly elections. 

Working at the top of government in strategic, policy and communications roles has given him wide-ranging and high-level experience of: speechwriting, media handling and training, change management, crisis communications, briefing senior teams, and stakeholder management.

Matt now runs his own communications consultancy, Words Matter, providing editorial advice to the United Nations and other clients.

 

Tailored in-house training

Civil Service College can deliver In-House training within your organisation that is exactly tailored to meet your individual training requirements.

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Call 020 8069 9000 to take your booking or for advice on choosing the right course for you.

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