Media and presentation training for the LGA

The provision of high-quality social media and digital skills training that can be adapted to a range of different local government audiences, including – communications teams, officers working in non-communications roles, councillors (at a senior and backbench level). The training should be tailored to people with varied skills and experience – from beginners to people looking to use their existing knowledge to operate more strategically. It should be based on a thorough understanding of modern communications trends and best practice across a range of different local government issues.

The Local Government Association is a politically led, cross-party membership organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice. We aim to influence and set the political agenda on the issues that matter to councils, so they are able to

deliver local solutions to national problems. We represent more than 370 authorities across England and Wales on a wide array of topic, including adult social care, public health, child protection, bin collections, parking, devolution and finance. Our lead politicians speak in the national media on a daily basis – protecting and promoting the interests of local government.

The LGA also provides communications support and advice to its member authorities. As part of this offer, we want to provide councils with access to high quality media training for their leaders and senior councillors.

We are seeking to engage supplier to deliver media training sessions for LGA lead members, and also for councillors within individual local authorities as part of the communications support work with LGA members. Media training sessions should ensure councillors are able to speak confidently and effectively in both broadcast and print media on behalf of the LGA and/or their local authority. This would include providing tailored training to councillors on a one-to-one basis, in groups, or as refresher training for those who may need further support or guidance. A number of our councillors will already have varied levels of experience speaking to the media and may simply need to hone particular skills or simply build their confidence in front of a camera.

Individual needs should be assessed and addressed prior to and during the training sessions to ensure each participant gets the most out of the session and leaves feeling able to speak confidently and effectively on behalf of the LGA and/or their local authority. It’s also important that when participants have finished the training, they are clear about the purpose of media interviews and able to embed key messages or narratives into their delivery. Councillors representing the LGA will also need to understand that they are speaking in that capacity, and be able to circumnavigate their personal views, or those of their local council or political party.

Continued in Appendix 1 of the attached ITT document.