1. SURVIVING
&THRIVING
CIPR LOCAL
PUBLIC
SERVICES
ANNUAL
CONFERENCE
2009
THE
CONFERENCE FOR
LOCAL PUBLIC SECTOR
COMMUNICATORS
14-16 OCTOBER
SURGEONS’ HALL,
EDINBURGH
CONFERENCE
PROGRAMME

2. THE CONFERENCE
FOR ALL LOCAL WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER 12.30pm Lunch and sponsor exhibition
PUBLIC SERVICES 2.30pm – 5.00pm Registration at the Surgeons’ Hall
6.30pm Welcome reception at the Scottish Parliament
1.30pm Trade secrets
In these popular sessions you can learn more about
COMMUNICATORS Thanks to Edinburgh MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville who has
shortlisted Excellence Awards entries with an opportunity
to hear from and learn from the best in our field.
kindly arranged for us to visit the Parliament. Edinburgh’s
The theme this year is surviving Council Leader, Councillor Jenny Dawe will also welcome 2.00pm Workshops
and thriving. This will explore the delegates to the city. Choose a workshop from the following:
important role local communicators Workshop 1 – What’s it
are undertaking at this time and like where you are?
how to show value for your THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER Liza Greaves, Public PR
excellent work. This workshop will look at the results
9.15am Registration and coffee at the Surgeons’ Hall
of the attitude survey and work on
Register and visit the sponsors’ stands and find out what
developing an action plan to change.
services they have to offer.
Workshop 2 – Are you measuring up?
9.45am Introduction by the chair of the CIPR Local
John Shewell, Brighton and Hove City Council
Public Services group, Ashley Wilcox, MCIPR
Building evidence-based communications campaigns.
10.00am Welcome to Edinburgh, Isabell Reid,
Workshop 3 – Working with two masters
Head of Communications at Edinburgh City Council
Wendy Knight, Worthing and Adur Councils
10.15am Keynote speaker, Michael White Looking at the experience of the communicator who
Voted Print Journalist of the Year by MPs has one management team and two local authorities.
and Peers in the House Magazine/BBC
3.00pm Coffee and sponsor exhibition
Parliamentary Awards, Michael White is
Associate Editor of The Guardian. 3.30pm Trade secrets
Another chance to learn more about shortlisted Excellence
11.00am Coffee and sponsor exhibition
Awards entries with an opportunity to hear from and learn
11.20am Kevin Taylor, FCIPR, from the best in our field.
CIPR President
4.00pm The trouble with Children’s Services
Kevin will talk about professionalism in the
It often seems that you can’t win in the world of child
industry and how the CIPR is supporting local
protection. We’ve seen what happens when things go
public services communicators.
wrong but can we learn the lessons of others?
11.40am Andy Green – The upturn: your part in its rise The City of Edinburgh Council’s Media Manager, Stewart
In an entertaining yet practical talk you will go away Argo will take us through the challenges, how they were
with at least three new ideas and strategies of what managed and the lessons we can all learn.
you can do differently to be more resourceful in the
current economic climate.
© Edinburgh Inspiring Capital

3. Stewart will be joined by Daniel Our panel comprises Bob Bounds (pictured), Workshop 2 – Closing schools - keeping the public onside
Lombard (pictured) from Community Managing Editor, Kent Messenger Newspapers, Joyce Nisbet and Tina Sutherland of Edinburgh City Council
Care Magazine who has recently Alan Pickstock, Communications Consultant The City of Edinburgh Council has recently embarked on
produced guidelines on effective and Chris Payne, Head of Commercial a fresh round of school closures. Joyce Nisbet and Tina
social work PR. Operations at Tower Hamlets Council. Sutherland will outline some of the challenges they faced and
their top tips on managing a major consultation programme.
5.00pm Return to hotels 11.00am Coffee and sponsor exhibition
Workshop 3 – Unlocking your creative potential
7.30pm Enjoy Edinburgh in true Scottish style 11.15am Trade secrets is easy and painless
and join us for a traditional Ceilidh Learn more about our shortlisted Excellence Awards entries Andy Green
South Hall, Pollock Hall. with an opportunity to hear from the best in our field. Top creativity expert Andy Green will show you how!
Dress: Comfortable. Jeans fine, tartan perfect and don’t 11.45am Changing attitudes to alcohol 2.45pm New media
forget your dancing shoes. Located in the Pollock Halls just Partnership working across the public sector is Simon Wakeman and Will McInnes
off Dalkeith Road it is only a 10 minute walk from the increasingly being seen as the way ahead. Using the Will returns to talk through the latest social media
conference venue and is well served by buses (2, 14, 30 or 33) theme ‘Changing attitudes to Alcohol’ we’ll hear about innovations. Have local public services caught up or
for those who wish to save their energy for dancing. different campaigns/initiatives to tackle one of today’s fallen further behind? Simon will talk about what other
priority issues. Presentations from Dr Donna McKinnon, public sector organisations are doing giving you the
Head of Alcohol Misuse Delivery Team at the Scottish chance to learn from Medway Council’s experiences.
FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER Government’s Alcohol Awareness Week and Brighton
& Hove City Council’s Kevin Kingston. 3.45pm Free time and return to hotels
9.00am Coffee at the Surgeons’ Hall
12.45pm Second steps 7.00pm Pre dinner drinks at Our Dynamic Earth
9.15am The Council who cancelled Christmas
How was it for you? Gordon Lyon from Aberdeenshire
We’ve all been there _ those ‘couldn’t make it up 7.30pm Dinner followed by the Excellence Awards
Council was a delegate on the first ever Second Steps
moments’ come along when you least expect it and You’ll receive red carpet treatment and enjoy a three course
course – hear from him why it was so valuable.
remain with you forever. dinner and entertainment. Find out who the winners are and
The session will be chaired by Councillor 1.00pm Lunch and sponsor exhibition celebrate in style. Dress: Black tie.
Ewan Aitken (pictured), former Leader of
Edinburgh Council who found himself at 1.45pm Workshops 1.00am Carriages
the centre of a nativity play storm a few Choose a workshop from the following:
years ago. Ewan will be joined by Anya Workshop 1 – Surviving and thriving
Richards, Senior Communications Manager for Powys County in a lead communication role
Council and Scotland on Sunday journalist Martin Hannan. Carol Grant
10.00am Is the public sector destroying This practical, interactive session will look at how you
local newspapers? can get on and move up as a communications leader.
The public sector has been accused of competing unfairly
with local newspapers and bringing about their demise
in an already challenging economic climate – so who is
to blame?

4. © Edinburgh Inspiring Capital
HOW TO BOOK
You will find a booking form at
www.cipr.co.uk/lps
or call Karen Cameron on 0131 529 4423,
e-mail karen.cameron@edinburgh.gov.uk
PR NEWS
Essential reading for all communicators – Are you getting
your copy of PR News – the ezine of the CIPR group?
Register by visiting www.prnews.org.uk
Follow us on Twitter – @ciprlps, join our Facebook
group or our Linkedin group.
THANKS TO ALL OUR SPONSORS.
Our 2009 conference is kindly sponsored by:
Edinburgh images provided by Edinburgh Inspiring Capital www.edinburgh-inspiringcapital.com