Learning and professional development

Develop your knowledge and skills throughout your career. The Government Communication Service supports professional development through learning materials, guidance and shared practice for government communicators.

Build a development plan

Review your current responsibilities, identify the technical and professional skills you need, agree learning priorities with your manager where applicable, and put those skills into practice. Keep a record of the learning undertaken and reflect on improvements to your work.

Learning areas

• Communication planning — setting objectives, understanding audiences and identifying the right approach.
• Accessible communication — writing and publishing information that people can understand and use.
• Evaluation — assessing outputs, outcomes and the contribution of communications to policy or service objectives.
• Professional standards — ethics, propriety and accountability.

Learning in practice

Communicators develop through formal training, supported practice, mentoring, feedback and learning from others. The specific programmes available to an individual depend on their employer, responsibilities and the learning provision established for that organisation.