You have done all the research, and you know the problem inside out, but you just aren’t having traction with the minister in question. Sound familiar?

In this course you will learn how to map political incentives against institutional constraints, recognise when a policy idea is well developed (and when it is not), and tailor communications to different audiences—without diluting substance.

The course is led by Andy Ormerod-Cloke, a former civil servant with over a decade of experience of Whitehall, including senior roles across HM Treasury, the Department for Education, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and the Home Office.

Andy will demystify how decisions are made, how ministers and officials think, and how external actors can engage effectively to influence outcomes.

Course outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain how the UK government works in practice, and how power flows through it—so you know how to interact with it

• Understand the lives and decision making of ministers and policy officials—so you know what they care about, and what that means for how you interact with them

• Produce clear, credible policy briefs tailored to different audiences (including ministers)—so you are giving those audiences what they want, and what will move things along

Who this course is for

This course is specific to the UK. It is primarily designed for those who are in public affairs roles, or those in a policy development or policy communications role who want to improve their understanding of public affairs.

Course structure & commitment required

This is a 5-week course. There are 5 online modules to work through, each with a mix of content and exercises for you to complete (each module is approximately 2 hours work).

There are three live, one-hour teaching sessions as part of this course, designed to consolidate learning, explore real examples and facilitate discussion.

Wednesday 14th May: 12:00 (UK)
Wednesday 28th May: 12:00 (UK)
Wednesday 11th June: 12:00 (UK)