writing for the public
Half-day masterclass for public sector professionals communicating with the public
For those writing emails, letters, web content or scripts for the general public, where messages need to be clear, easy to follow and understood first time.
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By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
Write in plain English so messages are easy to understand and act on
Structure content so readers can quickly find what they need
Use everyday language, short sentences and active voice to improve clarity
Adapt writing for people with different levels of literacy and English proficiency
Spot and remove points of confusion in existing communications
Apply GOV.UK style and plain English principles in day-to-day work
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This is a practical, hands-on masterclass.
Participants work on examples of public-facing communication, including their own where possible. Each section introduces a simple principle, followed by short exercises to apply it immediately.
The focus is on rewriting and improving real content so participants leave with approaches they can use straight away.
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Half-day masterclass (3.5 hours)
Can be extended to a full day to cover additional objectives
Delivered in-person or virtually
Mixed groups from across teams
Level set to match the group on the day
Up to 20 participants
From £1,800 per session
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09:30 – 09:45
Introduction and context09:45 – 10:15
What makes writing easy to understand10:15 – 10:45
Seeing communication from the reader’s perspective10:45 – 11:15
Rewriting for clarity (practical exercises)11:15 – 11:30
Break11:30 – 12:00
Structure, layout and readability12:00 – 12:30
Improving real examples and applying checks12:30 – 13:00
Key takeaways and application
