Public Service communications and government communication careers explained

The role of the civil service and the developments in strategy for government communications were thoroughly explored in a lecture delivered by Mr Alex Aiken in November. Mr Aiken is the Executive Director for Government Communications, responsible for government communication strategy and developing cross-government campaigns, managing the combined Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet Office communications team and serves as Head of Profession for the Government Communications Service.   

The lecture provided a valuable opportunity for students to understand the diversity of government communications from large-scale health and well-being campaigns to internal communications. Small group discussions facilitated a broad range of questions which Mr Aiken answered covering current affairs, and including potential career opportunities within the civil service and the changing role of the relationship with the media in our complex new world of social media.

Professor Oliver James from the Department of Politics, College of Social Sciences and International Studies led the vote of thanks to Mr Aiken whose visit took place in Parliament week (16th - 20th November). The College's Employability and Alumni Relations team supported the Politics Society with a further event in this week, a "Women in Politics" panel discussion with recent Politics and International Relations alumnae.