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Engaging with policy makers during Covid-19

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Page 1: Engaging with policy makers during lockdown · Our public affairs activity adds value and ensures that our clients and partners communicate their message and engage to best effect

Engaging with policy makers during Covid-19

Page 2: Engaging with policy makers during lockdown · Our public affairs activity adds value and ensures that our clients and partners communicate their message and engage to best effect

Covid-19 has affected us all. Many businesses and organisations are more exposed to government decisions than ever.

Whilst it is unlikely that all of the ramifications of the pandemic will be understood for several years it is certain that effective communication with policy makers and opinion formers will be vital.

Engaging with policy makers during Covid-19

Political engagement has never been more important:

Is your business likely to be affected by government decisions about dealing with the pandemic?

Do you need to keep your issue on the agenda now that many face-to-face engagement opportunities have gone?

Would you like to take your events programme online?

As well as changing the way that we live our lives, the coronavirus has also changed the way that we engage with decision makers. Many opportunities to meet in person have been removed and important calendar events such as party conferences have been postponed.

Connect is a leading provider of engaging and high-impact political events, specialising in organising conferences that showcase excellent work and build long-lasting relationships with key stakeholders. Our public affairs activity adds value and ensures that our clients and partners communicate their message and engage to best effect with target stakeholders.

Connect has brought this experience to bear to help organisations innovate and adapt to the current unprecedented circumstances by supporting online engagement, meetings and events. Our approach delivers many of the benefits of traditional engagement whilst also unlocking new benefits associated with online platforms.

Contact us to discuss how we can help take forward your public affairs strategy in these unusual times or for advice on taking your event programme online.

[email protected] 7592 9592

Page 3: Engaging with policy makers during lockdown · Our public affairs activity adds value and ensures that our clients and partners communicate their message and engage to best effect

Online events

Case study: Hydrogen launch event

Connect supported Cadent gas network and the HyDeploy Consortium on the virtual launch of their HyDeploy event. HyDeploy is a pioneering hydrogen energy project designed to help reduce UK CO2 emissions and reach the Government’s net zero target for 2050. The launch was moved online in response to COVID-19 where Connect worked with Cadent to identify and engage with their target audience and promote online attendance whilst managing questions received from attendees. Connect’s marketing and engagement of the event led to a record attendance of 118 participants and follow-up conversations are now taking place with key policymakers.

Virtual events provide value-added, engagement-driven experience, creating an impactful event that extends well-beyond a computer screen.

Benefits of online events

cost effective - with no venue and catering costs

achieve maximum attendance - delegates do not need to consider travel and other logistics

outputs - recording the event provides a valuable piece of content that can be shared with attendees or offered and published online for other people to download

interactive tools - eg. polls, Q&A, live chat, and a downloadable resources section so attendees can fully engage with content

environmentally friendly - virtual events allow delegates to access the event remotely, which reduces the impact on the environment

reliable - virtual events can be viewed from anywhere and are not vulnerable to cancellation

provide comprehensive analytics and reporting data

build a digital legacy for future events, ensuring content is not lost

flexible - permitting ‘breakout’ meetings for sub groups of delegates

Page 4: Engaging with policy makers during lockdown · Our public affairs activity adds value and ensures that our clients and partners communicate their message and engage to best effect

Our services

Connect has successfully delivered training sessions, workshops and APPGs by using Zoom which provides a platform for interactive viewer engagement, such as live chat and polls. These include:

APPGs

Connect has unrivalled experience in setting up and running online All Party Parliamentary Groups. This includes liaising with parliamentarians, securing speakers, coordinating on-the-day logistics and managing and communicating with attendees. Connect has worked with parliamentarians to ensure our APPGs are engaging, run seamlessly with minimal interruptions and work to take forward key policy recommendations. Our online APPGs have provided an opportunity for stakeholders around the country to attend, providing maximum attendance.

Training Sessions

Connect provides CPD accredited public affairs training in all aspects of political communications and engagement, helping participants to develop their confidence, knowledge and skills. In response to the current climate, Connect has been delivering all of its training courses online. Connect can also tailor and deliver bespoke online training sessions for clients which can be delivered to in a way that is most suitable to your organisation.

Case study: Press conference and briefing

To coincide with Brexit negotiations, Connect organised a virtual media briefing with the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation. This briefing was attended by journalists and broadcasters from national media, including Reuters, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Times, BBC News and Sky News. This briefing granted journalists an in-depth discussion with representatives from the fishing industry on progress of Brexit talks as well as an opportunity to engage with new representatives. Separate breakout rooms were created for one-to-one private discussions which were used afterwards.

Remote contact programmes

Running virtual one-to-one meeting programmes is an effective way of your organisation engaging with Parliamentarians and key stakeholders. Connect work with organisations to develop a targeted approach list, secure Zoom meetings and manage the engagement process by offering online logistical and public affairs support.

Media briefings and launches

Online media interviews, briefings and press conferences are proving to be highly effective in getting your message out. Journalists are incredibly busy and always pressed for time. They welcome the convenience and efficiency of being able to conduct interviews using online platforms, and to participate in briefings and press conferences without having to travel. Connect has organised successful media engagement activity for a range of clients, leading to agenda-setting press coverage.

Page 5: Engaging with policy makers during lockdown · Our public affairs activity adds value and ensures that our clients and partners communicate their message and engage to best effect

Our services

Virtual Conferences

Connect is working with clients to provide larger online events. Much like physical conferences, virtual conferences are built around a live, complex agenda that includes keynotes, sessions, breakouts, exhibitions and networking. Virtual conferences include multi-session content and involve community engagement tools, allowing attendees to view keynotes in real-time, build their own agenda from relevant, on-demand content, and interact with other attendees.

Case study: Parliamentary event

The All-Party Parliamentary Water Group is an active parliamentary forum with a large network of external stakeholders who engage in its meetings regularly. As a key public service provider, the water industry has taken a leading role in adapting their services and responding to customer needs during Covid-19. Parliamentarians and wider stakeholders were keen to hear from industry about their work and in turn, the industry wished to share how they could enhance their social purpose and play a leading role in a green economic recovery.

With this in mind, and in the absence of access to the parliamentary estate, we decided to take the APPG online and hold one of the first virtual APPG meetings. Connect, as the Secretariat for the Group, put in place an effective plan to ensure that this virtual format was both engaging and well controlled, allowing for a lively discussion to take place. In total, the APPG attracted over 170 stakeholders and resulted in positive feedback from both of the Group’s co-Chairs and stakeholders, who wish to repeat the event format in future, beyond Covid-19.

Connect is currently working with the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) to deliver their forthcoming virtual conference which is expected to attract up to 500 delegates and will include a bespoke platform that will provide zones for:

• speeches (live or pre-recorded) and virtual breakout rooms - providing delegates with an opportunity to take part in live polls and questions

• exhibition - organisations can link their brochures, videos and their products and services, as well as having the opportunity to speak to delegates using open chat and live video

• networking - opportunity to interact with other organisations via live chat• speakers - biographies and details of speakers are displayed

Connect provides a full event management service to include strategic advice, branding, marketing, registration, delegate and speaker management, online support including detailed briefings and on-the-day support.

Smaller virtual events such as roundtables, panel discussions and policy debates also provide an opportunity for organisations to engage with their stakeholders online, allowing them to take part in a structured and themed discussion, network and benefit from shared knowledge and experience without leaving the comfort of their own surroundings. Connect provides strategic advice and will work with organisations to advise on a suitable format to meet their objectives.

Page 6: Engaging with policy makers during lockdown · Our public affairs activity adds value and ensures that our clients and partners communicate their message and engage to best effect

Contact us to discuss how we can help take forward your public affairs strategy in these unusual times or for advice on taking your event programme online.

[email protected] 020 7592 9592