The advent of swine flu has brought the field of crisis communications within the Public Sector into sharp focus. Experienced communicators have been in high demand to help support the Department of Health’s national pandemic response, but such skills are in short supply.
Since swine flu hit the British headlines, the government has looked to inform, reassure and educate the nation about the virus. Experienced communications professionals were recruited to help handle the crisis from the outset. But much like the shortage of emergency planning officers we reported in May, recruiting the necessary skills has been a struggle.
Joining this elite instead are communications professionals from the private sector
This decade has seen foot and mouth affect livestock, and bird flu cross the species barrier. These outbreaks have already put a number of government communications professionals through the school of hard knocks. Inevitably, the demand for such communications skills is unpredictable and current events have highlighted the scale of the challenge to secure communications professionals with the level of expertise to manage such a wide spread crisis
Relatively few public sector communicators have had the opportunity to work on such high-profile, large-scale, big budget campaigns. And government departments under the spotlight are nervous of passing the baton to anyone without a comparable track record. Joining this elite instead are communications professionals from the private sector who have had a relevant level of exposure.
With the threat of a second wave of swine flu hitting Britain this autumn, the demand for communications experts is undiminished. For those looking to move into this niche area, experience in an integrated communications environment is a must, as well as solid, above-the-line campaign management experience.
For more information about opportunities within this space, please contact our Marketing & Communications specialist consultants
