SMC Spotlights Government Grid As Tool For Government Communication At Workshop For Heads Of Government Departments In Sharjah

In the run-up to the fourth International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2015), which opened today in Sharjah, Sharjah Media Centre (SMC) hosted a workshop to introduce the concept of the government grid to an audience comprising members of the Sharjah Executive Council and heads of Sharjah government departments. The workshop was held in line with SMC’s strategic goal to build the capabilities of UAE nationals in the field of government communication.

Titled ‘Government Grid – A Tactical Tool’, the three sessions of the day-long workshop were led by internally renowned government communication experts from the UK Prime Minister’s Office, Alex Aiken and Robin Gordon-Farleigh.

Benchmarking the recently launched Sharjah Government Grid against the UK government’s model, the workshop defined the components and functionality of a government communication grid. It highlighted the grid as a ‘running diary’ that incorporates every forthcoming announcement of every government department in order to maximise their impact and ensure intradepartmental cohesiveness. It additionally provided participants with a hands-on exercise incorporating Sharjah’s annual calendar of events. Sharing case studies that outlined the experience of the UK Prime Minister’s Office in implementing the government grid, the experts underlined the specific benefits of the system for senior management in their decision-making process.

Notably, the workshop served as a curtain-raiser to the implementation of the government grid by all local government authorities and departments in the emirate of Sharjah.

The Sharjah Government Grid is the brainchild of SMC launched through its Government Communication Unit under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, SMC Chairman, said: “The workshop provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms and structure of the government grid and how to utilise it to achieve unified government messaging. The introduction and adoption of the government grid will serve as a leap in developing government communication strategies and improving the level of coordination among departments. This will eventually help realise our vision to achieve better communication between the government and its key audience - the community.”

Alex Aiken is the Executive Director for Government Communications at the UK government. In this role, he manages the combined Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet Office communications team and serves as Head of Profession for the Government Communications Service. Before joining Westminster, he worked in Parliament and for the Conservative Central Office, leading the party’s Campaigns Unit and the Press Office. He has trained and advised politicians and officials in countries and states around the world in the practice of government and communications.

Robin Gordon-Farleigh is the UK Government’s News Planner based in the Prime Minister's Office in 10 Downing Street. In this capacity, Gordon-Farleigh has for the past four years coordinated the UK government’s public announcements and media activity. With an in-depth understanding of the complexities of government communications, Gordon-Farleigh has advised several international governments on strategic communications and best-in-class techniques to coordinate communications and media activity across government lines.

Prior to serving at 10 Downing Street, Robin Gordon-Farleigh held various communication roles in the UK government, advising ministers, working in operational management roles, and providing consultancy on strategic communications and planning for the Department for Work and Pensions, as well as the Department of Health.

Emirate:  Sharjah

Date: Feb 21, 2015

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