ESSENTIAL AI FOR PUBLIC SECTOR COMMS

– Get ahead of the curve on Artificial Intelligence for public sector comms.

Understanding Artificial Intelligence is one of the challenges of 2025 but how can you get ahead of the curve?

Getting up to speed can take hundreds of hours that simply isn’t in the calendar of a busy comms team.

That’s why I’ve put the ESSENTIAL AI FOR PUBLIC SECTOR COMMS workshop together. It’s based on research, experience and training delivered in and around the public sector. It’s designed in five parts to bring you and your team up to speed on how Artificial Intelligence is changing the landscape.

We’ll look at the basics, how you can use UK Government guidelines to use AI safely, how you can use AI for good, how to get the most out of tools as well as knowing how to better spot fake AI images, audio and video that will drop into your timeline.

Sessions will also be practical and we’ll look at using tools safely during sessions to help develop your understanding and confidence.

You’ll get the slides and resources from the sessions and you can join a special monthly newsletter for people who have completed the training to help spell out the changes and tools that will affect your job.

I first started to look at AI in 2018 and have been delivering training and speaking on AI since 2023. After research and refining I’m ready to launch this specialist workshop for people in the public sector who have politics, tight budgets and tight time constraints to consider.

My strapline for more than a decade as a digital comms specialist has been ‘future comms made easy’.

This workshop delivers exactly that.

– Dan Slee

Who is this for?

This is for communications and public relations people in and around the public sector. You can be looking for a strategic overview or practical skills to help you get more out of your day. This can be for heads of comms or new recruits. Either is fine.

Who is the trainer?

Dan has 20 years experience working in and with the public sector. After almost 10 years in a senior position in local government communications he’s worked with and trained more than 1,000 organisations in cutting edge digital communications skills. Clients range from NHS Scotland, Dublin City Council, South Wales Police, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Orkney Council and Merseyside Fire & Rescue.

Will it be online or in person?

There are five hour-long sessions that can be delivered online to fit easily into your working day. I’ve found working for an hour online doesn’t overburden the learning. This can also work delivered en bloc face-to-face to a team.

What about when the sessions are over?

People who take part in the sessions will get access to slides and resources. As a bonus, they can also sign-up for my new monthly newsletter update on AI trends, tests, tools and developments to help keep you up to speed. This will be limited to workshop participants.

What ground will it cover?

Session #1 THE BIG PICTURE (1 hour)

This will look at breaking down what Artificial Intelligence is, what the terms are, how it’s already useful and how it can help and hinder your job. We’ll also cut through the hype. . You’ll confidently know your large language model from your swarm intelligence.

Session #2 USING AI SAFELY (1 hour)

This will look at how to set-up your future-proof framework for using AI tools as a team and as an organisation. This draws on helpful UK Government guidelines as well as social media platform guidance to help steer a safe path forward for you.

Session #3 USING BETTER PROMPTS (1 hour)

This will look at how to frame your requests – known as prompts – to better use tools to deliver what you want. This will be a practical session in a safe space.

Session #4 USING AI TOOLS (1 hour)

This deep dive will look at a number of tools that can be used to help you do your job more effectively. It’ll be a practical chance to try out tools in a safe environment. They include tools to summarise text, idea generation, assess job applicants, come up with ideas for design, video, grammar, spreadsheets and building avatars.

Session #5 DETECTING & COMBATTING AI and AGENTIC AI (1 hour)

This will look at the tools that you can use to call out and confidently challenge incoming fake content that can try to set the weather for your comms team. This will include tools and techniques for text and spotting fake images, audio and video.

We’ll also look at a basic guide to agentic AI.

TESTIMONIALS

“Dan’s extensive knowledge and experience of public sector comms made this the perfect insight into the opportunities, benefits and risks of using AI tools. We learned some exceptionally useful techniques that we’re deploying already, and the workshop includes some important advice for teams and organisations only just dipping their toes into the world of AI. Dan’s delivery is informative but relaxed and engaging, and there was something for everyone – those entirely new to the subject, and those who already have some experience and background knowledge.”

Andy Roberts, communications and engagement manager, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Councils

“I’ll admit to being more of an observer rather than an active engager with Ai before Dan’s course. As always though, Dan set the scene with both his trademark humour and well-researched understanding of what it means for public sector users. Each session has helped to build a great foundation and confidence to start applying AI to make everyday tasks more efficient, whilst also exploring the art of the possible for more creative uses. And of course also navigating the potential pitfalls and risks of applying such powerful tools to public facing comms.”

Tom Marshall, communications lead, National Parks England

“I wanted to get on and use AI – but didn’t know where to start. Actually, I did know where to start, I was just waiting for Dan’s course to come along and then book up quickly.

“It was exactly what you want – five sessions in bite-sized chunks giving you the confidence to have that conversation with your bosses – and win over the doubters.

“My takeaway was quite simple – why wouldn’t you use AI in your day-to-day role? And to help answer the question I thoroughly recommend Mr Slee’s course.”

Will Conaghan, communications manager Stafford Borough Council and Cannock Chase District Council.

AI is very new to our team and the communications world. The initial response from the team was to stay clear of it due to a lack of knowledge about it and a fear we would get it wrong. I signed up to Dan’s course to find out more about AI in the communications world, how it can be a benefit to us and the pitfalls to look out for.

Dan’s course has given me a great foundation in using AI in public sector communications. I am now a lot more confident in getting AI to help me do my work.

Dan’s course was clean and concise. Each session was the right amount of time, friendly and everyone was encouraged to contribute to the conversation. It was easy to understand, and Dan used some great examples of good and bad use of AI as well as how to spot false news stories using AI. I would encourage anyone who works in comms in the public sector and is not sure if AI is a good or bad thing to go on this course.

Mark Bargon, digital communications manager. Scottish Ambulance Service

TRAINING