Advance: Practitioner
The Advance Practitioner programme is primarily designed for those early in their government communication careers, providing a strong foundation in professional communications skills, or those who wish to refresh their knowledge or gain new perspectives.
Whether you’re new to the field or an experienced communicator, this programme offers comprehensive training in professional communications skills, including the latest tools and technologies. It’s an excellent opportunity to enhance your expertise and stay current in the ever-evolving world of government communications.
On this page:
- Why participate in the Advance Practitioner programme?
- Registration
- What is Advance Practitioner?
- Core courses
- Elective courses
- Advance Practitioner participants testimonials
- Eligibility and cost
- Learn more about Advance programme
- Frequently asked questions
- Contact us
- How we use your data
Why participate in the Advance Practitioner programme?
Advance Practitioner offers a comprehensive training programme designed to equip you with the essential tools and skills to make a meaningful impact in your role.
The programme is designed with you at the forefront. Being fully digital, Advance Practitioner offers you the freedom to learn anytime, anywhere! Interactive activities and knowledge checks throughout the programme will help you consolidate your learning.
On successful completion of the full programme you will receive a certification that recognises your achievements and supports your individual development.
Registration
Registration for Advance Practitioner Autumn 2025 cohort is now open via Connect.
Programme starts on 20 October.
What is Advance Practitioner?
Advance Practitioner programme is made up of four core and four elective courses across a range of communications disciplines, which have been developed alongside senior stakeholders and communications experts to provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in government communications.
In addition to digital learning, you will get a unique opportunity to attend online expert-led masterclasses and speak to the communications experts.
Learn more about the programme and why you should sign up today.
Core courses
AI for communicators (4 CPD points)
In the workplace, as in society, we have only begun to realise the potential of artificial intelligence. The pace of change over the last year has been rapid and there are many opportunities and challenges for communicators to understand. This course will enable you to use AI effectively and with confidence.
Campaigning excellence (5 CPD points)
Delivered well, government communications campaigns can save lives, as well as change them for the better. It is communications that informs citizens about access to vital government services that can help them. This course will teach you how the UK, a world leader in government communications, plans, executes, and evaluates all our campaigns.
Engaging your audience (3 CPD points)
This course will teach you why strategic audience engagement is an essential professional skill, showing you how colleagues across government are successfully reaching diverse communities through tailored approaches that meet people where they are.
Propriety and ethics for government communication (2 CPD points)
Learn the basics of working in national security communications and hear how communicators in this space develop resilience as they work to protect the UK.
Elective courses
In addition to the four core courses, you will be able to select four of the below electives to personalise your learning experience and shape your skill set to match your individual career goals.
A behavioural approach to communications (4 CPD points)
Learn how to use tools and techniques to better understand your audience, why they behave in the way they do and how to identify any barriers to changing their behaviour.
Communications and strategic engagement (4 CPD points)
Being able to understand and work with your stakeholders is a core communication skill, whatever your role or grade and in all environments. In this course, we will look at how to identify and map your audience groups, ensuring you can make the key links against your strategic communications objectives to deliver successful events and activities, with maximum impact.
Crisis communications (4 CPD points)
Get a robust foundation of theoretical knowledge and practical skills that pivot around the three pillars of the Crisis Communications Operating Model.
Data and insight for communicators (5 CPD points)
The use of data and insights in informing how we, as communicators, plan and evaluate our activity has become more critical than ever before. Data and insights are the key to evidence-based decision-making. They help us understand the needs, concerns, and aspirations of our target audiences, ensuring our messages resonate and our campaigns have maximum impact.
Digital communications (5 CPD points)
More people than ever now receive some, if not all of their information online. With this approach being the new normal, it’s essential that organisations have digital at the heart of their communication strategies. As communicators, we should strive to be at the forefront of digital communications to ensure we are not left behind.
Introduction to national security communications (1.5 CPD points)
Learn the basics of working in national security communications and hear how communicators in this space develop resilience as they work to protect the UK.
Smart Spending: A guide to low-cost no-cost spending (2 CPD points)
This course will equip you with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to plan, execute, and evaluate low and no-cost communications. From exploring real-world success stories to mastering evaluation techniques that will help you demonstrate the impact of your activity; you’ll learn how to make your communications budget work harder and smarter
Understanding mis- and disinformation (4 CPD points)
Learn to use the RESIST framework, to reduce the impact of false, misleading, and manipulated information on society and national interests, in line with democratic values.
Working with the media (5 CPD points)
A well-functioning press office is one of the key components of a successful communications team and a crucial conduit for the relationship between government bodies of all kinds and journalists. Both serve to strengthen accountability and provide a link with the public we serve
Hear from Advance Practitioners
Eligibility and Cost
Advance Practitioner is available for communications professionals in the UK government departments, ALBs (including embedded communicators) and devolved administrations at no extra cost.
Frequently asked questions
Each course within the programme takes between 1.5 – 5 hours to complete. You have 6 months to complete all courses including your electives.
No, there is no additional per person cost for communications professionals in departments, ALBs (including embedded communicators) and devolved administrations.
You don’t need line manager approval to register but you should discuss and agree your L&D with your line manager.
Each course is worth certain number of CPD points. Depending on which electives are completed, the full programme will achieve you a minimum of 25.5 CPD points and a maximum of 34 CPD points.
The total weight of CPD points is:
- 14 CPD points for four core courses
- between 11.5 – 20 CPD points for 4 electives, depending on which electives are selected
No, you do not need to start with the core courses, but we recommend it. All courses are open and you can work through them in any order. A reminder that you need to complete four core courses and four electives.
Contact us
If you have any questions or would like to speak to the Advance Team, contact us via email: courses.support@cabinetoffice.gov.uk