Is this ministers course for me?
Ministers and special advisers often reflect in their Policy Unstuck interviews how many meetings with externals aren’t as useful as they could be. We have designed this course to fix that problem.
Specially curated to provide insider insights for UK-based policy professionals, especially policy managers and communications teams. ‘What ministers want’ increases your understanding of how Whitehall makes policy, and how to influence it through significantly improved engagement with ministers and special advisers.
Want to effectively diagnose policy problems and navigate government discussions with a deep understanding of behind-the-scenes processes? Then this course is for you.
What minister want course overview
| Time Commitment: 10 Hours | Duration: 5 modules over 5 weeks |
| Price: £375 GBP (+VAT) / $500 per person | Study Mode: Tutor guided online learning |
We are able to provide a discounted price for teams, to learn more contact our Training Lead Chi at [email protected].
What will I learn about engaging ministers?
Decisions taken in Whitehall shape how markets function, which social outcomes improve or deteriorate, and whether people are able to live lives of meaning. Much of this happens out of the public spotlight. This course aims to bring you inside the tent.
Designed by a former senior civil servant with a decade of experience in major Whitehall departments. What ministers want will demystify how decisions are made, how ministers and officials think, and how external actors can engage effectively to influence outcomes.
In addition you will learn how to map political incentives against institutional constraints, recognise when a policy idea is well developed (and when it is not), as well as how to tailor communications to different audiences without diluting substance.
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Explain how the UK government works in practice, and how power flows through it.
- Understand the lives and decision making of ministers and policy officials.
- Talk to government with a clear grasp of the policy process and how to diagnose policy problems.
- Produce clear, credible policy briefs tailored to different audiences.
- Communicate persuasively with ministers
About your course leader: Andy Ormerod-Cloke
“Government policy making in the UK is a fascinating and often opaque world. Built on centuries of history, it has its own language, norms, and rules.
Drawing on my experience as a senior civil servant, and in areas as diverse as Brexit negotiation strategy, international modern slavery, and housing, I will demystify how decisions are made, how Ministers and officials think, and how external actors can engage effectively to influence outcomes. I will draw on over a decade of experience in major Whitehall departments to paint a picture of how things feel on the inside.”
Andy is an experienced public policy leader and consultant with 11 years in central government, followed by a senior role in PwC and now as a founder. His work spans energy, education, modern slavery, housing, business and artificial intelligence, advising across complex political and delivery environments.
His time in government included senior roles across HM Treasury, the Department for Education, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Home Office. Leading major legislative programmes, market interventions and international policy initiatives.
Andy is the Director and Founder of Citizenry, a human-centric public policy and training consultancy, supporting government departments to more effectively deliver outcomes for the citizens it serves. Andy holds an Executive Masters in Public Policy with Distinction from the London School of Economics and a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford. He also speaks Colombian Spanish, has completed an Ironman and has an undefeated amateur boxing record.
Want to take your whole team on a journey of learning?
Get in touch to learn more about our team discount
Accessibility statement
If you require additional accommodations or encounter any accessibility barriers, please contact us at [email protected]. We will address any accessibility concerns promptly to ensure an effective, enjoyable learning experience for everyone.