UK experts hold first international communication academy in Budva

Budva, 15 October 2016 – Top managers from the UK Government Communication Service held the first International Communications Academy for a group of government communicators from the countries of South East Europe in Budva on 13 and 14 October 2016.

The international academy, which took place for the first time in South East Europe, was hosted by SEECOM, the regional association of government communicators seated in Budva, with the support of the UK Embassy Podgorica. During a two-day advanced programme of professional development, a team of top UK Government’s communications managers transferred the UK Government’s best practices and experience in planning, campaign management, and communication with the citizens and the media.

Deputy UK Ambassador to Montenegro Gavin Vassey welcomed the continued cooperation between the UK Embassy and the SEECOM association in promoting top communications and good governance standards across the region. “The UK strongly believes that powerful public communication should be at the absolute heart of effective policy making and it is only through effective public communication that we can really make policy work and do the things that citizens care about,” Mr Vassey has said.

The Director of Campaigns at the 10 Downing Street Conrad Bird noted the willingness of British experts to continue sharing know-how, experience, and best practices with their colleagues in South East Europe. Noting the crucial importance of communication with citizens for the success, understanding, and acceptance of public policies, Mr Bird underlined that communicators’ job is “actually to save lives, create jobs and make lives better for our citizens.”

Head of the Government of Montenegro’s Public Relations Service Srđan Kusovac welcomed the colleagues from the UK and the region to Montenegro and was hopeful that the South East European communications professionals will be able to apply the skills acquired at the communications academy towards aiding public policies and offering good services to citizens.

Vuk Vujnović, SEECOM’s Secretary-General, thanked the UK Embassy for their support in hosting the Academy, and underlined that it is a particularly important event for the organisation and the region, given that professionals from nine countries in the region have had the opportunity to learn from world’s top experts in the area.

SEECOM is an international professional association, established in Budva in 2013, whose aim is to promote highest ethical and professional standards of public sector communication through the exchange between public sector communicators in South East Europe.

GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO’S PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE