Communications Manager Programme

Step up with confidence as a new or aspiring communications leader.

Designed for new and aspiring communications managers, this programme will help you build confidence and broaden your expertise. It provides a solid foundation across key areas - from strategy and stakeholder engagement to influencing, negotiation, and understanding your leadership style. Tailored specifically for healthcare communications professionals, this interactive programme will help you navigate the unique challenges of the role, connect with peers at the same career stage, and grow your professional network.

You can download all the information in our full programme brochure.

Sign up for September 2025 start Sign up for January 2026 start

What is the Communications Manager Programme?

You’ve just stepped into your first NHS communications management role, and suddenly you’re in the deep end.
One minute you need to write a comms strategy, the next you’re asked to advise on your organisation’s approach to AI, present at a board meeting, or handle crisis comms with only a moment’s notice. Everyone is looking to you for guidance, and while you know comms, you’re now expected to lead.

This is the reality for many NHS communications professionals. The expectations are high: Advise senior teams, build public trust, respond to sector-wide change, and demonstrate value for money – all while keeping up with a constantly evolving landscape.

But when we surveyed comms colleagues, most had never received formal training. We created this programme to bridge that gap, and give new communications managers a strong start. This programme covers everything you need to know, but might have been too shy to ask, tackling the real-world challenges that come with stepping into leadership for the first time.

When we surveyed comms colleagues

89%

said there is a lack of tailored support to help NHS communicators develop as leaders.

62%

said they had never received any formal leadership or management training.

Image of a staff member writing 'Leadership Skills' on a whiteboard.

How does it work?

Specifically for new and aspiring communications managers working in the NHS.
You’ll take part in six interactive, three-hour online workshops, delivered by experienced facilitators.
Unlike general leadership training, this programme is tailored specifically for communications professionals, so we’ll be focusing on the real issues you face every day.
Connect with fellow comms professionals facing similar challenges, and continue learning from each other long after the programme ends.

What you'll learn

Influence and impact

Learn how to strengthen your influencing skills, build your personal brand, and communicate with credibility.

Lead with confidence

Explore your leadership style, understand how to get the best out of yourself and your team, and build confidence as a manager.

Work effectively with leaders

Feel confident the next time you have to present to senior leaders, by building strong relationships with executive teams and stakeholders.

Navigate systems and culture

Develop a better understanding of the role of your comms team within the complex NHS environment.

Strategy and planning

Learn to create a communications strategy and plan to make the most of limited resources to maximise impact.

Demonstrate value

Evaluate your work and use the right metrics to show the difference your communication team makes.

Module key dates

1. You as a communications professional in today’s NHS

Cohort 1: Thursday 18 September 2025
Cohort 2: Wednesday 14 January 2026
We’ll look at how your personality shapes your leadership style, identify challenges and opportunities as comms professionals, and reflect on how to grow within your role.

2. Stepping up into leadership

Cohort 1: Thursday 2 October 2025
Cohort 2: Wednesday 28 January 2026
Explore practical leadership models, learn how to manage upwards, and understand what makes an effective team, starting with your role in it.

3. Understanding stakeholder engagement

Cohort 1: Thursday 16 October 2025
Cohort 2: Wednesday 11 February 2026
Great leadership isn’t just about hard work, it’s about building strong relationships. We’ll discuss who your key stakeholders are and how to effectively engage with them.

4. Getting inside reputation management

Cohort 1: Thursday 6 November 2025
Cohort 2: Wednesday 25 February 2026
Learn how reputation is shaped, the vital role comms plays in protecting it, and how to respond effectively, in day-to-day work or times of crisis.

5. Exploring the power of influencing skills and personal impact

Cohort 1: Thursday 20 November 2025
Cohort 2: Wednesday 11 March 2026
Discover how to influence with confidence, strengthen your personal impact, and use these skills to lead change and build credibility in your role.

6. Demystifying comms strategy and planning

Cohort 1: Thursday 11 December 2025
Cohort 2: Wednesday 24 March 2026
Break down the difference between strategy and planning, and learn how to create impactful comms with limited resources. We’ll also explore how to use evaluation and metrics to demonstrate the value of your work.

Benefits to your team and organisation

This programme has been designed not just to support individuals, but to strengthen communications capacity across the NHS. By investing in your team, you're equipping them with the skills and confidence to lead effectively. Unlike generic leadership programmes, this training is grounded in the real-world challenges NHS communications teams face. Participants will explore practical, relevant scenarios that reflect the demands of working in the NHS, meaning less time spent learning on the job and more time making an impact.

In just 18 hours of online learning, this programme covers the core skills your team needs to step into leadership, without the need for lengthy time out of the office or formal academic study. We know budgets are tight, that’s why this is a low-cost, high-value option.

It’s a smart way to invest in team members who are keen to grow, take on more responsibility, and step up with confidence, so they can work effectively with senior leaders and start to think and lead more strategically.

What does the programme cost?

If you work at an NHS Elect member organisation: The programme will cost two membership tokens (subject to approval from your account lead) or a discounted rate of £600 per person.

If you work at a non-member organisation: The full price for this course is £800 per person.

Get to know our facilitators

Joe Blunden

Director of Communications and Engagement

Joe is a multi-award winning marketing and communications specialist with over 15 years of experience across a range of industries. He has worked for the NHS for the past 10 years, including marketing, communications and engagement roles in both acute and community settings.

He is a compulsive learner and recently completed an MBA (Distinction), having gained a Professional Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, a Diploma in Managing Digital Media and a degree in business.

Joe directed the successful campaign to get the NHS Choir to Christmas number one in 2015, raising over £300k for charity in the process. He also led NHS Voices in 2018, bringing together 30 celebrity singers to record a song for the NHS, which was made into a documentary by ITV.

Joe specialises in strategy development and digital communication and has extensive experience in PR, stakeholder engagement and campaign development.

Anna Thame

Senior Associate

Anna is a senior communications professional with 30 years’ experience. Anna has held Director of Communications roles in national organisations across the public sector, in healthcare and education at organisations including the Design Council, and an acute Trust, where she led significant service change and reconfiguration communication programmes for eight years. She has advised senior teams, developed and delivered strategic communications reviews, led insight-gathering programmes and stakeholder engagement. She is a qualified educator and experienced facilitator and enjoys facilitating in person and online. She keeps her knowledge current as a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (MCIM) and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Anna is currently an NHS Elect Associate and independent consultant.

Anna has extensive experience in supporting organisations to develop their communications strategies as well as enabling teams to develop their communications skills. As an experienced facilitator and qualified educator, Anna also offers facilitation to support workshops, meetings and events and provides communications training. As a trusted communications expert, Anna supports teams with their engagement planning for change, stakeholder insight gathering, strategic communications reviews and content development.

Ready to join us?

If you would like any further information about the programme or have any questions, please feel free to email joe.blunden@elect.nhs.uk.