This year’s LGcoms Academy annual conference will take place on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 October 2024. Tickets will go on sale next month with the extensive event programme being developed over the summer months.
LGcomms Academy is a well-established annual event providing a unique opportunity for public sector communicators from across the country to come together, develop key skills and share ideas. Organised by LGcomms committee members, all leading professionals in the sector, the event offers a mix of learning, expert speakers, networking, practical training and interactive sessions for communications professionals at all career levels.
In recent years, Academy has been held in Sheffield, London and Manchester. For the first time, this year’s event is heading to Wigan, in Greater Manchester.
Wigan is the heart of Northern Soul with a long history of popular culture influencing out from the north east. As always the LGcomms Academy will celebrate the pride in place of the event in terms of location, local government, culture and history. The main Academy event will take place at the state of the art conference centre, The Edge, with associated activity also planned in other parts of the town.
Andy Allsopp, LGcomms Chair, said: “This year we see public sector communications teams tackling a wide range of competing and complex issues including the prospect of political change locally and nationally and the continued impacts of austerity on council budgets, residents and businesses. At Academy, we will look at the state of our sector and how we are meeting the challenges we face now as well as what’s coming up on the horizon.
“There is much to celebrate and much to gain from working together at the annual Academy. Now we know when and where we are going for this year’s event, we are focused on delivering a programme that will excite and encourage all who come along to Wigan in October. Look out for more details coming soon and sign up early when booking opens to secure your place.”
Lucy Downham, LGcomms executive committee member and Wigan Council Head of Communications, said: “As long-term members of LGcomms, we’re really excited to be hosting this year’s academy and welcoming local government communications professionals to Wigan and showcasing what we have to offer. Located in the heart of the Northwest, between Manchester and Liverpool, Wigan plays an important role in devolution and is home to the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham.
“Known for its rich industrial and sporting heritage, and vast greenspace, Wigan is renowned for its beautiful scenery and strong sense of pride. It is a creative town with a rich musical heritage, being the birthplace of Northern Soul, The Buzzcocks, The Verve and more recently The Lottery Winners and The Lathums.”
Wigan is just 2 hours by train from London and 1.5 hours by train from Birmingham.
More details about the event and ticket sales will be released next month.