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What am I missing through my straw?!
Until recently my understanding of separated migrant children was largely shaped by ongoing media coverage, which has powerfully portrayed the treacherous and traumatic journeys that many children experience to reach the UK. Having now worked alongside childrens services commissioners and …
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Thinking about starting a newsletter? Here is step zero
It is that time of the year when everyone is popping the big question – “should we start a newsletter?” Well, there are a few strategic factors to consider before putting a ring on it. A newsletter should not be …
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Every day is a school day
What happens when the one person who has all the knowledge on a certain process leaves your team? Panic? That “this is fine” meme (you all know the one)? Or take a breath and look for any opportunities to review …
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United we brand
We have lived through a period of great political, economic and social upheaval over the past few years, on a national and global level. There is no sign of it abating. But whatever the level of turmoil, our responsibilities in …
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A guide to our brand for all employees: why you should read it (often)
We know what you’re thinking - another document? Really? You’ll appreciate this one. We made it just for you. A guide to our brand for all employees was sent to your inboxes this week. If you haven't read it yet, …
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Steering a course for open data
Essex County Council is massive. There are around 12,000 employees. It’s the second biggest local authority in the country, geographically, and it’s the second largest spending authority (which makes sense, given the size thing I just mentioned). There are hundreds …
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Who is a brand custodian?
If you, in a big or small way, are involved in creating communications for the council, you are a brand custodian. You are responsible for guarding and building Essex County Council’s brand identity. The work each of us puts out …
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Getting to really know our brand
This month we’re spending some quality time with our brand. We’re taking a deep dive into our values, actions, design elements, voice and more. Please join us! What is a brand? A brand is much more than a logo. The …
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Short links, tall problems: why you should stop using third-party link-shortening tools
Here is the complete guidance on using third-party link-shortening tools: Please don’t The end. Short isn’t always sweet. Or safest. If you have been using third-party link shortening tools in your communication materials, you can now eliminate that step from …
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An update on RAAC after welcoming the Secretary of State for Education to Essex
Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability shares an update following the Minister’s visit to the county.
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Eating Cake and Cracking the Code
Lured by the promise of learning and cake, three of ECC's newest Analysts and Junior Analysts attended this year's Summer School at IADS, University of Essex.
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The power of user testing in communications and marketing
There is a big difference between a brilliant idea and a brilliant idea that resonates with the audience. The best way to bridge the gap between the two is user testing. While commonly associated with product design, user testing is …
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Strengthening support services for Essex businesses
Councillor Tom Cunningham, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Planning a Growing Economy, on the support available to firms in the county.
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Exploring the Potential and Pitfalls of AI-Generated Images
Bianca and Claire want to share with you the potential benefits and drawbacks of using AI images in a work setting that was discovered during the recent AI Hackathon
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Council tax and the cost-of-living crisis
Council tax is inherently ‘unsexy’. It doesn’t hit the headlines all too often, let alone national news. In the media it’s an oft-neglected, much-maligned thing. In fact, you’re probably already thinking of closing this blog. Why on Earth would I …
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It's the Summer of Volunteering at Essex County Council
(Warning: this is not your regular blog post.) This week, we are shifting focus to something a bit different. The C&M team is currently promoting volunteering opportunities within Essex. We are in the middle of planning a team volunteering day. …
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Navigating good data ethics
In an era where data, AI and machine learning dominate headlines, local government teams face a critical responsibility: how do we tap into the power of data and analytics whilst ensuring ethics and integrity remain central? Key to achieving this …
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All that glitters is not social media gold: when high-engagement isn’t always good news
You are having a great social media day. A post goes viral, notifications are bursting out of your screen. Followers, comments, likes and shares are soaring. Perfect, until you realise your comments section has been overtaken by people complaining about …
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AI Hackathon: Can AI help make web content easier to consume for our users?
Using a product approach during the AI Hackathon one team looked at how using AI, could be a possibility to simplify website content for users.