COURSES > POLICY & PROJECT MANAGEMENT SKILLS
Effective Briefings and Submissions
Write with clarity, confidence and impact
Chaired by
Sue Calthorpe
Available Dates
Date & Time
Venue
Availability
Purchase
13 November, 2025
09:25 - 16:00
Virtual Using Zoom
4 spaces left
Overview
In the public sector, clear, persuasive briefings and submissions can be the difference between decisions being made and important points being overlooked. Turning complex material into a concise, well-structured document requires skill, structure and confidence.
Join expert communications trainer Sue Calthorpe for a practical, interactive session that equips you or your team with the tools to write informative, compelling and decision-ready documents.
On the day you will learn how to:
Plan and structure briefings so they capture attention and meet decision-makers’ needs
Write text that is accurate, clear and easy to understand
Present options and recommendations with clarity and purpose
Distil large volumes of information into concise, actionable summaries
Apply practical exercises to embed techniques immediately
Who should attend:
Public sector managers and team leaders who prepare or oversee briefings and submissions
HR, policy or communications professionals responsible for influencing decisions
Teams that want to improve the clarity and impact of their written communications
What previous delegates say:
“Excellent course – very thought provoking and exactly what I need to build my confidence in writing effective briefings. Have learnt how to weed out waffle!” – Strategy Officer, Crown Prosecution Service
“I thoroughly enjoyed the session on effective briefing and submissions. The trainers were engaging and friendly. I felt the session was tailored to our team so I could easily apply what I learned to my work.” – Assistant Commercial Manager, Ministry of Justice
“Well-structured and delivered course with a good mix of theory and practical examples.” – Senior Space Inspector, Civil Aviation Authority
Whether attending individually or booking for your team, this course provides practical skills and confidence to improve briefing quality immediately.
Media & Communications Specialist
Susan works with organisations and individuals to improve their
written communications skills.
She worked as a regional and national newspaper journalist before setting up a full-service communications company, now established for 30 years.
Sue Calthorpe
Learning Outcomes
Apply classroom examples to real life documents
Understand how to read quickly and identify crucial facts
Learn where to put key facts on a page to ensure they are noticed
Acquire a range of techniques to create concise, complete and consistent documents for a busy workplace
Construct key sentences, informative paragraphs and useful documents to create the kind of impact that public sector organisations and professionals require
All the Understanding ModernGov courses are Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
certified, with signed certificates available upon request for event.
Enquire About Bespoke Team Training
0800 542 9414
InHouse@moderngov.com
Using AI responsibly in writing
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing how we create and edit content. In this course, delegates will learn how to use AI tools to improve efficiency and clarity while maintaining high standards of integrity.
We also cover the risks of misuse, including plagiarism, copyright infringement and ethical breaches, so you can use AI safely and confidently in public sector communications.
Agenda
09:00 - 09:30 Registration
09:30 - 10:00 Trainer's Welcome and Clarification of Learning Objectives
10:00 - 10:50 Effective Planning
Understand the importance of defining the purpose of, and audience for, your briefings and submissions
Discuss the time and space in which your briefings will be read, and learn to write documents that work
Think about sourcing, selecting, structuring and simplifying information
10:50 - 11:05 Morning Break
11:05 - 12:45 Writing Accurate, Brief, Clear and Deliverable Briefings
Understand how to identify and structure ‘must’, ‘should’ and ‘could’ know information
Create messages and lines to take
Discuss the style, tone and vocabulary you can use for maximum impact
Practical exercise: restructuring an existing piece of real-life writing to create understanding and traction with your readers
Practising feedback: how to give and receive clear feedback to ensure continuous improvement in your writing
12:45 - 13:30 Lunch
13:30 - 14:00 Deconstructing the Submission Template
Discuss the sections of a submission, what’s needed where, and why?
Evaluate options – how to produce impartial, practicable options
Influence with facts and evidence in a balanced way
14:00 - 15:30 Producing Clear Summaries
Ensure the text is engaging and informative
Learn how to produce a clear and succinct summary
Understand how to use tools to help the reader
Use rigorous editing and selection techniques to define and deliver the most important and relevant information
15:30 - 16:00 Feedback, Evaluation & Close
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