Public engagement in Scotland is different. 

It has innovative legislation, unique in the British Isles and requires more collaborative, participative working within and between public bodies than anywhere else in the UK. It has invested in pioneering work in Participatory budgeting and is promoting co-production as the standard methodology for service change. 

Some of this has made traditional public consultation sound a little dated and maybe less relevant. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. The greater the use of stakeholder participation, the greater the need to secure public support for significant proposals by widening the debate to the community as a whole. 

The Scottish Government clearly understands this. It has launched over 150 public consultations in the last eighteen months – and some like the recent one on Sentencing policy – is of widespread public interest, and requires extensive dialogue with many parts of society. Other Scottish public bodies also face important challenges and need to consult to meet legislative requirements or to satisfy the Courts. 

 It is very easy to run a poor consultation. The media will often highlight occasions when people do not feel they have been heard properly. The trick is to manage a best practice exercise that is alert to the common pitfalls, uses public money wisely and consults conscientiously. No spin, please. 

This October, the Institute brings a specially-adapted version of its popular Law of Consultation course for delivery in Edinburgh. Later in the same month, it will run a course on Focus Groups and Facilitation, and another on Better Surveys and Questionnaires   

David Jones, who has delivered Institute courses for Scottish local government for many years believes that the need for these skills has never been greater. “Established clients like North Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway Councils have found the investment in consultation skills a great way to meet the challenge of Scotland’s legislation.” With ten years of experience in all aspects of public consultation, David knows the value of in-house course delivery to build the confidence of staff, enhance competencies and ensure consistency within and across organisations, in delivering effective consultations.

Widening the appeal of Institute courses is a particular goal for Rachel Green, whose background in Scottish local government equips her well for her new role as an Associate of the Consultation Institute in Scotland. “My particular interest”, says Rachel “is in the way we can dovetail co-production and other participative techniques with best practice consultation principles and weave them into an identifiable and unique Scottish approach that combines the best of traditional and innovative ways to involve the public.” 

For full information on our new courses, please contact the Institute, or visit our events page here