Here at the Institute, we’ve been increasingly starting to turn our minds to what comes next. What does the future hold for consultation and engagement in a post-pandemic world, and how should consultors be beginning to prepare. Over the next few weeks, we will be publishing pieces from our associates considering vital points for consultors as we move forward and into the post-pandemic normal.

There are many questions to be looked at. There’s been a lot of talk about ‘the new normal’, but how ‘new’ will it be? Will people adopt the changes of pandemic life (home-working, mask-wearing etc) as a new approach? Or will they fall by the wayside and people try to pick up from where we left off.

Will the way we consult change? A lot of people have moved to more digital ways of engaging, and even some sceptics are being won round. Will this continue, or will we move back to busy town hall meetings and public events? Are we going to see an increased willingness on the part of the public to contribute if instead of having to get up and go to a meeting, they can just give their views using a few clicks of a mouse?

Will the arguments made by respondents in consultations change? The pandemic has demonstrated that a lot of things that we once assumed as givens can be altered if necessary. Will this be used as evidence by consultees to criticise or support proposals?

A lot of these questions touch on fundamental issues of consultation, and we’re looking to bring together views to discuss them. We would welcome your input in the process. How are you anticipating your experiences might change? How are you preparing for it? Drop us a line and let’s get the conversation going.