Join the Government Communications community with Connect, our member-only platform, which brings together communication professionals working in government.

Benefits

Being a member of the Government Communications profession and Connect gives you exclusive access to:

  • Member directory: Search for colleagues and connect instantly with an extensive network of communication professionals across different departments
  • Mentoring opportunities: Accelerate your career through our mentoring registry where you can find experienced professionals to guide you, or share your expertise by registering as a coach or mentor to help others grow
  • Community forums: Collaborate, learn and share with other members in this dedicated, and safe, online community space
  • Assist: Leverage the power of our pioneering AI communications assistant, designed specifically for government communicators
  • Expert tools and guidance: Use our carefully curated collection of guides, templates and good practice examples to inform your work
  • Newsletter: Stay up to date with the latest news, insights and success stories by automatically joining our mailing list
  • Academy Learning Hub: Expand your skills and knowledge with access to our Academy, offering a wide range of learning resources and opportunities including Advance, our flagship development programme
  • Member-only events: Enhance your learning and make connections through our programme of expert-led virtual and in-person events

If you have any questions about joining the profession or registering for Connect please contact: gcs.connect@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Eligibility

Connect is available to professional communicators who spend at least 50% of their time on strategic communications activities and work in eligible government organisations.

Who qualifies as a professional communicator?

You must be in a role that involves communications work that requires specialist communications skills and knowledge. This includes those working in:

  • Core communications teams under Directors or Heads of Communication
  • Embedded communications roles where you undertake professional communications work outside the central communications function but are recognised by your Director/Head of Communication as part of the communications profession

What counts as professional communications activities?

Professional communications activities are those that require specialist communications expertise and align with the seven Modern Communications Operating Model (MCOM) disciplines. These include:

  • Strategic Communications: Developing communication strategies, campaigns and narrative frameworks
  • Media Relations: Managing media relationships, preparing briefings, handling press enquiries
  • Marketing and Campaigns: Planning and executing public-facing campaigns using behavioural insights
  • Digital Communications: Managing official digital channels and content strategies
  • External Affairs: Managing stakeholder relationships and parliamentary/ministerial communications
  • Internal Communications: Developing organisation-wide communication strategies and change communications
  • Data and Insight: Communications research, evaluation and audience analysis

Professional recognition requirement

All applicants must have their communications role recognised by their organisation's Director or Head of Communication. During registration, you may be asked to provide:

  • Confirmation from your Director/Head of Communication that your role involves professional communications work
  • Details of which MCOM disciplines your role encompasses
  • Evidence that your communications activities require specialist communications skills

Eligible organisations

  • Central government departments
  • Devolved administrations (Northern Ireland Executive, Scottish Government, Welsh Government)
  • Arm's-Length Bodies (ALBs) - including non-ministerial departments, executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies

Not sure if your organisation qualifies? Check the Cabinet Office ALB Data Landscape Tool. If you can't find your organisation, please contact your parent/sponsor department for confirmation of your ALB status.

We also welcome communicators from:

  • UK, Welsh, Scottish Parliaments and Northern Ireland Assembly
  • Royal Households
  • Crown Dependencies: Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey

These organisations have a unique constitutional relationship with central government, established through legislation or royal prerogative, with a public service mission and non-commercial status.

Verification process

We reserve the right to verify eligibility with your Director or Head of Communication. Providing false information during registration may result in access being revoked.

How to join

Joining Connect is simple, all you need to do is complete our quick registration process. If you have not received your verification link within 24 hours, or experience any problems whilst registering, contact: gcs.connect@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

What to do if your email address is not recognised

Registration is only open to the UK public sector and you must use your gov.uk or equivalent work email address to register. Registrations made with personal or non-public sector emails will be rejected.

Email domains, the bit after @, must be explicitly added to an approved list. Some domains may have been missed out if they do not end with "@organisation.gov.uk". These may be added so that access can be granted, by submitting a request to gcs.connect@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.