Keeping Stakeholders Engaged and I nformed and Projects On-Track - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Keeping Stakeholders Engaged and I nformed and Projects On-Track

April Mangan BE MEngSc CEng HDip(PR) – RPS Project Communications Lead Southern Region Tel: (087) 202 5910 Email: april.mangan@rpsgroup.com Dan O’Boyle BA Media & Comms MA (PR)– Associate, RPS Project Communications Tel: (085) 721 6283 Email: dan.oboyle@rpsgroup.com

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Agenda

• Why Communicate?
• How to Plan and Manage

Communications

• Specific Stakeholder Groups

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Why Communicate?

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Stages of Project Development

Project Inception Feasibility Preliminary Design / Planning Procurement Construction & Commissioning Operation

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Why Communicate?

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Why Communicate?

Manage communications risks Build understanding and support Build trust Facilitate public participation Manage issues: protect project and its reputation Planning Consent Buildable Project

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How to Manage Communications

• Communications strategy will set out

the approach to communications for each stage of the project

• All communications should be
• Accessible
• Meaningful
• Accountable

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How to Manage Communications

• Communications Strategy
• Bespoke for your project
• Applies to the entire project team
• Key Elements
• Communications Goals
• Know your audience
• Identify risk
• Plan Communication and Engagement
• Communications Channels
• Key messages for the project
• Procedure and protocols

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Early Engagement

• Communication needs to start early
• Project Managers need to gain

support and buy-in

• Within the broader organisation
• Within the project team
• Communication with external

stakeholders follows

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Public Consultation

• Opportunities to influence project

development and decisions

• Required as part of the regulatory

process

• Needs clear Terms of Reference

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Methodology / Roadmap

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Recording Feedback

• Develop protocol for how issues and

queries are to be recorded, actioned and reviewed

• Stakeholder Database
• Internal team communications

protocol

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Community Political Media

NGOs/ Interest Groups

Statutory

Residents/ Landowners Businesses Local Organisations Government TD/Sen MEPS Oireachtas Committees Councillors Local National Online Policy Environmental Special Interest Planning Authorities Government Depts Regulatory

Info Events / Offices Community Meetings Project Newsletters Political Briefings / Presentations Press Releases Press Briefings Interviews/ Photocalls NGO Newsletters NGO Briefings Community Gain Pre-Application Consultation Regular Progress Reports Parliamentary Questions Advisor Briefings Social Media Project Videos

Statutory Consultees

Project Website, Phone, Email Statutory Consultation

Project Communications

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Community

• The most important stakeholder group
• Early and ongoing engagement is vital

– info service

• Project Liaison Group can be useful

means of ongoing engagement

• Information office for larger projects

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Community Gain

• Aim: Provide a proportionate benefit to

help alleviate some of the effects of a project, or more simply put…to be a good neighbour!

• Existing policy for energy and waste

sectors

• Provided for in planning legislation
• Must be fair and transparent with

appropriate governance/processes and effective communication

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Landowner Engagement

• Respect and trust between the project team

and landowners is key to project buildability

• Experienced specialists with a balance of

communication skills and agronomy

• Contributes to project understanding and trust

at a wider local level

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Media Relations

• Media is another means to reaching

your audiences

• Expertise required to engage with

media and foster relationships

• Media will hold developer to account
• Balanced media coverage is often as

good as it gets

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Political Engagement

• Communications with Public Representatives

and Public Officials

• Strong positive or negative influence on

project progress

• Communication with these stakeholders

requires knowledge of public policy and understanding of local issues

• ‘New Politics’

– Supply & Confidence Agreement – Oireachtas Reform – Regulation of Lobbying Act (2015)

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Public Participation

Environmental I mpact Assessment Directive 2014/ 52/ EU

• Most radical change to the overall EIA Directive since the

introduction of the Aarhus public participation requirements

• Must be transposed into law by 16th May 2017
• Planning authority will have to, by means of a published

report, show how consultation results have been incorporated into planning decision made

• Planning Authority will require applicant to prepare a

report to respond to public feedback and to demonstrate how public feedback informed / influenced the development of the project

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Key Messages for This Evening…

• Every project should have a

Communications Strategy & Plan as part

• f the Project Execution Plan
• Communications should be a central to

project delivery

• Be proactive - engage early to build trust!
• Trust is hard earned but easily spent!

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QUESTI ONS & DI SCUSSI ON