We bring together expertise in psychology, social research, communications and technical knowledge in the development and implementation of specialist communications and stakeholder engagement initiatives in the fields of health, safety, environment and other aspects of risk.
Government, regulators and agencies often aim to achieve improvements in health, safety and the environment by promoting changes in peoples’ attitudes and behaviours. Campaigns to promote behaviour change need to be evidence based and require a valid understanding of peoples’ beliefs and perceptions so that effective messages can be developed. The success of communications depends on understanding issues and concerns and addressing underlying attitudes and behaviours. Communicating on risk related issues also touches on risk perception and peoples’ subjective judgments.
Through research, analysis, development, implementation and evaluation we help develop a rich understanding of peoples’ attitudes and behaviours, and enable the development of truly effective communications.
Stakeholder engagement is becoming an integral, and often statutory, part of business practice in both the private and public sector. Effective consultation with stakeholders is critical for data gathering, the identification of key issues, and the development of sustainable and workable solutions. Done properly, it can contribute to communication and cooperation, help build trust, strengthen partnerships and improve decision-making. We have extensive experience in designing, managing and delivering stakeholder engagement processes across a wide range of issues and disciplines with the aim of improving outcomes.
The success of initiatives depends on understanding issues and concerns and addressing underlying attitudes and behaviours as well as practical problems. Robust, targeted and cost effective research methods are essential.
We develop and implement qualitative and quantitative research to gather information and evidence to develop an understanding of peoples’ perceptions, attitudes and information needs.
We provide:
As a specialist consultancy we can provide robust policy oriented interpretation of findings, providing added value to the research.
Consultation with stakeholders is critical for the identification of key issues and the development of sustainable, workable and truly effective solutions. Done properly it can contribute to co operation, help build trust, strengthen partnerships and improve decision making.
We develop stakeholder engagement tools and processes that are appropriate for specific projects or situations. We have the expertise to undertake information provision, awareness raising, consultation and more innovative engagement techniques for two way dialogue and involvement aimed at creating ownership of solutions. We have extensive experience in designing, managing and delivering stakeholder engagement processes across a wide range of issues.
We also have specialist risk communication expertise.
Based on the results of our research we develop and test ideas and concepts for communication strategies. We write and design documents, leaflets and guides for publication or digital distribution and create online tools and websites for internal intranet's or public access. We carry out piloting and testing and see this as an essential step to ensure that materials are effective.
GSB can provide the full range of support for implementing communication strategies and stakeholder engagement. We can arrange and manage print production, website hosting and maintenance and organisation, facilitation and management of events, seminars and workshops
We produce bespoke guides and tools for use by organisations in planning and implementing communications and engagement activities.
Evaluation not only helps to check if communication and engagement activities have worked, but can also provide an evidence base for decisions on whether or not to continue with a campaign or initiative and how best to improve it.
We undertake both qualitative and quantitative baseline and tracking surveys to evaluate and assess message recall rates, message penetration, impact on attitudes and behaviours and lessons learnt.
Our surveys and research benefit from the application of specialist expertise in areas such as psychology and social research and subject matter knowledge (eg. in fire safety). This enables us to develop a fuller understanding of peoples’ attitudes and behaviours, and achieve more than a traditional opinion survey.
Our long experience in the fields of health, safety and environmental communications means we have built up knowledge of past research and expertise in how best to promote attitudinal change in these fields.
We have a solutions oriented and evidence based approach to developing truly effective solutions. We undertake robust research, we pilot communications to ensure they work before being launched and help evaluate initiatives to guide future activity.
Our long experience of working with public sector organisations means we understand the objectives of public promotion and engagement work.