Campaigning & influencingin the lead up to the Comprehensive Spending Review

Contents

Love Our Colleges 02 Creating key moments 03 Utilising and maximising existing relationships 05 Further develop relationships with your MP(s) for the long term 07 Get the local media on side and build the reputation of the college through them 08 Media examples 09 Further develop relationships with other key people of influence in your locality 11 Building relationships across the further education sector 14 Gathering evidence to reinforce key messages 15 More great examples of activity 16

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#CollegesWeek is a great initiative that has come at a great time. The future for colleges is a bright one.#LoveOurColleges

Day in day out you all work tirelessly to advocate for the sector. This was no more apparent than during Love Our Colleges week. And it was incredible to see unions, principals and students from all over the country united with one voice.

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” ”The Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State for Education Angela Rayner MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Education

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The #LoveOurColleges campaign will be strongest when every college gets involved, using their relationships to raise the profile and prestige of colleges with a range of key influencers. As a sector we are getting better at this, with October’s ‘Colleges Week’ making a big impact. We want to build on that in 2019; a year which will be pivotal for colleges with the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) likely in the summer or autumn. To maximise our chances of greater investment we need to build on colleges’ relationships.

This resource is aimed at supporting you in those relationships you have and helping to tie them into the approach and timing we take nationally.

Much of this is work that you do on a very regular basis, but we hope that it can also be useful for sharing within your college, perhaps with your Board, with the unions, with your students and student representatives and for ensuring that we are collectively doing all we can to deliver an effective coordinated lobbying and campaigning effort in the run-up to the spending review.

Love Our Colleges

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To to this, we need to:

Work together to build an effective, coordinated and coherent approach nationally, based on every college’s relationships.

Build on every relationship we have to maximise impact.

Engage a broad range of our stakeholders to reinforce our asks.

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Coordinating local engagement activitiesat key moments throughout the year.

There will be calls to action throughout the year where we will ask you to take part in a particular activity.

For example, there will be a week where we might ask you to write to your MP to write to the Treasury, another week for visits, another to encourage your staff and stakeholders to contact their MP as constituents.

We will contact you with as much time as we can to prepare for these key moments. We have plotted in some dates but due to the changeable nature of politics

We will develop other key moments forcoordinated activities, as well as securingdebates in parliament which we can use toensure coordinated lobbying of MPs andpeers. We will produce resources which canbe used at these key moments, to ensurethat we have highly evidenced-based andsimple, clear messaging.

We’d like to invite you to nominate a member of your team to be a point of contact to complement the communications we will continue direct to Principals/CEOs and through the weekly AoC Chief Exec’s letter. Please send your nominee’s details to publicaffairs@aoc.co.uk

We have produced a simple check-list of keyactivities that you can undertake. This is an online resource that we will be updatingthroughout the year. We will clearly flagwhen updates have occurred.

Creating key moments.

Key moments include (and expected dates):

Part 1

Spring budget statement (March)

National Apprenticeship Week (March)

Leaving the EU (March)

Publication of the post 18 review, if published

Publication of the government’s response to the post 18 review

Announcement of spending review process and timetable

Results days for GCSEs, A Levels and BTECs (August)

Political Party Conferences (September/October)

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Coordinating your local engagement with our national influencing

We are keen for you to share what you are doing, as well as your intelligence and best practice with us. We will be able build on your engagement in our ongoing national parliamentary and governmental political engagement.

Feedback that we receive from you isinvaluable in tailoring our messaging, and inshowing that the FE sector is speaking witha strong and united voice. You can sharethis through your Area Director, through thePublic Affairs team, or through any other ofyour AoC contacts.

We know that for some leaders in oursector, their confidence in getting involvedin campaigning grows when they see andhear about what others are doing. Sharingyour activities, and your successes reallydoes help build a more confident sector.Given the particular importance of ourlobbying and campaigning work in the run-up to the spending review process, that confidence will be critical this year.

Creating key moments. Part 2

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Many colleges find it useful to map their relationships with local decision makers, influencers and stakeholders. Once mapped they can decide which need developing and strengthening and which need maintaining. It is also useful to map who can support you to develop these relationships– that may be the

chair of the Board or specific board members, a staff member or even a student or parent with experience in this area.

The sorts of people that may be on that list include your local MPs, business leaders, local council leaders and community groups.

Utilising and maximising existing relationships.

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”The Rt Hon Anne Milton MP, Minister of State for Education

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I would like to congratulate AoC on the Love Our Colleges campaign because it’s been very successful and if I think about the number of letters I’ve had from MPs it’s probably well over 100 now.

Further develop relationships with your MP(s) for the long term.Colleges have strong relationships with their MP(s), but we are keen to ensure that every college is getting the most from them.

You will already be undertaking much of this, but some points for reflection include the following:

> MPs value information and evidence on their local area and about their constituents. Share information regarding updates throughout the period of the campaign so they can be involved in all the activity.

> Ask your MP(s) to take actions and make the asks timely and relevant where possible - for example, an upcoming debate or education questions. You can find information about upcoming debates calendar.parliament.uk, and we share regular key updates through the Weekly AoC Chief Exec’s letter.

> MPs writing to Treasury Ministers as well as DfE Ministers will be a crucial part of our campaigning this year, timed to fit in with the spending review.

> If you want an MP to engage in a debate, ensure you give them plenty of notice. MPs often write their speeches a week in advance so get your information over as soon as possible.

> Explore ways in which our central funding ask can be weaved into more general engagement – inviting an MP to attend a sports event or open evening is a great opportunity to help them to understand the breadth of what the sector offers, and the need for it to be sustainably funded so that it can deliver in the long-term.

> MPs often respond well to students telling their stories, as well as employers sharing how they value their relationship with the college. As employers find it harder and harder to recruit skilled people, these stories will be ever more powerful.

> Can you support their work through the college? Do you have meeting space they could use – you could ask if they want to use your college for their weekly or monthly surgeries? Or for meetings or events?

If you want your staff and teams to work with the MP(s) but they haven’t contacted them before, we have also produced “The Basics of Campaigning”

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Get the local media on side and build reputation of the college through them.

Given the precarious balance of power in Parliament, local press has more power to influence than at any point in recent times - an MP in a marginal constituency,

like Amber Rudd, is likely to be moreworried about what is in the HastingsObserver than the Guardian. Everycollege in the country already has

a relationship with their local pressand hyper-local websites, but likeeverything else, it’s always possible toimprove it further. You could do this by:

> Meeting regularly with the editor or reporter who covers your area of work. Make sure you find out what their main interests are and then offer them stories, or comments that suit that – not just what you might traditionally broadcast. For instance, there is a Brexit angle to almost every story at the minute, and you have a college with thousands of students with opinions – consider reminding them that if they’re ever looking for a comment from the general public, regardless of the topic, your marketing team could probably help them find one quickly. This won’t always result in immediate coverage, but it will help to cement your relationship and embed your college as the go-to place when there is anything of note happening in your community.

> Fine-tune your press releases and statements so that they are more explicit about the value of your college to your community. For example, a story about student success might also include details of how your college is the only/best place to do that – and why it is so important. With every story, you need to leave people thinking that the central role of colleges within their communities, and the need for them to be sustainably funded for the long-term.

> Think about who you might work with as advocates for your college – your students, key employers for instance – because having them on hand to provide quotes to local media can be powerful.

> Speak to the AoC Comms Team – they’re on hand to offer day-to-day and strategic support and advice, including crisis comms.

Contact: Aaron Hussey, Head of Communications: aaron.hussey@aoc.co.uk

Local Press:

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Given the volatile nature of politics,influencing through local press hasnever been more important.

Here’s just a few examples of colleges getting their messages across with real impact:

Media Examples

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North East Colleges successful secured

extensive coverage across local and regional

media using one well drafted press release

and a picture of a number of principals with

the ‘Love Our Colleges’ logo.

Principals, tutors andstudents from North East

to march on Parliament

over funding.The Northern Echo

Gillian Keegan MP tries bricklaying as part of ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign.Chichester Observer

Chichester College ensured their MP had a great photo opportunity and a chance to see and talk about the vital work that the college does.

Sheffield City Regional Mayor visits

The Sheffield College.Sheffield City Region

Sheffield College secured regional press

by inviting a local prominent politician and

focusing on economic impact.

The PFA fully supports the #LoveOurColleges campaign. FE colleges have provided opportunities and qualifications for thousands of our members over many years.

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” ”Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion and former leader of the Green Party

Professional Footballers Association

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Great to support #LoveOurColleges outside Parliament & all the students & staff campaigning for fair funding & fair pay.

Further develop relationships with other key people of influence in your locality.As you know, there are many localinfluencers who can affect change. You will already be in touch with all

of these groups – so we encourage you to think of additional stakeholders, as well as how you can work together in

new ways with those who you already have relationships with.

› Business leaders:

We know colleges often work with hundredsof businesses. How can they join us in making the case for the FE sector, and for the increased investment that we need? During Colleges Week 2018, there were great examples, for instance, of LEPs lobbying Treasury Ministers for increased investment in FE, and this received positive feedback from DfE. Other examples could include asking local business leaders to write articles in the local media, writing to the Treasury, or asking local business leaders to join roundtable events with local MPs to make the case for the sector.

› Local faith groups:

Faith groups will often have significant local reach, and significant relationships with decision makers. How can they support your work?

› Local authority leader and local councillors:

You will work closely with them on a range of issues. How can they help to put pressure on local MP(s)? Again, can they support with local campaigning work? and can the local authority leader write or meet with government min-isters to highlight the critical role that your college plays in the region?

› Local peers:

You will likely have relationships with members of the House of Lords – perhaps one sits on your governing body, has strong links to your community, or you have worked with professionally. Ask for their support in advocating for the sector in the House of Lords, and in lobbying the Treasury over coming months.

› College alumni:

Are there are famous or influential alumni that you can work with? During Colleges Week 2018, a range of college alumni made the case for investment in the sector, and we received significant media coverage off the back of this. But there are so many more alumni who we could be working with, who could provide a new avenue into entirely new settings.

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Adding the voices of these influencers to contact the MP and the Treasury will strengthen our ask.

In addition, think about hosting an event bringing together all these influencers. This is especially useful to the MP who canmeet a range of important stakeholders in one place. Think about how you want your MP and local decision makers to view your college and invite them to an event thatmost showcases this.

After the event, provide the MP with a draft press release and photo. They are very likely to add their quote and send it to the local press. Our media team can help you do this, give them a call.

Throughout Colleges Week 2018, there were numerous examples where colleges involved MPs in local events in a way that engaged them in the work of the college, and showed the breadth of the work we deliver, whilst also engaging them in supportive campaigning work on behalf of the sector.

Rollits Law Firm added its support to the Love Our Colleges campaign, and during the first week, a partner of the firm wrote a blog about his love of colleges and the need to properly fund them.

Cornwall’s Local Enterprise Partnership also worked with Cornwall’s colleges to call for increased FE funding in the press.

South Essex Local Enterprise Partnership wrote a letter to both the Chancellor and Skills Minister in strong support of the fantastic work that the colleges in their area do.

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Stakeholder Relationshipsexamples

Examples of events that worked well.

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Inviting MPs to a sports event, providing an opportunity for the MP to meet students, have photo opportunities and meet with senior staff at the college to discuss the college’s priorities and how further investment would support this to be further developed.

Supporting students to host a debate on an issue of importance to them, inviting representatives from NUS, student campaigning organisations and politicians.

Hosting an open event for the wider community, with key stakeholders including the local MP, councillors and employers.

Supporting students with creative campaigning: from Chesterfield College, who worked with students to produce a song with a strong campaigning message; to organising a visit to parliament to meet the local MP, attend a debate in parliament and discuss campaigning priorities; to setting up a local petition, and organising local events to call on members of the public to support the campaign, as Darlington College did.

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Building relationships across the further education sector.Continuing to work right across thefurther education sector, and indeedthe education sector more widely, toseek to build a clear, united messagewill demonstrate the strength of oursector to the Treasury.

We are working actively with the partnerorganisations in the #LoveOurColleges coalition to continue to build on this coordinated campaigning from across the sector. We will work to use this work to reinforce all of our planned activities.

You can further support this work byworking with students and staff to buildawareness and enthusiasm for thisjoint work. Lots of new and valuablepartnerships were developed through this work, and we are keen to continue to build on this over the coming months.

We will be reaching further out to the wider education system to reinforce this work and show a united education sector calling for a system that is well-funded and works for all – whatever their passions, whatever level they are at.

> Working with local schools, colleges and universities by inviting them to join you in any events and campaigning activities that you organise.

> Coordinating a joint letter to the local newspaper(s) or a joint article from local school, college and university leaders making the case for increased investment in our education system and ensuring that all parts of the system are well resourced, so that we have a system that works for everyone.

> Reaching out to local university students’ unions, who will often have significant campaigning budgets, and will share our passion for ensuring we have a thriving education system. Ask how they can help – perhaps with providing campaigning resources, with supporting your students with their plans, with promoting the work that you are undertaking and asking their student community to amplify your work.

> The National Union of Students (NUS) support students’ unions in many FE colleges as well as the vast majority of university students’ unions. If you have a students’ unions that is an NUS member, get in touch with your key contact and ask that they support coordinated campaigning between the local students’ unions. If you are not a member, they will likely still be

able to provide support – they want to ensure that we have the biggest possible joint voice and will be keen to help. Your students and student representatives are always encouraged to get in touch with NUS, by emailing Khurrum Darr, Membership Support Manager at khurrum.darr@nus.org.uk. We are also pleased to help you to look at your own learner voice work – please contact Eddie Playfair, AoC Senior Policy Manager to discuss: eddie.playfair@aoc.co.uk.

> Trade union branches will often also have access to significant campaigning resources and will share a desire to ensure we have a well-funded education system – so as a part of your ongoing communications, ask them how they might be able to support this work.

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Gathering evidence to reinforce keymessages.As a sector we have extensive analysis which shows the value of what colleges deliver; and extensive analysis too which shows the level of cuts that wehave received, and the impact that this is having. We will continue to share high quality briefings throughout the coming months, and we are pleased toprovide specific briefings on key issues when this is of use – do get in touch.

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All of our briefings are further strengthened when they are coloured with the particular local context that you face – showing both the particular work that you achieve at your institution, but also the impact that cuts are having, and risk having, on this work.

There are rightly a very wide range of policy issues that we speak to. Within this context, it can be helpful to reinforce these diverse messages with a clear, consistent call for sustainable, long-term funding to support colleges to meet the challenges that our communities and our society faces.

If you need any help in gathering evidence, we can help. Get in touch with publicaffairs@aoc.co.uk.

More great examples of activity.

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Brockenhurst College created a petition on the government website. After receiving nearly 70,000 signatures it was debated in parliament, with over 50 MPs attending and speaking in support of colleges.

Chesterfield College built a strong relationship with their local MP Toby Perkins who then asked the Prime Minister a question on further education funding at PMQs.

Harlow College’s strong relationship with Robert Halfon MP, education select committeechair, saw him writing an open letter to the Chancellor calling for increased college funding.

Bath College worked with their local MP Wera Hobhouse, who subsequently asked a question about FE funding to the Chancellor in Treasury questions.

Jenny Chapman MP spoke in the Commons and presented a petition on behalf of more than 500 students and staff from Darlington College demanding fair funding for further education.

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Campaigns Checklist

Our campaigns list of activities are just some of the helpful ways you can engage with your MP. We’ll be prompting you to do these throughout the year in the lead up to the CSR so we can create momentum at key points before the announcement.

We understand how you engage and what activities you choose to do are up to you and may depend on your relationship with your MP or what’s happening in your local area but please try and do as many as possible.

Write to your MP

You can use our template letter/email to contact to your MP asking them to write to the Chancellor, asking them for a meeting or to visit your college.

Write to your local councillor

Writing to your local council leads can gain a strong local voice. You can adapt the letter to your MP for the same asks.

Meet your MP / Arrange a visit to the college

When your MP has agreed to meet with you or visit the college you can use the tips in the campaign guide to prepare.

Press release

When you’ve met with your MP or councillor, it’s gone well please highlight the importance of this issue for your college and the community. Use the draft press release and the media tips we’ve created to contact your local press. You can check if your MP or councillor wants to add a comment in too. Lastly don’t forget to provide a great photo if you have one.

Social Media

Use social media to highlight the meeting with your MP. Take a picture with them or even taking a photo of a letter you’ve sent or received shows you’re taking action. Tag your MP and local councillor and use the hashtag #LoveOurColleges. If you haven’t heard from your MP contacting them via social media is also useful to prompt them of your request.

Share this checklist

The more people we can get speaking to their MP the better. Please encourage action and share this checklist with:

Your staff

Your Governors

Your local business partners

Tell us how it’s going

Keep us updated through the campaign on how things are going. Have you heard back from your MP? Did they write and receive a response from the Treasury? Let the Public Affairs Team know.

Your trade union representative