FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Public sector research stresses the urgent need to communicate with staff and improve the perception of local residents

4th April 2008

Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

Research reported in the Public Sector Review has found that communications professionals considered their work in the public sector to be less effective than the private sector and that frequent changes in policy and organisational structures had an impact on their ability to engage and motivate employees. It stressed that public sector employees were better able to cope with changes when the process was communicated to them more effectively.

The report is further evidence of the continuing need for a sustainable and cost effective solution to the communication requirements of the public sector. Previous research has suggested that many public sector websites failed to reach the minimum standards required in the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). Further research relating to local authorities has also indicted that clear communication with residents about local services may improve their perception of the quality and value for money of those services.

The marketing and web design firm Openhouse Europe stressed the importance of a clearly-designed communications strategy which takes into account not only the needs of the organisation itself, but also the needs of the end-user, as well as the various legislative requirements.

The firm, which works with both public and private sector organisations in the UK, said that such a strategy was more cost-effective in the long run and improved communication with an audience, through an increase in website traffic for example. They have also established a carbon-neutral scheme for their web development operations and hope to pass on this expertise to their clients.

Further information about these issues is available from Openhouse Europe on 01260 299953, via email at enquiries@oheu.net, or at their website, www.oheu.net. A summary of the services provided by Openhouse Europe is also available at www.buyersguide.co.uk/profiles/o/openhouse.

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