Civil servants can now improve their advising and briefing skills by taking part in interactive simulations of working with ministers and senior officials.
The exercise is part of a new Advising and Briefing course which has been introduced together with a new Drafting Masterclass course which covers the essential skills, concepts and frameworks for drafting government documents - such as ministerial submissions - effectively.
Writing skillls
The two new courses are part of a suite of seven Civil Service recommended writing skills courses - including the high-rated Foundations of Writing in Government (JASPER) course.
JASPER helps people get the essential skills they need to produce good writing - including writing in plain English and using short, simple sentences.
Home Office senior investigating officer Richard Murray, pictured, did the JASPER course to see if it would help his team members improve their writing skills. Find out why he recommends JASPER.
High-quality advice and briefing
"Whether it's to ministers or senior officials, the ability to deliver high-quality advice and briefing is at the heart of many civil servants' jobs," said writing skills course designer Manisha Pathak.
"That's why it makes sense to have a course that is devoted entirely to helping people develop that skill both in written and oral form.
"The interactive exercise is aimed at helping learners reflect on their communication style and assess honestly if they are getting points across clearly, persuasively and with impact."
