Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The popular online writing course Foundations of Writing in Government has been updated, to help more civil servants improve essential communication skills.
Jonathan Marshall, Government Skills
The free course which learners can do at their own pace, was launched in 2022 and now includes new animations on effective sentence and paragraph structuring. It also has an updated section on digital editing tools.
“Writing well is one of the stand-out skills which civil servants need to have in their jobs and to progress in their careers,” said Jonathan Marshall, Government Skills learning expert. “Whether it’s a simple email to a colleague or a detailed briefing paper for ministers, how you express yourself and your ideas in writing is crucial.”
The four hour online course takes participants through the JASPER principles:
- Jargon-free
- Acronyms explained
- Short sentences
- Plain English
- Editors
- Readers
“The ultimate aim of our writing is to communicate effectively,” Jonathan explained. “From the beginning to the end of the writing process, we should think about who our audience is and what they need.”
The course forms part of the Civil Service recommended learning curriculum which includes further training on drafting, briefing, and advanced writing techniques.
Read more about the course and Jonathan Marshall’s top tips on writing here.
Civil servants can now access the updated Foundations of Writing in Government (JASPER) course on Civil Service Learning.
Updates to this page
Published 31 January 2025