What do councils have to say?
Liz Shayler
Clerk
Banwell Parish Council
"Breakthrough Communications' data protection support and advice through its Council Hive service has been fab and much appreciated!"
Mandy Thomas
Officer
Saltash Town Council
"This [Council Hive Masterclass] was a really clear walkthrough and answered questions that I've not been able to find the answer to anywhere else."
Sarah Sandiford
Deputy Clerk
Leighton-Linslade Town Council
"The masterclass was really useful, giving us relevant and effective tools to use to inform and engage with our community in different ways. We will definitely be aiming to put this into practice."
LOCAL COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND COMPLIANCE
Academy
On-demand training courses designed to build key council communication and compliance skills. With over 250 bitesize videos, Council Hive Academy offers flexible learning for clerks, council officers and local councillors.
LOCAL COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND COMPLIANCE
Resources
Our growing collection of toolkits, templates and best practice guides are designed to save clerks and council officers hours of time and effort, ensuring your council is always at the forefront of the latest best practice.
LOCAL COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND COMPLIANCE
Events
Unlimited access to masterclasses and lunchtime webinars throughout the year, as well as recordings and resource packs. Gain fresh insights, discover new skills and best practice and network with other local councils.
Advice
Expert advice on any council communication or compliance matter. From support with community engagement issues to social media, GDPR and FOI compliance and so much more. Our team are here, whenever you need us.
LOCAL COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND COMPLIANCE
Academy
Council Hive Academy delivers on-demand courses and training modules covering essential council topics, such as managing FOI requests, engaging with the public, and understanding councillor roles.
Accessible anytime, it allows clerks, officers, and councillors to learn at their own pace, ensuring they can build expertise without needing to pause day-to-day work. The Academy is designed to meet both immediate and long-term training needs, from new team member onboarding to ongoing professional development.
The immediate benefit is that councils can close knowledge gaps and handle tasks more confidently and efficiently. Clerks spend less time troubleshooting, and councillors feel empowered to engage with complex governance topics. Over time, councils experience smoother workflows, fewer compliance errors, and greater strategic focus.
As staff gain expertise, their improved competence translates into stronger community trust, more proactive problem-solving, and better decision-making that benefits the council and the public it serves.
Resources
Council Hive Resources offer councils a library of ready-made templates, checklists, guides, and policy documents designed to meet their specific operational and communication needs.
From GDPR-compliant forms to social media campaign templates, these resources save time by providing clerks and officers with pre-built, customisable tools to complete tasks efficiently and professionally.
The immediate benefit is reduced workload and quicker completion of tasks, allowing council staff to focus on strategic priorities rather than creating documents from scratch.
Over time, this efficiency boosts productivity, reduces errors, and improves the overall quality of council output. By using consistent, best-practice materials, councils enhance their public communications and governance, ultimately increasing public trust and engagement.
Events
Council Hive Events provide councils with live and virtual access to workshops, webinars, and masterclasses on key topics like effective communication, GDPR compliance, and community engagement.
These events feature expert-led discussions and opportunities for interactive Q&A, allowing clerks, officers, and councillors to learn from specialists and peers while gaining practical solutions to everyday challenges.
The immediate benefit is that councils stay informed about best practices and emerging trends, enabling them to make better decisions and address challenges more effectively. Through networking with other councils, they gain insights into shared solutions. Over time, this builds a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration, where councils operate more efficiently, adopt innovative strategies, and create stronger partnerships that benefit their communities.
Advice
Council Hive Advice provides unlimited access to expert guidance on community engagement, FOI requests, GDPR compliance, and more.
Whether facing a challenging information request or navigating tricky community interactions, council staff can receive tailored advice quickly and confidently, ensuring they make well-informed decisions.
The immediate benefit is peace of mind, as councils receive expert support when they need it most, reducing stress and uncertainty in high-stakes situations.
Over time, this leads to better decision-making, fewer costly mistakes, and increased staff confidence.
With consistent expert input, councils become more proactive, building stronger processes that handle future challenges more smoothly while improving their reputation within the community.
