Education and Training Awards 2021

Education and Training Awards 2021 25 Best Niche Audience Digital Marketing Training Consultancy 2021 The Digital Training Institute provides niche digital marketing and social media training to the government and public sector with a vision to elevate the standard of digital communications globally in governments and public sector agencies in the public interest. Its mission is to provide expert, accredited and practical training to public sector professionals who are delivering and communicating public services on social media and digital platforms. Furthermore, the Institute also designed a series of bespoke accredited courses for the sector, as the organisation understands that private sector digital marketing differs significantly to public sector digital marketing. Identifying a gap in the market and understanding the need to serve public sector and government agencies in the digital age, Chief Executive Officer, Joanne Sweeney, decided to embark on launching a sub-brand called Public Sector Marketing Institute. Here, she explains further about this new arm of the business. “While we were already working with the public sector at Digital Training Institute, we knew it was important to create a dedicated website and content suite that would speak to their needs,” she says. “This also resulted in a series of dedicated accredited courses being designed and launched. Many digital marketing and social media courses available on the market are geared at businesses with sales as the ultimate conversion, and we knew this was not applicable to the public sector. But with our knowledge and vast experience, we knew we could fill the gap and serve their digital educational needs at a very high standard.” Whilst most other providers offer general digital marketing or social media courses, Digital Training Institute has designed its training specifically to focus solely on the government and public sector, with industry case studies from public sector peers, design messaging and frameworks that speak to public interest messaging. It is this that helps the organisation differentiate itself from competitors. “We offer a unique service that attracts a global audience of students across national governments, local government, policing, politics, higher education, science, health, citizen rights, and policy. Our work includes studies and reports of social media usage trends in Australia, USA, and Ireland, with the UK and mainland Europe planned in 2022. “ Joanne firmly believes that trust and transparency is the number one priority in the Digital Age and she strives to ensure that everything Digital Training Institute does hinges on this mantra. “In a world where disinformation is the norm online, it is vital to amplify public sector messaging and ensure staff are equipped with best- practice knowledge and skills so they are savvy and strategic online, as trust is the number one currency in the digital age.” Trust has never been so important, however, as it has been over the last 12 months and the Covid-19 pandemic has given an urgency to the needs of the public sector in terms of elevated and more proactive digital communications. Digital Training Institute courses are externally accredited by the CPD Standards Office and recognised in 22 countries worldwide and Joanne tells us that the appetite for this type of training is strong. “The demand for our courses is ever-growing,” she elaborates. “In 2020, two months into Covid-19 we even launched a new accredited programme - a Certificate in Digital Communications for Government and Public Sector.” Regarding the future, Joanne predicts further growth as the company is currently focusing on expanding into the USA and Australia and seeking partners to collaborate with. It is also contributing to a new book in digital diplomacy with Joanne authoring a chapter. The firm’s weekly podcast and social media show - The Public Sector Marketing Show - is growing and it is also hosting the Public Sector Digital Marketing Summit for the first time online in 2021 which feature global speakers from the frontline of government and public sector communications. Contact: Joanne Sweeney Company: Digital Training Institute Web Address: www.publicsectormarketingpros.com Apr21830 Operating in the specialised sector of digital marketing and social media training has allowed Digital Training Institute to focus solely on its target audience, resulting in tangible growth over the years. We speak to founder, Joanne Sweeney, about how business is booming.