Across the public sector, whether you’re a local council legend, a housing hero, or an emergency services champion, we’re all on the same mission to build stronger, more resilient communities that thrive. How? Through engagement, collaboration and communications. 

We run and attend multiple events over the year, from our UK Tour, to attending events like LGcomms Academy, but our biggest, flagship event is Orlo’s BIG Social. This event gives public sector comms and marketing professionals the chance to join other colleagues from right across the public sector. From local government to the NHS, policing to housing, central government to education, BIG Social is the place to connect, learn and collaborate with people from across the UK who understand the challenges you face, might just have the answers you need to make a tangible difference to your community.

And it’s not just about connecting with new people and meeting up with familiar faces. We’ve got a stellar line up of expert speakers and panellists who will be sharing stories, knowledge and tips and tricks on how best to reach the communities that you serve.

So, why exactly do we run BIG Social? 

Firstly, we understand just how important face to face conversations and learning is for comms and marketing professionals across the public sector. Events like this can be really validating when you can hear that you’re not alone in the challenges you’re currently facing in your role and area of the public sector. You might have conversations with new and old friends that reinforce the fact that you’re not alone and you never know, they might even have solutions that you haven’t tried yet. We know the importance of empathy and truly believe that supportive relationships can be formed and strengthened at events like this.

The second reason we run BIG Social is that we understand how vital it is to learn from industry experts. We know how hard it can be to reach certain communities, and in a place where just 12% of the British public trust the government to ‘put the country’s interests before the party’s interests’, it’s crucial to be able to learn from comms leaders on how to tackle issues like this and raise trust.

Events in general are brilliant learning opportunities and are so important when it comes to keeping up with best practice. 70% of attendees say that in-person events are the best sources for training and professional content. We also know that across the public sector, there is often an issue with teams working in silos. Public Service Data state that by networking at events ‘attendees benefit from shared learning experiences and cross-departmental insights that are out of reach on an every day level’. 

Not only is Orlo’s BIG Social the place to learn from people you’ve networked with, you’ll also be able to learn from experts from a range of backgrounds. This year, our line up is packed with industry leaders, for example: 

Nick Price-Thompson

Director of Communications and Public Affairs at The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Nick Price-Thompson has previously held roles in the Cabinet Office and 10 Downing Street as head of news. He’ll be discussing the communications failings in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the key findings and recommendations in the 2024 Inquiry report, and the important lessons we can take from such a terrible tragedy. 

This session will include organisational and communication issues, ranging from cultural considerations in emergency responses to why planning and training is so important. It will also include insight into what went wrong in the hours and days after the fire, and highlight key findings for the industry in the Inquiry report. 

Antonia Dixey

CEO of Participation People, Antonia Dixey has over a decade of experience in youth engagement. Antonia is dedicated to helping businesses and organisations connect with young people, so is the perfect person to lead a session for public sector comms professionals trying to reach and work with young people. 

This session will draw on Department for Education funded work across the North West and beyond and show how reframing youth and family voices and lived experiences can radically transform communications and engagement across the public sector. 

Linda McLean

Head of Communications Specialist Services at Police Scotland, Linda has responsibility for a team that includes Communications Strategy and Insight, Social Media, Channel Development and Graphic Design. More details of this session will be coming soon, so watch this space!

Andrea Newman and Matt Nicholls

Director of Communications and Engagement at the Local Government Association (LGA) Andrea Newman was once the Director of Communications at Surrey County Council and is an experienced communications professional who has transitioned between the public and private sectors. 

Head of Communications Improvement at the LGA, Matt Nicholls has extensive skills and experience in public service communications who has experience developing and implementing strategies, providing counsel to senior leaders and managing busy teams. 

This joint session titled ‘Communicating Through Political Change’ will explore how to navigate the structural transformation that local government is currently facing and will cover how to build and nurture new relationships and thrive in uncertain environments. 

Jude Tipper

Deputy Head of Comms and Engagement at NHS England, Jude Tipper has worked in NHS comms for nearly 25 years, and oozes leadership prowess alongside a deep expertise in multiple disciplines. This includes internal and external comms and marketing reputation and crisis management, stakeholder, staff, patient and public involvement and engagement, change management, narrative and storytelling, brand, campaigns, designs, events and media and digital. Part of a panel session titled ‘The Digital Divide: the role of technology in forging stronger, more resilient communities’, more information on this session and its speakers will be coming soon so keep your eyes peeled.

Each of these sessions will offer unique perspectives and top tips that will resonate with comms and marketing colleagues right the way across the public sector, and somewhere you should definitely be.

Another reason why we run BIG Social, is that we know how important recognition and rewards are for comms and marketing colleagues in the public sector. As part of BIG Social, we hold the Orlo Spotlight Awards for customers, where we celebrate the people behind the glossy campaigns. We shine a light on the people making a difference in their communities , the professionals keeping calm under the pressure, and the teams supporting each other through controversy and crises. 

It’s always a highlight of the day and something that helps to inspire future campaigns and communications.

To keep the event the best it can be year after year, we always ask for feedback from attendees. Here’s what some of last years’ had to say: 

Digital Marketing Officer Jelani, said ‘overall it’s been a great event and over the last 3 years it’s been great to see how much it’s actually grown and developed’. He also said his highlight last year was the panel discussion due to the ‘deep conversation and deep questions’ that were asked. 

Alex from Buckinghamshire Council said last years’ BIG Social was ‘really good, really interesting’ and that ‘it was nice to meet the guys at Orlo who we only ever usually see on Teams calls’. Her and her colleague appreciated that ‘it’s been interesting to see and listen to other local authorities that are going through a similar kind of thing as we are to try to understand what they’re doing and taking some learning points home with us. 

Social Media Manager Holly said ‘events like these have been so valuable especially for hearing case studies from others in the public sector where we’re all facing similar challenges.’

If all of the above sounds like a good reason to attend this year’s BIG Social on 22 October 2025 at Eastside Rooms in Birmingham for free, click here. We can’t wait to see you there!

And, if you’re worried about getting sign off, we’ve put together a business case template for you to use here.