Read on Twitter
One of the big learning points from the Beacons and Catalysts was that when public engagement is considered part of a comms directorate then tensions build as the team is expected to deliver reach and showiness over thoughtful engagement. So this move is interesting in 2 ways... https://twitter.com/markgfh/status/1337452125471780865
Firstly, given that @UKRI_News also has this structure I'm intrigued by the cycle of influence they are exhibiting. I hope this will serve to lift both organisations up rather than bring them both down.
Secondly, it clearly exhibits that the learning from the previously funded projects is not being applied throughout the sector. This happens in HEIs too. There's both something missing in the way the learning is presented and shared, and a loss of practice/memory as staff change.
Now, it may well be that the structure will suit these funding organisations and we'll see positive pay offs, so here's hoping and I also hope someone is studying their internal culture changes
But on the chance its just a decision made by senior peeps to create a structure that makes sense to them, then I wish they would think more carefully about what messages this sends out throughout the sector.
And I wish I knew what we could do to get that learning we did shared better and actually used as time goes by, because it feels like its just been stuck in a box somewhere.
