Key skills for policy and public affairs professionals in 2024

You won’t need us to tell you that a career in policy and public affairs is always fast-paced, but rarely more so than the period before and after a general election. Since Labour’s victory, the new government has already outlined its plans to drastically change the state of affairs in several key industries including healthcare, education and energy. That means that professionals will need to adapt to meet this changing market; but with this changing environment in mind, what are the key skills for policy and public affairs specialists in 2024?

Communications and advocacy

There are naturally certain evergreen skills that will always be critical to fulfilling a policy or public affairs role. These include attributes like communication and advocacy, policy knowledge and political understanding. Another in this category is the ability to analyse complex information and review it on a critical basis. As anyone who has tackled a major policy project will recognise, professionals must be able to wade through, often highly detailed, data stacks, legislative texts and documentation to identify key issues and trends. This means analysis skills are of paramount importance. While this has and always will be a key trait for any successful policy professional, it’s becoming particularly important with the rise of new technologies, like artificial intelligence, in mind. AI will certainly help in many respects, but it will also create additional challenges, especially when weighing ethical considerations, and its limitations in policy development.

Relationship building

Equally, building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders is another core trait that will always be valued within the world of policy and public affairs. However, this is a far broader task than in the past. The growth of digital platforms – namely social media – has transformed engagement strategies, and now professionals must be adept at a wider range of tasks, including monitoring and tracking online sentiment. This is on top of the more traditional strategic elements of their roles, including mapping networks and developing tailored communications plans. This growth in social media has also made the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts – particularly in sensitive areas - a more valuable trait.

Strategic thinking and problem-solving

As we’ve already seen with well publicised plans to up the rate of home building in the UK, even the most seemingly positive proposals can be met with major pushback and require further attention at the drawing board. Consequently, all policy and public affairs professionals need the ability to be creative and solve highly complex problems, not just in real estate and property legislation, but across all fields.

The political and social world of 2024 requires a significant level of mental agility and foresight, and all public affairs specialists must be strategic thinkers, capable of developing long-term plans and navigating complex environments. This involves not only planning and setting objectives but also the ability to execute these plans effectively and monitor their progress. They should also be able to deal with the changing tide; and adapt strategies in response to wider socioeconomic or geopolitical changes or those driven by political shifts, regulatory changes, or evolving public sentiment.

Nuance and sensitivity

In what is an increasingly integrated and multicultural world, it’s therefore no surprise that cultural understanding and global awareness expertise are also becoming increasingly important traits. It’s not easy to understand and navigate the potentially complex cultural, social, and political contexts of different communities. This is particularly the case when developing policies that encompass and impact multiple different groups, and therefore requires a careful touch. A broad-brush approach won’t cut it in the world of policy and public affairs, and the best – and most in demand – professionals will be specialists in nuance and finding a way through these challenging environments.

Ethics and integrity

And on a related note, ethical judgment and integrity are equally foundational and key to the work of public affairs professionals. In a field that often involves navigating complex ethical dilemmas, professionals must adhere to high ethical standards and demonstrate a commitment to transparency and accountability. After the past few years of political turmoil, the emphasis on ethical conduct in public affairs is stronger than ever, driven by increased public scrutiny and focus.

This is just a small proportion of the incredibly broad skill sets required by modern-day policy and public affairs professionals, who are navigating an increasingly complex landscape. If you’re looking to recruit into your policy or advocacy teams, then speak to our specialist team.

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