CIPR Newsroom

Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Institute of Directors publish Crisis Communication Handbook for Boards

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:40:00 +0100

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ (CIPR) Crisis Communications Network and the Institute of Directors (IoD) have today published a Crisis Communication for Boards handbook, guiding boards on the crucial role of communications before, during, and after a crisis.

Designed as a practical resource for board members across sectors, the guide - Crisis Communications for Boards: A Handbook for Good Governance - examines what constitutes a crisis, the potential impact on an organisation, and best practice in communications at each stage of the crisis lifecycle. It advises boards on how to predict, protect, prepare, respond, recover, and build enduring resilience.

The handbook is supported by a practical toolkit and in-depth recommendations for wider reading and practical resources. It also identifies case studies from leading academics and practitioners, examining recent and high-profile crises and the lessons they offer for boards looking to strengthen their preparedness, upskill their personnel, and scrutinise existing plans.

Emphasising how, in a crisis, ultimately the buck stops with the board, the handbook also examines how the modern reputation management landscape is evolving, and with it the crisis risks which boards face. These range from an increasingly turbulent geopolitical context to the growing challenges and opportunities presented by AI usage: a detailed section examines the emerging governance risks of AI and how, as its capabilities expand, so too do the associated ethical, legal, operational, and reputational risks.

The handbook also sets out to address a persistent gap: while reputation is increasingly becoming a standalone discussion point on board agendas, very few boards in fact include communications professionals or understand fully the role they can play.

Download the best practice guide “Crisis Communications for Boards: A Handbook for Good Governance”
Log 10 CPD points for reading the guide

Nearly one in five businesses have no PR support – new IoD and CIPR report finds

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 09:39:51 +0000

A new report has found nearly one-in-five businesses have no public relations support, either internally or externally.

At a time when the UK faces the challenges associated with an economic downturn, the report finds many businesses are failing to be proactive in managing their reputation while consumers and stakeholders consider the activity of companies with which they associate.

The joint report from the Institute of Directors (IoD) and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) - ‘The Role of Public Relations in Strategic Planning and Crisis Preparedness’ - features a series of essays and top tips on how businesses can use public relations to support their work. Chapters explore the role of PR in strategic planning, stakeholder mapping and engagement, internal communications, and more.

Edited by former CIPR President and IoD Ambassador, Sarah Waddington, the report surveyed 100 UK business leaders and found that three-quarters of businesses that employ public relations professionals have them on their board. One-third of businesses, however, say they have never used public relations to navigate a crisis.

IoD CIPR Report - The Role of Public Relations in Strategic Planning and Crisis Preparedness DIGITAL.pdf from Chartered Institute of Public Relations

CIPR and IoD announce 2014 Director of the Year shortlist

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 09:38:28 +0100

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) in partnership with the Institute of Directors (IoD) has today announced the shortlist for the annual CIPR IoD Director of the Year award.

The prestigious prize is awarded to exceptional practitioners who can demonstrate effectiveness, through examples, of managing and safeguarding the reputation of their organisation, either in times of crisis or a longer term reputational initiative.

The winner must demonstrate experience of advising the board, MD or Chairman, on reputational risk or other aspects of reputation management that have a significant impact on their organisation and its stakeholders.

This year’s shortlisted candidates are:

Liz Banks MCIPR, Director of Communications and Research for the Recruitment and Employment Confederation
David Hamilton MCIPR, Head of Public Relations and Engagement for Action for Children
Stuart Thomson MCIPR, Public Affairs Consultant for Bircham Dyson Bell LLP
Gill Webber MCIPR, Executive Director Communication and Outreach for the Royal Institute of British Architects
Nick Wright MCIPR, Director of Communications for BDO

CIPD and IoD Annual Prize 2014 - call for entries

Fri, 28 Feb 2014 13:07:49 +0000

Entries will be opening for the 2014 Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and Institute of Directors (IoD) PR Director of the Year Annual Prize on Monday 3 March 2014.

This highly coveted award, open to CIPR members who work at Board Director level or directly advise Board members, celebrates the achievements of senior public relations practitioners and will be presented to the winner at the CIPR Excellence Awards dinner on Tuesday 17 June at Old Billingsgate, London

Presented jointly by the CIPR and the IoD, the prize is awarded to exceptional practitioners who can demonstrate effectiveness, through examples, of managing and safeguarding the reputation of their organisation, either in times of crisis or a longer term reputational initiative.

Past winners include Sarah Pinch FCIPR, Emma Leech FCIPR and Emma Gilpin-Jacobs MCIPR.

CIPR and IoD announce 2013 Director of the Year Shortlist

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:47:32 +0000

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) in partnership with the Institute of Directors (IoD) has today announced its shortlist for the prestigious annual CIPR IoD Director of the Year award.

The award is presented to the CIPR member who can best demonstrate their effectiveness of managing, and safeguarding, the reputation of their organisation either in a time of crisis or over a long term reputational initiative. In order to win the prize, the CIPR member must advise a board, MD or Chairman, on reputational risk or other aspects of reputation management that have a significant impact on their organisation and its stakeholders.

This year’s shortlisted candidates are:

Amanda Coleman, Head of Corporate Communications for Greater Manchester Police
Emma Gilpin-Jacobs, Global Director of Communications for the FT Group
Stephen Jolly, Director of External Affairs & Communications for the University of Cambridge
Sadie Visick, Communications and Marketing Director for AQA

Each shortlisted candidate will now be invited to sit before a 5 person judging panel chaired by Jane Wilson MCIPR, CIPR CEO, for the final step of the judging process.

The winner will be presented with the award at this year’s CIPR Excellence Awards on Monday 3 June 2013 at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

CIPR and IoD to award top prize for reputational management

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:58:29 +0000

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has today opened entries for the third annual CIPR Institute of Directors Annual Prize: PR Director of the Year.

The prize is awarded to the CIPR member who is able to demonstrate effectiveness at managing and safeguarding the reputation of their organisation, either in times of crisis or over a longer period of reputational initiative.

Entries are open to CIPR Members who advise a board, MD or Chairman, as a fellow board member, senior colleague or consultant, on reputational risk or other aspects of reputation management that have a significant impact on their organisation and its stakeholders.

The winner of the award will be recognised at this year’s Excellence Awards Dinner and will receive a place on an IoD Director Development programme as well as a selection of IoD resources – with a total prize value of approximately £3,000.

Shortlist announced for IoD Public Relations Award

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:20:17 +0100

The IoD and CIPR Public Relations Director of the Year Award will be contested this year by four superb candidates shortlisted from across the public relations profession. They are:

Mark Cotton, Assistant Director of Communication and Engagement, North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Emma Leech, Director of Communications and Marketing, University of Nottingham
Paul Mylrea, Director of Communications, BBC
Anneke Rousseau, Head of Communications, Electrical Safety Council

IoD to award top public relations director for second year

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:17:59 +0000

The Institute of Directors (IoD) will once again be offering a prize to the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) member who can demonstrate high standards in proactively managing and safeguarding the reputation of their organisation.