Episode 25 – Supporting Menopause at Work – is hosted by Stuart Culley Chart.PR, an in-house communications practitioner in the construction sector and CIPR EDI Champion. In this episode, Stuarts sets out to learn what perimenopause and menopause mean for the people going through them and for the colleagues, line managers, and partners who support them.

Stuart is joined by guests:

• Helen Crumley Chart.PR, a communications leader with 25 years’ experience across the public, health and not-for-profit sectors
• Ruth Rosselson, Resilience Co-ordinator at Manchester Mind
• Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe Chart.PR, a strategic corporate communications leader in the public sector and EDI Champion for the CIPR North West Group

Drawing on their own experiences, the guests explain how symptoms can begin years before periods stop and can last for many years. They describe symptoms that go well beyond hot flushes, including poor sleep, anxiety, heart palpitations, and forgetfulness. They also discuss how they found support through their GP, HRT, mindfulness, and peer groups. The panel looks at why some women reduce their hours or leave work and at what organisations lose when they do.

The panel concludes by examining what good workplace support looks like. This ranges from reasonable adjustments tailored to the individual, such as flexible working and workplace passports, to line managers who know the policy and start with a conversation. Guests make the case for treating menopause like any other inclusion need. They also explain how anyone can be an ally by listening and pointing colleagues towards policies and support groups.

Alongside the episode, the CIPR has published a menopause resource pack curated by Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe. The pack explains the stages of menopause and sets out practical resources that employers, line managers, colleagues and people going through menopause can all use.

• Listen to the episode on Spotify and Apple Music
• Download the Menopause Resource Pack
• Find out more about the CIPR Engage Podcast
• CIPR members can log 5 CPD points for listening to this episode

Hosted by Chair of the CIPR Public Affairs Group, Max Sugarman, this episode looks at how recent political scandals have contributed to an erosion of public confidence and trust in government and politicians with an expert panel of guests offering thoughts on how this can be addressed.  

Joining host Max Sugarman are guests;  

• Rachael Clamp, founder and director of Ardesey Ltd 
• Peter Geoghan, editor-in-chief of openDemocracy 
• Andy Sawford, managing partner and co-owner of the Connect Group 

For more information:  

• Listen to and download previous episodes of the Engage podcast 
• The CIPR recently relaunched its UK Lobbying Register, the only free and universal register for public affairs professionals. Sign up for the UK Lobbying Register (UKLR) 
• Join the CIPR Public Affairs Group 
• Sign up for the CIPR Public Affairs Specialist Diploma 
• Each podcast is worth 5 CPD points. 

Hosted by Sarah Pinch, Managing Director of Pinch Point Communications and former President of the CIPR, the latest episode - 'Strategic Communicators' - explores what it means to be a strategic communicator and a professional, how communicators are elevating themselves in response of the pandemic, and the challenges of ensuring communications is seen as a strategic management discipline.

Joining Sarah are;

• Alex Aiken, executive director at the UK Government Communications Service (GCS)
• James Powell, head of group communications at Irwin Mitchell

• Listen to and download previous episodes of the Engage podcast.
• Each podcast is worth 5 CPD points.

Host, Andy Green FCIPR, meets three fellow professionals each experienced in the world of public relations and social purpose to get tips and advice on how to incorporate purpose into campaigns and to discuss whether it is just a "fad", how social purpose is different from CSR, how to be more creative in thinking about the triple bottom line, and the challenge of 'fake' purpose.

Joining Andy is;

• Matt Appleby, director at Grow Social Capital
• Ben Caspersz, founder and managing director at Claremont
• Shannon Walker, founder of Social Disruption

• Listen to and download previous episodes of the Engage podcast. 
• Each podcast is worth 5 CPD points.
• For more information about social purpose see the latest CIPR resources; introduction to social capital comms and managing purpose social purpose.

Host, CIPR vice President, Jenni Field Chart.PR, FCIPR talks to three experienced PR practitioners with a breadth of experience and insight including from large, national organisations and the arts – an industry heavily impacted by the pandemic. Each guest shares their unique personal and professional challenges as well as their solutions and advice for hybrid working.  

Joining Jenni is:  

• Kate Shaw - Senior Internal Comms Manager for Nationwide Building Society 
• Martin Flegg - Chair of Inside CIPR committee 
• Sofia Cann - Head of Marketing and Comms for Square Chapel Art Centre in Halifax and the Old Court in Wigan 

• Listen to and download the podcast here. 
• Each podcast is worth 5 CPD points.