Hill+Knowlton Strategies launches Knowledge+™ to bridge the communications skills gap in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East

Leading public relations and communications agency Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K) has launched Knowledge+™, a communications training academy created as a solution to the talent development needs of the Middle East and North Africa region.

Bridging the skills gap through skills transfer, Knowledge+™ is targeted primarily at nationals in response to the commitment by governments to drive nationalisation and develop the capacity of local talent.   

The Knowledge+™ academy offers a wide range of accredited training modules in both Arabic and English on topics including media coaching, engaging internal teams, crisis management and creative and digital communications.

Capacity building is achieved through the principle of Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) where experienced consultants are embedded into the communication teams of organisations to work alongside staff to facilitate the rapid transfer of skills and knowledge through daily mentoring and coaching.

The BOT model has been implemented successfully with large-scale government entities throughout the region, equipping departments with the technical skills and tools to run their own integrated marketing communications teams.

Bashar AlKadhi, CEO of Hill+Knowlton Strategies Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, commented:  “The Middle East is defined by its young population, and the region is going through a period of significant geo-political transformation.  This places an imperative on the way in which governments and corporations communicate with their constituents.

“Knowledge+™ equips a new generation of leaders with the essential skills they need to communicate in this new age, providing them with real experience and practical tools to adapt to and thrive in the modern communications landscape.”  

A recent study called The Leaders’ Report - The future of government communication spanning government leaders in 40 countries – including several in the region - by H+K’s parent company WPP showed that while 57 percent of respondents to the survey are educated to a Masters level or higher, many are inadequately equipped for the communications challenges they face.

AlKadhi added:  “With technology giving rise to the power of the public, we are living in a period of transformation, globalisation and disruption.  This means there has never been a greater need for clear communication to engage stakeholders.

“Alongside legislation, regulation and taxation, communication is one of the key levers of government but it is frequently regarded as a tactical, shared service, rather than a strategic function of policy delivery.  Knowledge+™ aims to bridge this gap.”

Knowledge+™ draws on Hill+Knowlton Strategies’ 30 years of communications consulting, skills development and knowledge transfer in the MENA region to brands, businesses and government to give the leaders of tomorrow the skills they need in social data analysis, audience segmentation and citizen engagement.