DARDs Corporate Communications Strategy and Action Plan

As part of its Strategic Plan 2006-2011, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has set itself five strategic goals and objectives.  Within goal five the key strategic objectives include “well trained, highly informed staff” and “improved communications with customers and stakeholders”.  The relevant Key Action is to “deliver a Communications Strategy”.

The Strategy is principles based and built on a short concise vision of communication for the department, i.e.

“To communicate in a clear and open way with all those living and working in, or involved with, the rural community”.

It permits flexibility in approach to accommodate the vast array of communication that DARD undertakes across the full range of its areas of responsibility.  It is also aimed at providing guidance for communication both within and outside the department.  It seeks to build on DARDs current practice and sources of advice and identifies its:

The supporting Action Plan has been developed to reflect actions that have an external focus, an internal focus or, where appropriate both, as the Strategy is designed to be applied to all forms of communication undertaken by and within the Department.  

The Action Plan will be monitored and further developed by DARDs Corporate Network Group to ensure that the actions are completed and that any new related actions are recorded and monitored going forward.

If you have any queries in relation to either the Strategy or the Action Plan, please contact the DARD Press Office on 02890 524619 or email