Over the past few months, I have written extensively about what it has been like to work as a Policy Adviser for numerous Universities and Science Ministers:

• I have given people an insight into what the job entails;
• I have shared my top ten tips on how the sector can gain the attention of officials; and
• I have even written a ‘Day One’ briefing note for the new Universities Minister, Michelle Donelan, listing the key points I want her to know about UK higher education from the outset.

But, now that recess is over and politicians will be keen to get the show back on the road, I also want to share a new set of tips – and those are to do with hosting officials on future visits.

During my time in Private Office, I got to accompany previous ministers on visits to well over sixty different universities and their industrial R&D partners across the UK and Europe. So, I have seen first-hand some excellent examples of visit-planning, but also some instances where things could perhaps have run a little bit better. That’s why I’ve put together the following 10 tips for universities and research institutes planning to host a minister or MP at some point in the future to ensure both sides get the best out of the opportunity:

1. Put on a variety show: On an average day in the office, a Minister’s diary is crammed full with back-to-back meetings in Whitehall. That’s why many politicians relish the chance to get out and about and see something different. The worst thing you can do, therefore, is trap your visitor in a yet another meeting room for a few hours and subject them to an unbroken series of presentations, meetings and discussions. Instead, make sure the visit is varied and that sit-down meetings are interspersed with hands-on activities or campus walkabouts. Remember, the average human attention span is in the region of just 20 minutes, and even politicians aren’t superhuman!
2. Make time for a ‘meet and greet’: In his blog last week, Nick Hillman explained how junior officials may be the best people to talk to about policy, as they are the ‘real’ experts in their respective areas. The same is true in universities and research institutes. While Vice-Chancellors or Chief Executives may be able to provide a good overview of their organisations, politicians will get much more out of speaking to students about their own experiences or to scientists about their research. So, it is important to allow time for your guests to meet those working at the heart of your institution, not just those at the top of your institution.
3. Showcase your USP: When politicians go on a visit, they want to see something they would not see elsewhere. MPs and Ministers generally use visits to collect anecdotes on which to draw in parliamentary questions or speeches. So, if you show them something that is unique to you, there is a high chance it will stick in their memory and your institution will be name-checked on an appropriate occasion in the future.

See the full blog on the HEPI website at https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2020/02/25/visit-planning-my-top-10-tips-for-hosting-ministers-and-mps/