Crisis containment & response
Early advice when a sensitive issue emerges. Establish the known facts, assess the communications risks and agree a clear response with your council’s leadership and advisers.
Specialist support provided by Sugar PR.
Senior-led advice · England & Wales
WGW Communications services
Specialist support built around your council.
When public scrutiny intensifies, your council needs space to address the issue and experienced help to explain its response.
Media enquiries & statements
Experienced handling of journalist calls, interview requests and deadlines. Prepare holding statements and agreed responses so your council communicates accurately and consistently.
Residents, staff & elected members
Plan clear, timely updates for the people who need to hear from you. Explain what is known, what action is being taken and when further information can be shared.
Leadership & spokesperson support
Practical advice for Clerks, chief officers and council leaders facing difficult questions. Brief spokespeople, prepare questions and answers and agree who will speak for the council.
Support for in-house PR teams
Specialist crisis consultancy and additional capacity alongside your communications team. Help manage immediate pressures while colleagues maintain day-to-day activity and wider responsibilities.
Crisis preparedness & recovery
Agree communications responsibilities, approval processes and escalation arrangements before an incident. As the situation develops, monitor coverage and plan communications that support recovery.
When to bring us in
Get advice before the pressure builds.
A financial concern, serious incident or disputed decision can quickly become a matter of public interest. Early communications advice helps your council respond with care while the facts are established.
- Financial investigations and governance concerns
- Serious incidents involving council services or facilities
- Allegations, employment disputes and legal proceedings
- Intense media interest or community concern
Support is shaped around the circumstances, working with your leadership, legal advisers and other relevant specialists.
Your specialist provider
Sugar PR.
Experienced counsel.
A calm response.
Sugar PR advises leaders facing sensitive issues, serious incidents and sustained public scrutiny. Crisis work is led by founder Pete Davies, with experience supporting organisations in regulated and high-exposure sectors.
The team works alongside legal, risk and in-house communications colleagues, combining practical media handling with advice on what to say, when to say it and who needs to hear it.
Confidentiality arrangements, including non-disclosure agreements where appropriate, are agreed at the outset.
Explore Sugar PR crisis supportYour point of contact
Start with WGW.
Speak to a specialist.
Tell WGW about the issue, the support you need and any immediate media deadlines. WGW can introduce you to Sugar PR for a confidential discussion.
Before work begins, Sugar PR will agree the scope, fees, confidentiality and response arrangements directly with your council.
Communications support is separate from internal audit. PR advice does not influence WGW’s independent findings. Councils retain responsibility for factual accuracy, openness and their statutory duties.
Talk through the next step
Facing a difficult issue?
Start a confidential conversation.
For immediate enquiries, speak directly to Sugar PR:
0161 399 4507