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Public Relations

Community Relations and Social Licence to Operate

Organisations in sectors such as energy, mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and real estate depend on the trust and acceptance of the communities around them. This course explains how to build and maintain a social licence to operate through effective community relations, stakeholder engagement, grievance management and social investment. Participants learn stakeholder analysis, engagement planning, communication with local communities, managing conflict and measuring social impact, applying the methods to realistic project scenarios.

5 days Classroom or live online English
Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants
Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

Download course PDF
Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Projects can be delayed, cost more or even be stopped when community concerns are not handled well. This course gives you the tools to engage communities early and honestly, manage expectations and build lasting relationships that support your organisation's operations.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

  • Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
  • Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
  • Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.
Course methodology

How you will learn.

The course uses case studies from different sectors, stakeholder mapping exercises, engagement planning workshops, grievance role plays and development of a community relations plan.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the concept of social licence to operate and its business value
  • Identify and analyse community stakeholders and their concerns
  • Plan and conduct meaningful community engagement
  • Establish effective grievance mechanisms
  • Design social investment programmes that create shared value
  • Measure and report community relations performance
Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

  • Community relations and stakeholder engagement officers
  • Public relations and corporate affairs professionals
  • Project managers of infrastructure and industrial projects
  • Sustainability and CSR managers
  • Government relations professionals
Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

  • Stakeholder analysis
  • Community engagement
  • Grievance management
  • Social investment
  • Conflict resolution
  • Social impact measurement
Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Social Licence to Operate

  1. 09:00–09:54What a social licence to operate means
  2. 09:54–10:48Business risks of poor community relations
  3. 10:48–11:00International standards and expectations
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12International standards and expectations (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06The role of trust and legitimacy
  7. 13:06–14:00Exercise: Assessing social licence risks

Day 2Understanding Communities and Stakeholders

  1. 09:00–09:54Stakeholder identification and mapping
  2. 09:54–10:48Community profiling and social baselines
  3. 10:48–11:00Vulnerable groups and inclusion
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Vulnerable groups and inclusion (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Expectations, interests and concerns
  7. 13:06–14:00Workshop: Community stakeholder map

Day 3Engagement and Communication

  1. 09:00–09:54Principles of meaningful engagement
  2. 09:54–10:48Engagement methods and timing
  3. 10:48–11:00Communicating technical information to communities
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Communicating technical information to communities (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Working with local leaders and organisations
  7. 13:06–14:00Role play: A community information meeting

Day 4Grievances and Conflict

  1. 09:00–09:54Designing grievance mechanisms
  2. 09:54–10:48Handling complaints and disputes
  3. 10:48–11:00Managing activism and opposition
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Managing activism and opposition (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Rebuilding trust after incidents
  7. 13:06–14:00Case study: Resolving a community dispute

Day 5Social Investment and Performance

  1. 09:00–09:54Creating shared value
  2. 09:54–10:48Designing social investment programmes
  3. 10:48–11:00Monitoring and measuring social impact
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Monitoring and measuring social impact (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Reporting to stakeholders
  7. 13:06–14:00Capstone: Community relations plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Barcelona 9 Nov - 13 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£2,840.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 9 Nov - 13 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 16 Nov - 20 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 16 Nov - 20 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 7 Dec - 11 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 7 Dec - 11 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Singapore 14 Dec - 18 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 14 Dec - 18 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 4 Jan - 8 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 4 Jan - 8 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 18 Jan - 22 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 18 Jan - 22 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 1 Feb - 5 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 1 Feb - 5 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Vienna 8 Feb - 12 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,940.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 8 Feb - 12 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 15 Feb - 19 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 15 Feb - 19 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 1 Mar - 5 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 1 Mar - 5 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 15 Mar - 19 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 15 Mar - 19 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 5 Apr - 9 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 5 Apr - 9 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Rome 12 Apr - 16 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 12 Apr - 16 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Singapore 19 Apr - 23 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 19 Apr - 23 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 3 May - 7 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 3 May - 7 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 17 May - 21 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 17 May - 21 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 7 Jun - 11 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 7 Jun - 11 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Rome 14 Jun - 18 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 14 Jun - 18 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 21 Jun - 25 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 21 Jun - 25 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 5 Jul - 9 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 5 Jul - 9 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 19 Jul - 23 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 19 Jul - 23 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 2 Aug - 6 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 2 Aug - 6 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Singapore 16 Aug - 20 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 16 Aug - 20 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Cape Town 23 Aug - 27 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 23 Aug - 27 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 6 Sept - 10 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 6 Sept - 10 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 20 Sept - 24 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 20 Sept - 24 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 4 Oct - 8 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 4 Oct - 8 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Cape Town 11 Oct - 15 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 11 Oct - 15 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 18 Oct - 22 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 18 Oct - 22 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 1 Nov - 5 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 1 Nov - 5 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 15 Nov - 19 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 15 Nov - 19 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 6 Dec - 10 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 6 Dec - 10 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Singapore 13 Dec - 17 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 13 Dec - 17 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon UK certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon UK programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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