The Environment Agency is increasingly professionalising its communications teams in order to draw on new tools and best practice technicians to change the behaviours of business, farmers, people at risk of flooding and other key audiences. The Communication Conference is a professional development event that supports this and helps to build strong integrated communications teams and programmes. The Environment Agency again expects 250 people to attend the 2008 conference.
The costs of the 2007 conference are as follows.
£ Payment of speakers 6,000 Travel costs 8,037 Food and drink 8,121 Accommodation (including daytime venues) 40,450 Production and sundry costs 13,092 Total 75,700
Travel costs include bus hire and estimated individual delegate travel to and from the venue at Nottingham university. This is based on an estimate of £30 expenditure per head and takes into account off-peak travel and maximised car-sharing.