Former BCP Council Leader Vikki Slade joins Cratus Communications

Cratus is pleased to announce that Cllr Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrats, Broadstone), the former Leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, has joined our expanding team.

CEO Nick Kilby said: “We are delighted to welcome Vikki to the company. She will make a great colleague, strengthening our understanding and knowledge of local government in these unprecedented times. Her experience and insight leading a brand new unitary authority will be incredibly valuable for our team and clients alike, and we are very much looking forward to working with her. However we fully appreciate that her first responsibility is for the residents in her ward, who she will continue to serve.”

Vikki will be based at our Southampton office. She will be working for Cratus three days per week on projects outside the BCP authority area, where she remains a Liberal Democrat Councillor representing Broadstone ward.

She said: “I am delighted to be joining an organisation with such a good reputation in Local Government and a real commitment to engagement. I hope that my experience leading the newest city-region, in building a multi-party alliance, and in engaging with residents, stakeholders and partners will help both Local Government and private sector clients to improve their community engagement and consultation programmes whilst remaining committed to my work in BCP to support not only my residents but to hold the new administration to account through scrutiny and constructive challenge.”

As an agency with a strong focus on local government, Cratus employs a number of elected representatives, each with their own expertise. We are  members of the PRCA and adhere to the Public Affairs Board’s Public Affairs Code. In addition, we have developed our own strict Code of Conduct which all Cratus employees and associates sign up to and which is to a standard that we are truly proud of. Transparency is central to the way we undertake our business, which underpins our “Our world is local” ethos.

The Cratus team has enjoyed a number of new faces joining the team over the last few months. They include former Chief Planner Steve Quartermain, former Crest Nicholson Director Chris Tinker, and former Trafford Council Leader Cllr Sean Anstee.