This time last year, I couldn’t quite believe my eyes. I had got to know Liz Truss before she became an MP.
And now she was about to become Prime Minister.
We shared a secret. Back then, I’d started working as a professional speechwriter and she asked me how to improve her public speaking.
Last November I went to a wonderful conference called Wordstock organised on a Saturday in London by the writers’ group 26.
I paid £100 for a ticket, travelled up from Bournemouth on the train, heard a couple of brilliant presentations, had some good conversations, met some old acquaintances and bought a couple of books. It was one of the best days of my year.
Congratulations to Patrick Ross, from West Wing Writers in the United States, who won this year’s Fred Metcalf Award for After-Dinner Speaking.
There were 20 entries to the competition which took place in Brasenose College Dining Hall on 23 March 2023.
Kathleen Wyatt’s new book, The Social Superpower – The Big Truth About Little Lies argues that fibs are necessary and protect us from harm
Wyatt is a journalist turned speechwriter. One might speculate that she has been motivated to write a book about deceptive trades because she is uncomfortable in her new role (although that’s a bit generous, as some would argue that journalists have a complex relationship with truth, too).
1) Life finds a way!
Dr Johnson supposedly said, ‘Never leave a man with the burden of an undelivered speech.’ In March 2020, we had to postpone our conference. That was a lot of undelivered speeches.
From 2009-2019 the European Speechwriter Network hosted 19 conferences in the UK and other European capitals. We built up a vibrant network of friendships, contacts and expertise. From 30 March to 1 April 2022, we’ll be back at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
Senior Speechwriter required
The UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is looking for a speechwriter.
CBI
The Confederation of British Industry, based in London, is looking for a speechwriter.
Apply by the end of the week.
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Cambridge Speechwriter Position
The team within the University of Cambridge’s Development and Alumni Relations office is looking for a Senior Leadership Communications Specialist.
The recruitment process is being managed by Rachel Gardner Dalton. You can contact her through her LinkedIn Page.
Speechwriting for Science
An external comms job has come up for a fluent German/English speaker based in Göttingen for a biochemical company called Sartorius.
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Wolverhampton Speechwriters
Speechwriter required at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government to be based in Wolverhampton or London.
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