#14: We Can Be Better At Communicating Complexity

The Sussex And The City Podcast

– Episode 14:

We Can Be Better At Communicating Complexity

Host: Richard Freeman
Guest: Natalie Orringe - Founder, Strategy + Impact

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This episode is brought to you in partnership with:
Be Well. Live Well. – A data-led workplace wellbeing model helping Sussex employers boost performance and productivity by putting health at the heart of their culture.
👉 bewelllivewell.co.uk

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🔍 Episode summary

Richard speaks with Natalie Orringe, one of the UK's most thoughtful voices on public engagement, communications and strategic leadership.

A former agency director turned local government insider, Natalie shares what she learned as the first-ever Chief Marketing Officer in a London borough – and why local government communications roles like that matter more than ever in a climate of public cynicism, fractured trust, and rapid political change.

Now based in Brighton, she works across public and private sectors helping leaders make their strategy meaningful, human and heard.

This is a good companion piece to episode 12, and our chat with Flo Powell.

 

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🎯 Why this matters

Now Sussex is getting an elected mayor and a new tier of governance, it also needs a total reboot in how it talks to people.

Natalie argues that clarity, storytelling, and genuine dialogue must sit at the heart of the process 

• Communications isn't an add-on – it's how trust is built

• Good consultation starts early and is relentlessly honest

• Regional identity is up for grabs – so let’s define it, together

• Consultation literacy must be nurtured, not assumed

💬 “People aren’t stupid – but they’re sick of being spoken down to.”

 

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🧠 Topics covered include:

• Why communications is the scaffolding of public trust

• How councils can stop performative consultation and start meaningful engagement

• What went wrong with devolution comms – and how to fix it

• Why marketing skills are central to public sector success

• The dangers of inconsistency, opacity and missed feedback loops

• What Sussex can learn from Essex, Southend, and solar farms

• Why we must stop fearing complexity – and start telling better stories

“Employers say they want talent. But they need to take responsibility for building it – not just hoping someone else will.”

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📚 Further reading and references

• Strategy + Impact – Natalie’s consultancy

• Together Co – Brighton-based loneliness charity chaired by Natalie

• Good Business Pays – Campaign tackling slow payments to small businesses

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🎧 Production credits

Host: Richard Freeman
Guest: Natalie Orringe
Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey
Production management: Letitia McConalogue
Recorded at: Projects: The Lanes, Brighton

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📣 Get involved

Want better public communication in Sussex? Want to help shape devolution in a way people understand?👉 sussexandthecity.info – for more episodes, resources and events.