Danielle Bagnall, Internal Communication Diploma

When I signed up for the CIPR Internal Communication Diploma (Specialist) course with PR Academy, I had two clear goals: to deepen my expertise in internal communications and to do it fast. Spoiler alert: I completed the course in just two months! It was intense but worth the effort.

I’m sharing my experience here because if you’re like me – balancing work, life (specifically a two-year-old), and a desire to learn and further your career – you might be wondering if it’s doable.

If you’re like me – juggling work, life (including a lively two-year-old!), with a desire to learn and further your career, you might be wondering, Is this even doable? Let me assure you that it absolutely is.

Here’s a glimpse into my journey, along with some tips to help you make the most of the course.

Firstly, it’s well worth doing the London Accelerator Course, which kicks off with two intense full days of face-to-face learning in London. While you won’t remember everything you covered during those sessions, the real value lies in the connections you make and the foundational knowledge you gain. Plus, you’ll have ongoing access to all the materials via PR Academy’s online platform, so there’s no need to worry about forgetting details.

It was also a great opportunity to meet course leaders Kevin and Martin. They really know their stuff and helped us to cut through the noise and focus on what matters.

Our cohort started a WhatsApp group that became a hub for sharing tips, encouraging each other, and even the occasional nudge to stay on track. One peer even credited me for keeping them motivated, saying, “Thank you, Danni – you really helped me stay at it!”

The classroom sessions were immersive, and we covered a lot of ground, from internal comms theory, but it was the practical sessions that stood out. Working in teams to tackle real-world scenarios gave me the confidence to apply what I was learning straight away.

The structure of the course, combined with the flexibility of online access – not to mention the access to Kevin as my core tutor made it possible for me to go at my own pace. I certainly didn’t plan to finish in two months. I’m all for being efficient, but I didn’t want to rush the learning just for the sake of it. However, once I got through those first two days in London, a fire inside me was ignited.

A few things that helped me include:

Block out time

I scheduled time in my diary to work on my submission. Doing this ahead of time kept me accountable because it was already a ‘commitment’ by that point.

Make the most of online access

After the London sessions, I dove straight into the online course. PR Academy gives you plenty of resources and I used as many as I could. Nursery drop-offs became prime podcast time, listening to Kevin interview pros like Nicole Bearne and Jenni Field. (Sorry, Baby Shark!)

Set yourself small, achievable deadlines

Breaking the course down into smaller, more manageable milestones was a lifesaver. Each small win gave me the boost I needed to keep going.

Utilise time with your tutor

They’re there for a reason and they’re happy to help. Keeping in regular contact with Kevin really helped keep me on track.

While I wanted to do it quickly, the course itself is 12 months with four separate submission opportunities throughout.

If you’re on the fence about enrolling, I would 100% say go for it! With a little planning and a lot of passion for internal comms, you can achieve it in your own time.

Internal COMMUNICATION DIPLOMA