Reputation Labs
Focused. Hands-on.
Reputation Labs are training sessions for anyone who needs to communicate work in defence and security. CEOs and founders, technical leads, business development directors, programme managers, communications teams. You bring a real challenge from your organisation. You leave with something you've built, tested with experts who know the sector.
Small groups. CIPR accredited.
Why Canny Comms created this
Communicating in our industry is not easy!
The work you do is complex, sensitive and often hard to explain. Your customers are cautious. Your stakeholders are many. Procurement cycles are long, security classification limits what you can say, and the consequences of getting it wrong show up in lost contracts, stalled programmes and damaged reputations.
You might be a founder pitching a capability to MOD or an investor. A CEO building credibility in a market that rewards track record. A scientist asked to brief a minister. A programme manager making the case for a major investment. A communications lead supporting any of the above.
Most marketing and communications advice was written for generic business to business or consumer brands. It travels poorly into our world. The frameworks assume too much, the examples don't apply, and the people delivering the training have rarely sat where you sit.
Reputation Labs were built to close that gap.
Working sessions, not lectures
You spend the day on your own challenge, with experts who do this work for the sector. We keep the groups small and you're in with people who share your challenges. Every Lab delivers the same promise: you leave with something you can use.
- Small groups
- You own create a deliverable you take back to your desk.
- Half day or full day
- Expert-led
- CIPR accredited. 10 CPD points
- Expect a call two weeks after the session to troubleshoot implementation.
The venue
The Agenda
Standard rate:
Half day £495 + VAT
Full day £895 + VAT
Email us if you'd like to book more than one Lab or for more than one person (info@canny-comms.co.uk)
ADS Group & Make UK Defence members:
20% discount
Half day £395 + VAT
Full day £695 + VAT
What's included
- Expert-led session following the Lab structure
- Lab kit with tools, templates, prompts and frameworks
- A deliverable you've built during the session, tested with expert feedback
- A check-in call two weeks after the session
- Refreshments
Full day delegates also receive:
- 10 CIPR CPD points
- Extended application workshops and policy building
- The Clinic, with direct expert input on your most pressing challenge
- A rollout plan for embedding what you've learned
- Networking lunch
The Reputation Labs programme covers the capabilities defence communicators need most. Each Lab is a standalone session — attend one or build your expertise across the series.
The programme
Technical storytelling - 15 June 2026
Make the complex clear. Translate brilliant technology into narratives that land with military users, policymakers and investors.
Thought leadership and profile building - 29 June 2026
Own your narrative territory. Build authority, visibility and influence in a sector where credibility is everything.
Measuring communications impact - coming soon
Not outputs but outcomes.
Media and reputation readiness
Become the 'Brian Cox' in your expert area
The pitch
Sharpen how you articulate value. Win the pitch.
Navigating UK Defence
Built for growing SMEs, international entrants.
Digital presence and content
Getting more from your digital presence
Crisis and issues prep
Tabletop scenarios. Pressure-tested plans. The session you'll be glad you ran when something goes wrong.
Got a problem to solve that's not on the list?
Get in touch if there's a topic you'd like to see here!
Who Reputation Labs are for
You'll get the most out of a Lab if you have something specific you want to develop and a real challenge to bring into the room. We design every session to work across roles:
- CEOs and founders who are the public face of their company and need their story to land with investors, customers and government
- Technical leads, scientists and engineers translating complex work for non-specialist audiences
- Business development and bid teams sharpening how they articulate value to customers and prime contractors
- Marketing, communications and PR professionals developing specific capabilities, frameworks or measurement
- Government communications teams across MOD and the wider national security community
- Investor relations and corporate affairs leads managing reputation with capital markets and senior stakeholders
- Anyone who attended Reputation Masterclass and wants to go deeper on a topic
Why Canny Comms built Reputation Labs
We are a communications consultancy that works only in defence and security. We've helped scientists, engineers, founders, primes, agencies and ministries get their message across. We understand the constraints because we work inside them every day.
We created Reputation Masterclass to give this community a dedicated annual event. We created Reputation Labs because one day a year is not enough. The Masterclass shows you the landscape. The Labs give you the tools to act on it.
The same sector expertise. The same CIPR accreditation. Focused on one capability at a time, with the space and support to turn insight into something you can use on Monday morning.
Venues
Reputation Labs are held at locations across the UK, chosen for accessibility and the right working environment. Current venues include:
Porton Science Park, Wiltshire. Canny's home turf, in the heart of the UK's defence science corridor. Conference facilities, parking, and easy access from the A303 and Salisbury station.
Central London. Labs are also held in London at partner venues with excellent transport links. Exact locations are confirmed to delegates when booking.
At your office. We can come to you and deliver a single or series of these Labs for your team. Get a confidential and bespoke experience that builds your teams knowledge quickly and effectively.
Venue details for each Lab are shown on the booking page.
February 2027: Reputation Masterclass
Reputation Labs are the deep dive. Reputation Masterclass is the big picture.
Reputation Masterclass is our annual conference, bringing together the people shaping defence and security communications. Speakers from MOD, the primes, defence media and the agencies that support them. Together with the Labs, it's the most comprehensive professional development programme for anyone communicating in this sector.
Early bird tickets for RM27 are on sale now at £150 + VAT.
Be first to hear about new Labs
We announce new Lab dates and topics throughout the year. Leave your details and we'll let you know when bookings open.