Who We Are

Expert Advice, Consultancy & Coaching

Employment service providers working with local authorities and public sector organisations.

Our vision & values

At WM Employers, we advocate for our members, building a resilient public sector workforce and championing the West Midlands. We are a close-knit team and a not-for-profit organisation, bringing our membership together as a family of organisations. We collaborate to create solutions that no single organisation could deliver. Our services are used across the region, in all employment matters.

WME acts as the Regional Employers Organisation for the West Midlands, reporting to the Certification Office in accordance with the provisions of the Trade Union and Labour relations (Consolidation) Act (1992).

Our Values

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Influencing Change

We innovate within our services and create change in the public sector.
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Honesty

We are transparent about our interests and communicate with our members.
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Excellence

We strive to deliver a quality service to our members every day.
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Excellence

We strive to deliver a quality service to our members every day.
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Ambition

We aim high, making a positive difference through spectacular work.
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Ambition

We aim high, making a positive difference through spectacular work.
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Respect

We accept everyone as an individual, supporting all our members with understanding and inclusion.
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Trust

We consider ourselves your colleagues, so you know you can depend on us.

Introduction to Strategic Plan

Our vision is to advocate for people-centred organisations like our members, build a diverse and resilient public sector workforce and champion the West Midlands as a thriving place to live and work. Our 3 priorities for the next 5 years are to tackle regional priorities, investing in research and discussion to develop services which directly address the key areas of concern in the West Midlands workforce, to Deliver Strong Shared Services by extending our product book for more services in HR, Leadership, Coaching and Resourcing, and to put our members at the heart of our organisation, strengthening our offering by listening to our members and their priorities.

Our team

CEX

Rebecca Davis

Chief Executive

Rebecca provides leadership across the organisation and is responsible for the delivery of WME’s Strategic Plan 2020 to 2025.

Lesley Shore

Director of HR, Consultancy & Memberships

Lesley is experienced in working with councils on organisational and structural reviews and more.

Manny Sandhu

Director of Leadership, Organisational Development & Resourcing

Extensive experience in resourcing and is the lead for recruitment and talent development within WME.

Sharon Phillips

Assistant Director of Finance & Governance

WME Treasurer delivering sound and robust financial management and governance practices within WME

Carrie Smith

Business & Corporate Services Manager

Managing the Corporate Centre for WME, our Event programme and our media and web presence.

Chloe Herrmann

Principal Consultant Resourcing

Chloe joined WME in December 2021. She has over 15 years’ experience in Resourcing and HR, most recently in the public and charity sectors.

Chrisie Snape

Executive Support to Chief Executive and Governance Support Officer

Chrisie joined the organisation in July 2020

Estelle Dutton

Resourcing Service Delivery Manager

Estelle joined WME in June 2023.

Katrina Whitby

Senior Consultant - Resourcing

Katrina joined WME in July 2023.

Lorna Wells

Principal Consultant - HR

Lorna is one of WME’s Principal Consultants for HR and delivers a range of HR services to our members.

Lucy Hall

Resourcing Officer

Lucy is a Resourcing Officer at West Midlands Employers and joined in November 2022 with previous experience in HR and recruitment from Local Authorities in the West Midlands. Lucy is currently the support and lead on Resourcing projects.

Marianne Delaney

Marketing & Comms Service Advisor

Marianne joined the organisation in May 2024 as our Marketing & Comms Service Advisor

Matthew Hotten

Service Development Manager, L&OD

Working as a senior consultant in the Leadership & OD Team, Matthew joined WME in September 2022 and has significant experience in organisational design, development, transformational change programmes, and leadership.

Murthaza Qadri

Marketing and Comms Assistant

Murthaza joined the organisation in June 2022

Palli Sall

Resourcing Service Assistant

Delivering administrative support and excellent customer service to a wide client base.

Priya Saini

Resourcing Service Adviser

Supporting members’ resourcing needs with the Talentlink recruitment system and Executive Recruitment.

Rachael Simpson

Principal Consultant - HR

Rachael joined WME in October 2022, initially as Principal Consultant (Workforce Specialist) and then transferred to Principal Consultant (HR) in January 2024 having previously been in a Senior Strategic HR role at a District Council.  She has extensive experience in public sector HR.

Sam Darby

Consultant – Coaching & Mentoring

Trained coach and supervision facilitator with experience in systems development and training.

Shanda Reid

Learning & Organisational Development Advisor

Shanda provides achievable professional advice, guidance and encouragement on WME services.

Cllr Roger Phillips

Herefordshire Council

Cllr Phillips has served on the WME Management Board for several years and represents the sub-region of Herefordshire, Shropshire & Telford.

Cllr Matthew Dormer

Redditch Borough Council

Cllr Dormer represents the sub-region of Worcestershire

Cllr Mike Gledhill

Redditch Borough Council

Cllr Gledhill represents the District Councils in the West Midlands

Cllr Alan White

Staffordshire County Council

Cllr White represents the sub-region of Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent.

Cllr Gwylim Butler

Shropshire Council

Cllr Butler represents the sub regions of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford

Cllr Bob Piper

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Cllr Piper represents the sub-region of the Black Country.

Carrie Smith

Business & Corporate Services Manager

Managing the Corporate Centre for WME, our Event programme and our media and web presence.

Chrisie Snape

Executive Support to Chief Executive and Governance Support Officer

Chrisie joined the organisation in July 2020

Marianne Delaney

Marketing & Comms Service Advisor

Marianne joined the organisation in May 2024 as our Marketing & Comms Service Advisor

Lorna Wells

Principal Consultant - HR

Lorna is one of WME’s Principal Consultants for HR and delivers a range of HR services to our members.

Rachael Simpson

Principal Consultant - HR

Rachael joined WME in October 2022, initially as Principal Consultant (Workforce Specialist) and then transferred to Principal Consultant (HR) in January 2024 having previously been in a Senior Strategic HR role at a District Council.  She has extensive experience in public sector HR.

Matthew Hotten

Service Development Manager, L&OD

Working as a senior consultant in the Leadership & OD Team, Matthew joined WME in September 2022 and has significant experience in organisational design, development, transformational change programmes, and leadership.

Murthaza Qadri

Marketing and Comms Assistant

Murthaza joined the organisation in June 2022

Sam Darby

Consultant – Coaching & Mentoring

Trained coach and supervision facilitator with experience in systems development and training.

Shanda Reid

Learning & Organisational Development Advisor

Shanda provides achievable professional advice, guidance and encouragement on WME services.

CEX

Rebecca Davis

Chief Executive

Rebecca provides leadership across the organisation and is responsible for the delivery of WME’s Strategic Plan 2020 to 2025.

Lesley Shore

Director of HR, Consultancy & Memberships

Lesley is experienced in working with councils on organisational and structural reviews and more.

Manny Sandhu

Director of Leadership, Organisational Development & Resourcing

Extensive experience in resourcing and is the lead for recruitment and talent development within WME.

Sharon Phillips

Assistant Director of Finance & Governance

WME Treasurer delivering sound and robust financial management and governance practices within WME

Chloe Herrmann

Principal Consultant Resourcing

Chloe joined WME in December 2021. She has over 15 years’ experience in Resourcing and HR, most recently in the public and charity sectors.

Estelle Dutton

Resourcing Service Delivery Manager

Estelle joined WME in June 2023.

Katrina Whitby

Senior Consultant - Resourcing

Katrina joined WME in July 2023.

Lucy Hall

Resourcing Officer

Lucy is a Resourcing Officer at West Midlands Employers and joined in November 2022 with previous experience in HR and recruitment from Local Authorities in the West Midlands. Lucy is currently the support and lead on Resourcing projects.

Palli Sall

Resourcing Service Assistant

Delivering administrative support and excellent customer service to a wide client base.

Priya Saini

Resourcing Service Adviser

Supporting members’ resourcing needs with the Talentlink recruitment system and Executive Recruitment.

Cllr Roger Phillips

Herefordshire Council

Cllr Phillips has served on the WME Management Board for several years and represents the sub-region of Herefordshire, Shropshire & Telford.

Cllr Matthew Dormer

Redditch Borough Council

Cllr Dormer represents the sub-region of Worcestershire

Cllr Mike Gledhill

Redditch Borough Council

Cllr Gledhill represents the District Councils in the West Midlands

Cllr Alan White

Staffordshire County Council

Cllr White represents the sub-region of Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent.

Cllr Gwylim Butler

Shropshire Council

Cllr Butler represents the sub regions of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford

Cllr Bob Piper

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Cllr Piper represents the sub-region of the Black Country.

Our Associates

Judy Foster

HR and Equalities professional with expertise in investigation, employee engagement and organisational development.

Julia Hayward

Enthusiastic coach, trainer and supervisor, delivering bespoke WME interventions and leadership programes.

Louis Collins

Psychologist, Leadership coach and development consultant specialising in communication skills for critical workplace conversations.

Reuben Bergman

Innovative and award-winning HR & OD professional with a creative and solution-based approach to complex cases.

Susan Groves

Facilitating informative and engaging workshops, coaching and mentoring in all areas.

Steven Jackson

Enabling organisations or departments see and understand their services from the customer’s perspective.

Rita Symons

Rita is a former NHS CEO, who now runs a coaching and leadership development practice. She has extensive experience of working in public service including in partnership with Local Authorities, Police and Fire Services and the Third Sector.

Shakil Butt

Shakil Butt (FCIPD, FCCA) is a values driven, accomplished, award winning HR and OD professional with over 30 years of experience including leading an award-winning global HR team in a multi faith, multi ethnic and multi-cultural environment.

Elizabeth Lisle

Creative, outcome focused and pragmatic in organisational development and change initiatives with a focus on cultural shift, facilitation, behavioural change and leadership development.

Louise Wagstaff

Associate

A values-driven senior HR professional with experience in the public, not-for-profit and private sector. FCIPD qualified with more than 25 years’ experience in HR and Transformation roles, Louise is passionate about developing people and organisations to deliver great public services and create engaging workplaces. Louise has 16 years’ experience in the public and not-for-profit sector having worked as a Director in both the Fire and Rescue Service and Housing sector. She has significant experience of complex employee relations cases, is skilled in dealing with difficult issues and has a tactful, diplomatic style that creates highly effective working relationships.

Dr Mark Batey

Associate

Dr Mark Batey is a world-leading authority in Creativity, Innovation and Leadership.  He combines cutting-edge academic insight and expertise, with international practitioner experience as a speaker, consultant, coach and facilitator. From helping build the X-Factor team to ‘inventing’ Gogglebox, to advising governments… Dr Batey has much to share to engage, enlighten and enthuse audiences.  Delivering motivational talks, interactive workshops, training and more.

Alison Shipway

Associate

A highly experience Chartered Fellow of the CIPD Ali has over 25 years’ experience and expertise in strategic organisational development, change management, Leadership and HR.

Alison Twist

Associate

Alison is a HR Professional (FCIPD and MSc Strategic HRM) with 30 years’ experience in undertaking and managing all aspects of HR and Organisational Development.

Andrew Pain

Associate

With 25 years post-graduate HR and business development experience, including; recruitment, general HR, business development, coaching, learning and development, Andrew now runs his own speaking and training business, working with diverse clients including; Amazon, Lloyds, Aston University, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Essex County Council, Birmingham City University, Chartered Institute of Marketing, Association of Project Management, Federation of Small Businesses, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Institute of Directors.

Our Stakeholders

WME is owned by the 32 councils that govern the West Midlands, enabling regional collaboration.

Our Corporate Subscribers

Public sector organisations benefit from our corporate membership.

Find out how we can help you