Thought Leadership
22 Jul 2025
Numbers Don’t Deliver Services. People Do
Discover why people, not just plans or policies, are the true infrastructure of local government. This article explores how coaching and strategic workforce planning can help councils thrive through uncertainty by supporting the individuals behind every service.
22 Jul 2025
From the Frontline to Public Service: Why Veterans Could Be the Public Sector's Untapped Talent
Veterans possess unique leadership, crisis management, and project delivery skills developed in high-pressure military environments, yet public sector recruitment often fails to recognise these transferable capabilities. With over half of employed veterans reporting underemployment, the sector is missing a strategic opportunity. Veterans bring a deep public service ethos, operational excellence, and the calm needed in complex situations, making them ideal for today's public sector challenges.
22 Jul 2025
The future of fairness: Rethinking hiring in divided times
Despite rising polarisation, UK workers, especially younger generations, are calling for more inclusive, transparent hiring. Tribepad’s Stop The Bias research shows a deep generational divide on fairness, merit and DEI. While younger people support inclusion, they also wrestle with merit-based concerns. Employers must lead with empathy, not slogans, designing systems that remove bias and reward talent. Inclusion and fairness are not opposite, they’re essential, intertwined goals for building trust in recruitment.
22 Jul 2025
From classroom to council: Regional collaboration is the route to a sustainable Local Government workforce
Facing an ageing workforce and growing skills gaps, local government must act now to secure future talent. Through regional collaboration and initiatives like the Learn Live broadcast and Public Sector: I ?? You podcast, WME is helping councils inspire young people to consider purposeful careers in the sector. By embedding outreach into strategy and sharing resources, councils can build a sustainable, diverse workforce to meet community needs.
17 Jun 2025
The storm is getting stronger. Here’s how to keep your people with you.
Coaching can be a critical force for resilience, connection and clarity across every level of local government. This piece explores the emotional impact of system-wide pressure, and shows how coaching is helping people not just survive change, but lead through it with purpose, adaptability and support.
17 Jun 2025
Leading through change: why coaching, culture and leadership matter most in local government reorganisation
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) challenges councils to lead through complexity, not just restructure. It demands strong leadership, cultural clarity, and space for reflection. By investing in people, behaviours, and shared values from day one, councils can turn disruption into opportunity. With the right support, LGR becomes a catalyst for leadership growth, stronger teams, and a more resilient organisation ready to thrive beyond transition.
17 Jun 2025
Award-winning partnership: How collaboration is powering public sector recruitment transformation
West Midlands Employers and Tribepad have won Best Supplier Partnership at the Talent Labs Awards 2025. This recognition highlights the impact of true collaboration in modernising public sector recruitment. Through shared values, open communication, and a growing WMTribe network, 14 councils have already improved speed, inclusivity, and candidate experience—proving that trusted partnerships can transform how local authorities attract, engage, and retain top public sector talent.
15 May 2025
Leadership is no longer linear
The Tri-sector Challenge is a unique leadership simulation that pushes public sector professionals to collaborate under real-world pressures. Participants gain critical skills like rapid decision-making, political acuity, and resilience, working alongside leaders from local government, the NHS, and emergency services. With roles for both participants and volunteers, it’s an opportunity to develop systems thinking, build cross-sector relationships, and drive meaningful change. Join the challenge this September at Molineux Stadium.
15 May 2025
Job Evaluation: It's Not Rocket Science – So Why Is Equal Pay Still a Challenge in Local Government?
Equal pay in local government remains a challenge despite clear frameworks like the Single Status Agreement and job evaluation schemes. The issue often lies in inconsistent local implementation, grade drift, and reduced JE expertise. Councils must commit to transparency, regular audits, and staff training to address these gaps. Long-term fairness requires a strategic approach, not just reactive fixes, to prevent costly claims and rebuild trust in pay equity.