The Pulse

12 Mar 2026

Leadership: Still a contact sport. Now unmistakenly a team one.

Leadership still carries weight. The pressure and scrutiny haven’t eased. What has changed is the belief that one person can carry it alone. In this article, Matthew Hotten challenges the myth of the heroic leader and argues that modern public sector leadership depends on collective performance. Drawing on the West Midlands Tri-sector Challenge, he explores why leadership must move within teams, especially under pressure, and why organisations must reward it accordingly.

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12 Mar 2026

Employment Rights Act 2025: A New ERA – What Local Government HR Should Focus on Now

Lorna Wells examines what the Employment Rights Act 2025 means for local government HR. The most significant reform of UK employment law in a generation will unfold over several years, from industrial action reform and expanded protections to redundancy and harassment duties. Lorna sets out what matters now, what is coming next, and how councils can prepare steadily and strategically.

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12 Mar 2026

Why quality of matches matters more than quantity of applications in public sector recruitment

In public sector recruitment, success is often measured by how many applications a role receives. But volume does not guarantee quality. In this article, Chloe Herrmannexplores why focusing on genuine engagement, transparency and trust leads to better matches between candidates and employers. By shifting attention from quantity to intent, public sector organisations can improve outcomes, reduce pressure on resourcing teams and build a stronger, more sustainable workforce for the future.

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10 Mar 2026

PS I HEART You: How Leaders Can Build Resilience Through Change

In this episode, Matthew Hotten is joined by WME Associate, speaker and coach Andrew Pain to explore why traditional change models fall short and how personal challenges can build resilience. They discuss the value of honesty, the impact of burnout, and how our response to change in life influences how we lead at work.

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10 Feb 2026

Growing finance talent through apprenticeships at West Midlands Employers

West Midlands Employers is strengthening public sector careers through a finance apprenticeship supporting early career finance talent. New apprentice Ajmer Sidhu is gaining hands-on finance experience while studying for an AAT Level 2 qualification, demonstrating how apprenticeships build practical skills, professional confidence and long-term career pathways.

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05 Dec 2025

West Midlands Employers lead the way on practical AI with new Festival of AI in Practice

West Midlands Employers (WME) has launched the Festival of AI in Practice, a free virtual week (26–30 January 2026) to help councils understand and lead with AI. The programme features keynotes speakers, case studies and sessions showcasing real AI use across the region. Open to all WME shareholder council staff, the festival will demystify AI, explore ethics and governance, and show how technology is improving services such as social care and customer experience.

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10 Mar 2026

PS I HEART You: How Leaders Can Build Resilience Through Change

In this episode, Matthew Hotten is joined by WME Associate, speaker and coach Andrew Pain to explore why traditional change models fall short and how personal challenges can build resilience. They discuss the value of honesty, the impact of burnout, and how our response to change in life influences how we lead at work.

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03 Mar 2026

PS IHEART You: Leading Under Pressure at the Tri-Sector Challenge

In this episode of the Public Sector iHeartYou Podcast, Matthew Hotten from West Midlands Employers is joined by colleagues from Worcester City Council, winners of the 2025 Tri-Sector Challenge. They reflect on their experience of taking part in a high, intensity leadership simulation designed to replicate the pressures of senior decision making in local government. The discussion explores strategic thinking, cross, service collaboration, and the organisational benefits of shared learning. For councils considering entering future Challenges, this episode provides insight into how experiential development can strengthen leadership capability and morale.

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10 Feb 2026

PS IHEART You Unplugged: Building Careers, Connections and Confidence in Local Government

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, is joined by Julie Towers, Director at Penna. Julie shares insights from her career in local government recruitment, exploring networking, employer brand, senior leadership readiness, reorganisation, and why values, place and diversity matter in today’s councils.

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31 Jan 2025

WMJobs Fair 2025 Attendee Interviews

Watch the WMJobs fair highlights for 2025 and the attendee interviews.

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25 Nov 2024

'I Am Not A Robot' Coaching and Mentoring conference 2024

Discover how the 'I Am Not A Robot' Coaching and Mentoring Conference by West Midlands Employers explored the balance between human intuition and digital tools.

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24 Sep 2024

Tri-Sector Challenge 2024

Join us as we reflect on the Tri-Sector Challenge; a unique leadership event bringing together the public, private, and third sectors to solve real-world challenges.

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