The Pulse

13 May 2026

When routine becomes the problem: Habituation and the case for continuous improvement

Habituation helps us manage the familiar, but at work it can quietly stop teams from questioning routines that no longer serve them. In this article, Steve Jackson explores how Continuous Improvement can help councils create space for small, practical changes led by the people closest to the work. By reducing friction, encouraging experimentation and building ownership, CI offers a low-risk route to stronger engagement, better services and more confident teams.

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13 May 2026

Sexual harassment at work: Being ready for what comes next.

Lorna Wells explores the growing focus on sexual harassment in the workplace and what recent legal changes mean for public sector employers. Drawing on survey findings and emerging case law, the piece examines why incidents continue to go unreported and why compliance alone is no longer enough. It considers how organisations can move beyond policy and training to build cultures rooted in trust, accountability and prevention.

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13 May 2026

The quiet collapse of ‘how we’ve always done it’: Reflections on the PPMA Conference 2026

Reflecting on the PPMA Conference 2026, Rebecca Davis explores how local government is moving beyond familiar ideas of complexity into a more uncertain, people-led future. From reform and AI to workforce capacity and leadership confidence, the article considers why the sector’s ability to adapt will depend not only on structures or funding, but on how seriously organisations invest in people, culture and change.

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30 Apr 2026

West Midlands Employers celebrates multiple national award wins for its resourcing services

West Midlands Employers is celebrating national recognition for its public sector resourcing services, with award success for both WMJobs and its WMTalent Acquisition Service. The achievements highlight WME’s not-for-profit, partnership-led approach to recruitment, supporting organisations to attract talent, improve candidate experience and build sustainable workforce pipelines.

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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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12 May 2026

PS IHEART You Unplugged: English Regions Collaborative: Leading through complexity and change

In the final episode of the Regional Employers Collective PS I HEART You podcast series, Rebecca Davis is joined by Gillian Bishop, Stuart Young and Kelly-Anne Phillips to explore what it means to lead organisations across the English Regions Collaborative. The discussion highlights the opportunities and challenges of working at a regional level, from collaboration and influence to agility, responsiveness and capacity. It also reflects on the importance of trust, relationships and shared values in supporting councils and leading effectively through complexity and change.

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05 May 2026

PS I HEART You Unplugged: Supporting councils through the Regional Collective Offer

Rebecca Davis is joined by Gillian Bishop, Stuart Young and Kelly-Anne Phillips to explore how the English Regions Collaborative supports councils through workforce, HR and leadership challenges. The discussion highlights how collective working helps councils navigate change, build capability and strengthen resilience through shared expertise, trust and regional collaboration.

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30 Apr 2026

West Midlands Employers celebrates multiple national award wins for its resourcing services

West Midlands Employers is celebrating national recognition for its public sector resourcing services, with award success for both WMJobs and its WMTalent Acquisition Service. The achievements highlight WME’s not-for-profit, partnership-led approach to recruitment, supporting organisations to attract talent, improve candidate experience and build sustainable workforce pipelines.

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15 Apr 2026

Resourcing through reform: Keeping services stable while rebuilding the workforce

In this article, Graham Bradley, (MCIPD), explores what it takes for resourcing leaders to keep services stable and capability growing through Local Government Reorganisation. LGR is a public, time bound workforce transition, often under financial constraint and rising demand. This paper distils ten resourcing considerations to help leaders balance internal mobility and targeted recruitment, align to programme dependencies, and manage risk as the new authority takes shape.

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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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