The Pulse

16 Sep 2026

Why Equality, Diversion & Inclusion starts with recruitment: Building inclusion before day one

Graham Bradley explores how inclusive recruitment supports Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) by removing barriers, reducing bias and widening access to public sector careers. The article highlights practical approaches, including inclusive job design, structured interviews and data-driven decision-making, to help organisations attract broader talent pools and build workforces that better reflect the communities they serve.

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16 Sep 2026

The hardest part of moving forward? Knowing what to leave behind

Moving forward isn’t always about embracing the next change. Sometimes it starts with deciding what to leave behind. Michelle O’Neill explores the idea of the pivot: the point where we let go, reframe what’s in front of us and find a different direction. For people, that means finding balance when things move. For organisations, it means creating the space to question old assumptions and make better choices about what comes next.

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16 Sep 2026

Stronger communities start with stronger connections

Rebecca Davis reflects on the first West Midlands Community Cohesion Summit, highlighting how trusted relationships, shared learning and practical support can help public sector colleagues respond confidently to complex community challenges. She explores the importance of addressing misinformation, building trust before issues arise and finding common ground, while emphasising that stronger communities depend on continued collaboration and a resilient workforce.

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03 Aug 2026

Finding a permenant solution to a temporary problem

WMTemps is helping councils across the West Midlands transform the way they recruit temporary staff. Since launching in 2022, the regional partnership has reduced agency spend, increased permanent recruitment and strengthened collaboration between local authorities. In this news piece, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, reflects on WMTemps' journey and explains how its partnership approach is creating a more resilient, sustainable workforce model that has the potential to be replicated across local government.

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24 Jul 2026

Stronger Together: Strengthening local Government through regional collaboration

Rebecca Davis outlines why collaboration is local government’s greatest strength – And how regional owned and led organisations have never been more important.

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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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30 Jun 2026

PS IHEART You: Unlocking hidden talent in councils

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Michelle O’Neill is joined by Jo Grocott from the City of Wolverhampton Council to discuss how organisations can develop future leaders from within. They explore the Our Future Leaders programme and the importance of giving people practical experience, building confidence, and creating supportive environments to help talent grow.

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09 Jun 2026

PS IHEART You: Balancing AI and trust in senior recruitment

Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, is joined by Steve, Director of Recruitment and Delivery at Solace in Business, and Jess Mullinger, Executive Director of Sector Support at Solace in Business. Together they explore how AI is shaping executive recruitment in local government, where it can improve efficiency and widen talent pools, and where risks around bias, authenticity and public trust remain. They also discuss pressures in the senior recruitment market and why succession planning, talent pipelines and human judgement continue to be central to effective public sector leadership.

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02 Jun 2026

PS IHEART You: From apprenticeship to career in local government

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Chloe Herrmman is joined by Daisy Killian from Warwick District Council, Aman Sandhu from City of Wolverhampton Council, and Will Oldham from the Local Government Association to explore how apprenticeships can open the door to long-term careers in local government. They share real early-career journeys alongside national insight into recruitment and retention, highlighting progression opportunities and the importance of raising awareness of apprenticeships for young people.

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30 Jun 2026

PS IHEART You: Unlocking hidden talent in councils

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Michelle O’Neill is joined by Jo Grocott from the City of Wolverhampton Council to discuss how organisations can develop future leaders from within. They explore the Our Future Leaders programme and the importance of giving people practical experience, building confidence, and creating supportive environments to help talent grow.

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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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30 Jun 2026

PS IHEART You: Unlocking hidden talent in councils

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Michelle O’Neill is joined by Jo Grocott from the City of Wolverhampton Council to discuss how organisations can develop future leaders from within. They explore the Our Future Leaders programme and the importance of giving people practical experience, building confidence, and creating supportive environments to help talent grow.

Read more