Posted on: 27/01/2025

News

Fair at the Library of Birmingham on 23rd January 2025. The event brought together 14 councils and public sector organisations, attracting over 2,000 visitors

The event brought together public sector organisations from across the West Midlands to showcase rewarding careers in local government and the public sector

West Midlands Employers host inaugural WMJobs Regional Public Sector Job Fair The event brought together public sector organisations from across the West Midlands to showcase rewarding careers in local government and the public sector.

 Over 2,000 visitors estimated to have attended the jobs fair

 14 organisations exhibited at the event

 There are over 1,000 jobs currently available for application on WMJobs.co.uk today

West Midlands Employers (WME) is celebrating the success of their first-ever WMJobs Regional Public Sector Job Fair, which took place at the Library of Birmingham, on Thursday 23rd January 2025.

A collaborative event, bringing together 14 prominent councils and public sector organisations from across the West Midlands, it celebrated and showcased the breadth of rewarding local career opportunities available in local government and the public sector. The jobs fair marks a significant step in regional collaboration to support local job seekers and strengthen our public sector workforce.

It was also a major benchmark in the ongoing efforts that WME has undertaken to connect passionate individuals with careers that bring real value to local communities.

Councillor Gwilym Butler, Chair of West Midlands Employers Management Boards for Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin, said: “Events like this are so important because there’s often a misconception that working in the public sector might be dull, but it’s the complete opposite. There are incredible opportunities, great benefits, and a real sense of belonging. You’re not just an employee; you’re part of a supportive family. Bringing public sector organisations together at events like this allows candidates to truly explore the diverse and rewarding careers available to them.”

Aligning with the Local Government Association's national Make a Difference, Work for Your Local Council campaign, and bringing its vision to life in the West Midlands, the event was an inspiring opportunity for jobseekers to truly engage with public sector workers and hear first hand what it's like to be involved in local government organisations.

Visiting jobseeker, Hassan, said: "I'm looking for a part-time job. I was very happy and very glad to find somewhere I can talk with people, ask questions and find some solution to finding a part-time job. I grabbed some information; leaflets, got websites and met some organisations that maybe could help me to find work."

WMJobs has done much to raise its profile and to connect people with opportunities in recent years, showcasing the breadth of employment available from entry level to graduate level and professional roles, as well as the benefits of working in local government bodies, including a reverence for work/life balance. The event's turnout was testament to those efforts and the growing strength of the brand.

Manny Sandhu, Director of Resourcing at West Midlands Employers, said: “Today has been an incredible event with a much larger turnout than we expected. It’s been a fantastic opportunity to see how many people are genuinely interested in public sector careers, wanting to make a difference and have an impact. What’s been really encouraging is hearing from our partners who’ve been exhibiting — they’ve shared how many opportunities are available and expressed the importance of creating more ways to meet directly with communities to showcase these opportunities.”

As well as supporting jobseekers and individuals looking for a career change, the event was a welcome chance for recruiters to meet potential candidates, communicate the character of their organisation and staff within it, and share the benefits of working in the public sector, from flexible working and a work-life balance, to working to support local community.

Chloe Herrmann, Principal Consultant and Resourcing Lead at WMJobs, said: "For recruiters, working together and attending an event like this is far more impactful than working in isolation. By bringing candidates and public sector organisations together, we’ve showcased a vast number of vacancies across a wide geographic area. With a variety of councils and public sector organisations represented, there are numerous diverse roles that need talented individuals from all backgrounds to fill them. This approach enables us all to reach a much broader audience effectively.”

Attending organisations included:

• Bromsgrove and Redditch Councils
• Herefordshire Council
• Rugby Borough Council
• Sandwell Council
• Stratford-Upon-Avon District Council 
• South Staffordshire District Council 
• Staffordshire County Council 
• Warwickshire County Council 
• Walsall Council
• Birmingham City Council
• Worcestershire County Council
• Birmingham Children’s Trust
• SIPS Education
• WMTemps

Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, Rebecca Davis and Chair of WME Management Boards, Cllr Gwilym Butler Following the event's success West Midlands Employers promises that further WMJobs events are in the pipeline. In the meantime, they continue to highlight job opportunities on their award-winning jobs board, WMJobs.co.uk.

The platform showcased more than 22,000 job opportunities and attracted over 2.3 million job seekers in 2024.

Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive West Midlands Employers, said: “It was a powerful reminder of why job fairs remain vital in our digital age. Watching thousands of jobseekers pour into our first WMJobs Fair was incredible. They came to connect with the region's councils and public sector employers. The popularity of the event showed the irreplaceable value of human connection in recruitment.”