Thought Leadership
12 Feb 2026
Sharing Interview Questions: Fairness, Transparency or Too Far?
Is sharing interview questions a step towards fairness, or does it risk undermining effective selection? This article explores the growing debate around transparency in recruitment, balancing candidate experience with robust assessment. Drawing on resourcing practice and inclusion principles, Graham Bradley considers reasonable adjustments, role expectations and hybrid approaches, and why there may be no single ‘right’ answer, only better, more thoughtful conversations.
12 Feb 2026
From Faithless to Fearless: Reflections from the Festival of AI in Practice
Michelle O’Neill reflects on the Festival of AI in Practice and what it revealed about AI in local government. Across five days and 1,600+ participants, the message was clear: AI is a people and leadership issue, not just a digital one. The article explores readiness over speed, the importance of purpose and “return on intention”, and the need for honest conversations about adoption, equity and governance. From Copilot rollouts to AI amnesty and behaviour change, Michelle argues that intentional, human-centred leadership is what turns AI from hype into meaningful transformation.
15 Jan 2026
Making reasonable adjustments work: What recent tribunal decisions tell us
These cases show that good practice in disability management isn’t just about avoiding risk, it’s about how we engage with people, understand their needs and make thoughtful, evidence-based decisions. Lorna Wells explores two recent tribunal cases that demonstrate employers getting it right, offering practical lessons for local authorities navigating complex neurodiversity and adjustment requests. The article highlights what meaningful engagement looks like and why clarity and fairness matter for both people and organisations
15 Jan 2026
Transformation from the Inside Out: Building HR capacity for successful Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Local Government Reorganisation is one of the most demanding transformations councils will undertake, yet HR teams, responsible for guiding people through change, are often the least supported. In this article, Rachael Simpson explores why HR capacity is a strategic risk, not a functional detail, and how leadership teams can strengthen the people foundations that determine whether LGR succeeds. It offers practical guidance drawn from real programmes and highlights the investment, influence and support HR teams need to deliver lasting organisational stability.
15 Jan 2026
It’s Time to Rethink Change Management: From Managing Projects to Growing Conditions
Change management has helped councils bring structure to uncertainty for decades, but the world has shifted. Change is no longer an event to manage; it’s the environment we all operate in. Michelle O'Neill explores why traditional models are no longer enough and how leaders can build the conditions where people feel safe, able to learn, experiment and adapt. Because when change is constant, our real advantage is the environment we grow, not the processes we control.
11 Dec 2025
The Power of Partnership: How Regional Collaboration is Shaping the Future of Local Government Talent
Local government is facing a critical moment in its talent pipeline, and early collaboration may be the key to changing the story. In this article, Chloe Herrmann explores how the LGA and WMCA early careers pilot is reshaping how councils reach young people long before they enter the job market. By bringing together national branding, regional expertise and authentic local voices, the campaign demonstrates the real power of partnership. It shows why councils investing now, collectively, will be the ones who secure the talent they need tomorrow. A forward look at what’s possible , and a call to think differently about workforce futures.
11 Dec 2025
Redefining Candidate Experience - Making recruitment feel human again
Guest writer, Paula McInally from West Midlands Combined Authority, reframes candidate experience as the true measure of modern recruitment, showing how small human moments build trust, confidence and lasting engagement. Personal contact, inclusive adjustments and accessible processes benefit candidates through clarity and dignity. For employers, they strengthen reputation, widen access, improve outcomes and position recruitment as a strategic lever for culture and community trust.
11 Dec 2025
Beyond Breakfast: Why Culture and Strategy Are Part of the Same Meal
In her latest article, Michelle O’Neill explores why public sector transformation succeeds only when the human experience and organisational direction move in sync. She highlights how coaching and mentoring create the space people need to process uncertainty, rebuild identity and connect emotionally with what change means for them, not just the system.