“WHEN THE WINDS OF CHANGE BLOW, SOME PEOPLE BUILD WALLS AND OTHERS BUILD WINDMILLS…..”

Over the summer Michelle O’Neill and Matthew Hotten have been out and about in the region engaging with our shareholder members and sparking thought-provoking conversations around the theme of “Windmills, Not Walls”.

The core message resonates powerfully: building walls in an attempt to protect ourselves from the winds of change is futile and counterproductive. Instead, we must embrace these winds and harness their energy by constructing windmills – metaphorical representations of our ability to adapt, innovate, and thrive amidst transformation.

As the public sector continues to evolve, the WME L&OD team is committed to supporting our members thrive in this dynamic environment.  The roadshow has been a resounding success, with fascinating conversations ranging from how artificial intelligence is impacting our sector and how it will evolve, to squiggly careers and the death of traditional job descriptions igniting a renewed sense of excitement about the future of public service.

Everyone has expressed their appreciation for the thought-provoking content and the opportunity to engage in candid dialogue. It’s been reassuring to hear that we are all thinking very similar things and that none of us are experts. Still, everyone sees the opportunity to collaborate – to ‘stay and play’ – and to share success and setbacks across our region.

There’s been no shortage of ambition in the West Midlands, and by embracing the winds of change and constructing metaphorical windmills, we can harness the energy of transformation and pave the way for a more resilient, innovative, and impactful public sector.

If you didn’t get the chance to be a part of the roadshows, you’re still very welcome to invite Michelle and Matthew. All we need is about 90 minutes of your time and a room. The rest you can leave to them.

Michelle O’Neill, Principal Consultant, West Midlands Employers