Faced with mounting recruitment challenges, UK councils are increasingly using market supplements and golden handshakes to attract and retain talent in hard-to-fill roles. These financial incentives once rare are now central to workforce strategy, especially in social care, planning, and legal services. But their use raises ethical questions around pay equity, transparency, and sustainability. This blog explores how councils can deploy these tools strategically and responsibl

Local government faces a growing leadership challenge not just in attracting talent, but in how we recruit it. Drawing on Stuart Longbottom’s research, this blog explores why traditional e-recruitment methods often fail to deliver the right fit at executive level, and what councils can do differently. From prioritising character over credentials to rethinking candidate experience, it’s time to modernise how we hire.

In a time of rising demand, shrinking budgets, and workforce shortages, local government finance directors face a new challenge: building resilient teams that can thrive under pressure. This blog explores how to recruit, retain, and empower finance professionals, not just to survive the storm, but to lead through it.

As the recruitment market becomes increasingly saturated, and local authorities face mounting financial pressures, it is time to ask a...

With the English Devolution White Paper advocating for universal coverage by strategic authorities and a strong governmental preference...

Local government is not just a tier of administration - it is the living, breathing interface between democracy and daily life. It is...

In today’s complex and fast-evolving public service landscape, local authorities are under increasing pressure to deliver more with less...