Public Sector I HEART You

In the final episode of the Regional Employers Collective PS I ❤️ You podcast series, and as part of the English Regions Collaborative, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive at West Midlands Employers, is joined by Gillian Bishop, Chief Executive at North West Employers, Stuart Young, Executive Director at East Midlands Councils, and Kelly-Anne Phillips, Director of Policy and Internal Services at South West Councils.Together they reflect on what it means to lead across regions, from the opportunities to collaborate and influence, to the realities of working across complex systems with limited capacity. The conversation explores the balance between agility and stability, the importance of trusted relationships, and the values that underpin effective leadership in local government.For chief executives and senior leaders, this final episode offers an honest and practical perspective on leading through complexity and change.

In this episode of the Regional Employers Collective PS I ❤️ You podcast series, and as part of the English Regions Collaborative, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive at West Midlands Employers, is joined by Gillian Bishop, Chief Executive at North West Employers, Stuart Young, Executive Director at East Midlands Councils, and Kelly-Anne Phillips, Director of Policy and Internal Services at South West Councils.The conversation highlights the practical realities of leading in a complex and evolving local government landscape, and the role of collaboration in enabling access to expertise, shared learning and trusted support.For chief executives and workforce leaders, this episode offers insight into how working collectively can support organisations through change and strengthen leadership across the sector.

In this episode of the Regional Employers Collective PS I ❤️ You Unplugged podcast series, and as part of the English Regions Collaborative, Rebecca Davis is joined by Gillian Bishop, Stuart Young and Kelly-Anne Phillips.Together they explore how regional organisations support councils through policy, lobbying and consultation, acting as trusted advocates between local government and national stakeholders to shape policy and strengthen a collective voice.For chief executives and national partners, the episode offers insight into how regional collaboration strengthens influence and ensures local priorities are heard nationally.

In the first episode of the Regional Employers Collective PS I ❤️ You Unplugged podcast series, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive at West Midlands Employers, is joined by Gillian Bishop, Chief Executive at North West Employers, Stuart Young, Executive Director at East Midlands Councils, and Kelly-Anne Phillips, Director of Policy and Internal Services at South West Councils.Together they explore the unique role regional employer organisations play in supporting councils, convening partners and representing regional priorities at both regional and national level.The conversation offers valuable insight for chief executives and national partners into how regional collaboration strengthens leadership across the sector, delivers value and impact for members and communities, and relies on the agility, trust and relationships needed to operate across complex regional systems.

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Matthew Hotten, Senior Consultant at West Midlands Employers, is joined by Andrew Pain, WME Associate, speaker and coach with a passion for helping people embrace change.They explore how personal challenges, from food box choices to skydiving, help build the kind of emotional resilience needed in public sector leadership. Andrew shares insights on why change is rarely linear, the impact of the Stockdale Paradox, and the importance of leading with compassion when supporting teams through uncertainty.

In this episode of the Public Sector I ♥️ You Podcast, Matthew Hotten, Senior Consultant at West Midlands Employers, is joined by members of the winning team from Worcester City Council following the 2025 Tri-Sector Challenge.Thalia, Allotment Officer, Craig, Building Services Engineer, and Ben, Communications Officer, share their experience of stepping into a high, pressure leadership simulation designed to mirror the realities of senior management in local government.They reflect on strategic decision making, managing competing priorities, handling media scrutiny, and the value of cross, departmental collaboration. The conversation also explores how experiential learning can deepen understanding of leadership pressures and strengthen organisational culture.This episode offers practical insight into building strategic capability and fostering stronger, more connected teams.

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, is joined by Julie Towers, Director at Penna. Julie shares insights from her career in local government and executive recruitment, exploring networking, employer brand, senior leadership readiness, reorganisation, and why values, place and diversity matter for the future of public sector leadership.

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Manny Sandhu, Director of Leadership & OD at West Midlands Employers, is joined by Shakil Butt, experienced HR Director, author of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Explained, and lecturer in Strategic HRM at Birmingham City University.They explore the realities of equity, diversity and inclusion in public sector organisations, including where EDI sits, why many approaches fall short, and how to embed inclusion into the fabric of leadership, policy and decision-making.With honesty, practical advice and a strong call for accountability, Shak shares why performative gestures don’t deliver change, and what truly inclusive organisations must do differently.Ideal for public sector leaders, HR professionals, and anyone passionate about creating equitable workplaces.

In this episode of the PS I ❤️ You podcast, Matthew and Michelle take a deep dive into the often-overlooked discipline of strategic workforce planning. They explore why it’s crucial for councils facing demographic change, AI disruption, and hybrid work challenges.From intergenerational knowledge sharing to the risks of shadow AI, they explore how public sector organisations can plan 3–5 years ahead, and why workforce planning must be a shared, continuous conversation, not a one-off project.Podcast, Matthew and Michelle take a deep dive into the often-overlooked discipline of strategic workforce planning. They explore why it’s crucial for councils facing demographic change, AI disruption, and hybrid work challenges.From intergenerational knowledge sharing to the risks of shadow AI, they explore how public sector organisations can plan 3–5 years ahead, and why workforce planning must be a shared, continuous conversation, not a one-off project.

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, is joined by Emma Bennett, Chief Executive at Walsall Council.Emma shares her personal and professional journey, from her roots in social work to becoming the first locally born chief executive of Walsall. They explore leadership visibility, empowering workforce culture, building partnerships, and putting resident voice at the heart of transformation.This is an essential listen for anyone interested in leadership, place-based working, and supporting women into senior roles in local government.

In this episode, Matthew Hotten is joined by Sue Chilton, Chief People Officer at Coventry City Council, and Elizabeth Lisle, Director at ELA Development Consultancy, for a deep dive into how organisations can create a culture that genuinely supports people and performance.They discuss Coventry’s Owning and Driving Performance (ODP) programme, the importance of leadership modelling, and the role of values, consistency, and behaviour in shaping workplace culture. Whether you’re a senior leader, HR professional or OD specialist, this conversation is packed with practical insight for long-term, people-led change.

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Michelle O’Neill (Principal Consultant, WME) sits down with AI educator Heather Murray for an honest and human-centred conversation about AI in councils.Rather than focusing on tools or trends, they discuss how to build confidence, create safe spaces for experimentation, and remove fear from AI adoption.This episode is for public sector leaders who want to explore AI without losing the people-first mindset. From HR to IT, from senior leaders to new starters — everyone has a role to play in making AI work for us, not just with us.If you're a shareholder council, you can join us at The Festival AI in January 2026 to learn more about how AI can support you and your teams. Find out more

In this episode of the WME Podcast, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, is joined by Jason Lowther, Director at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Local Government Studies, and Mo Baines, Chief Executive of APSE.Together they explore how councils can make better use of data and analytics, the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence in local government, and the role of devolution in shaping the future of communities. They also discuss why a national workforce strategy is urgently needed to address skills gaps and strengthen local government for the years ahead.

In this episode of PS I ❤️ You Unplugged, we explore the power of small, consistent habits in building resilience, wellbeing, and performance.Matthew from West Midlands Employers is joined by Kat Thorne, The Morning Game Changer, who shares her personal journey from corporate burnout to creating lasting behaviour change. Together, they discuss how individuals and organisations can embed positive daily practices that drive long-term results.💡 Key discussion points:The impact of small daily habits on resilience and wellbeingThe role of accountability in sustaining changeHow organisations can support healthy routines in the workplacePractical strategies for improving focus, energy, and performanceThis episode offers valuable insights for leaders, managers, and professionals who want to strengthen personal resilience, support workforce wellbeing, and foster a culture of sustainable performance.

In this episode of PS I ❤️ You Unplugged, Rebecca Davis (Chief Executive, West Midlands Employers) is joined by Brad Sinclair (Managing Director, Opus People Solutions) to explore how councils can transform agency provision into a strategic asset. They unpack the challenges and opportunities of temporary recruitment, share insights from the WMTemps framework, and show how investing in people can deliver better value, stronger communities, and a future-fit public sector workforce. 

In this inspiring and down-to-earth episode of PS I Heart You Unplugged, host Rebecca Davis (Chief Executive, West Midlands Employers) sits down with Tim Johnson, Chief Executive of the City of Wolverhampton Council, for a candid conversation on the future of local government.With over 30 years of experience, Tim shares personal stories of career highs and hard-won lessons, his belief in values-led leadership, and why investing in people is key to building resilient organisations. From developing future leaders to navigating the political landscape and driving regional collaboration, Tim offers practical advice and hopeful insights for public sector professionals at all stages of their careers.

In this episode of The Public Sector I Heart You Unplugged podcast, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, sits down with Ian Miller, Chief Executive of Wyre Forest District Council. With over 25 years in local government, Ian shares his leadership journey, from shaping key legislation in Wales to driving shared services and transformation in Worcestershire.Together, they explore pressing issues facing the sector: local government reorganisation, the reality behind devolution, finance reform, and the importance of keeping services truly local.

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, is joined by Peter Cheese, Chief Executive of the CIPD. Together, they explore the evolving world of work, from the rise of AI and hybrid working to skills shortages and the importance of ethical leadership.Peter shares reflections from his global career, insights on public vs private sector workforce development, and how CIPD is influencing government policy and empowering the next generation of people professionals. A must-listen for anyone shaping the future of HR in the public sector.

In this episode of PS I ❤️ You, Manny Sandhu, Director of Resourcing at West Midlands Employers, sits down with Shoshana Davies — widely known as The Fairy Job Mother — for a powerful conversation about the Gen Z experience of entering the world of work.The discussion shines a light on the hopes, doubts, and challenges facing young people as they start their careers, and explores what employers can do to create more supportive, inclusive and confidence-building recruitment journeys.

In this thought-provoking episode of PS I ❤️ You, Michelle O’Neill, Matthew Hotten and Nick Rice (Warwickshire County Council ) dive into how ‘squiggly’ careers and talent mobility can help shape a more agile, inclusive and future-ready public sector. From Gen Z’s evolving career expectations to the changing face of leadership and learning in the age of AI, the trio explore how we can unlock potential across the workforce.

In this episode of Public Sector I Heart You, we explore how employers can attract and retain Gen Z in the workplace with insights from Shoshana at Fairy Job Mother. We discuss what Gen Z values at work, why they are often misunderstood, and how councils and public sector organisations can rethink their recruitment and retention strategies. From using social media to engage young talent to breaking down career progression myths, this conversation highlights practical steps to future-proof the workforce. If you work in HR, recruitment, or leadership, this episode is essential listening. 

Join Rebecca Davis, CEO of West Midlands Employers, and organisational culture expert Stephanie Wheeler as they unpack what truly drives employee engagement and how leaders can shape a thriving workplace. 

How can local government bridge the gap between today’s workforce and a digitally native, sustainability-focused Generation Alpha?In this episode, Michelle O’Neill and Matthew Hotten unpack bold ideas like ditching job descriptions, embracing flexible careers, and aligning values with the next generation. 

Join us for the latest episode of West Midlands Employers' Public Sector I ♥️ You Unplugged podcast, where Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive at West Midlands Employers, chats with Paul Johnson, Chief Executive of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. With 43 years in local government, Paul shares career highlights, including grassroots community projects and leading transformative regional initiatives. The conversation delves into leadership lessons, fostering social mobility, and inspiring the next generation of local government leaders.

Join Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive at West Midlands Employers as she sits down with Stephen Gabriel, Chief Executive of Tamworth Borough Council, to discuss his 30+ years in local government. From his early days on the frontline to leading a council, Stephen reflects on the lessons he’s learned, the challenges he’s faced, and the importance of staying connected to the community

We'll be diving into "End Ghosting: A Future Employee or Customer"—a critical topic for anyone involved in recruitment and customer engagement. Joining us will be Katrina Whitby, Talent Acquisition Consultant with West Midlands Employers , and guest speaker Neil Armstrong from Tribepad 

In this first episode of Public Sector I HEART You ‘Unplugged’, Rebecca Davis sits down with Joanna Killian, Chief Executive of the Local Government Association, to explore her inspiring journey from housing officer to leading the LGA.

Join Michelle O’Neill and Matt Hotten as they focus on the critical steps Local Governments must take to stay ahead. From evolving talent strategies to transforming policies, they explore what it takes to be future ready.