In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You Podcast, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, is joined by Steve Guest, Director of Recruitment and Delivery at Solace in Business, and Jess Mullinger, Executive Director of Sector Support at Solace in Business.

They explore how artificial intelligence is influencing executive recruitment in local government, where it can add value and where human judgement must remain central. The discussion covers ethical considerations, bias, assessment processes, public trust and the growing pressures in the senior recruitment market.

The episode also looks at succession planning, talent pipelines and how AI could help widen access to public sector leadership roles without losing authenticity or values.

A must‑listen for public sector leaders, HR professionals and anyone involved in senior recruitment and workforce strategy.

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, host Chloe Herrmann is joined by Daisy Killian from Warwick District Council, Aman Sandhu from City of Wolverhampton Council, and Will Oldham from the Local Government Association.

They discuss how local government apprenticeships can lead to sustainable, long‑term careers, the importance of raising awareness of early career routes, and the challenges councils face in building future talent pipelines.

Drawing on both personal experience and national insight, the conversation highlights why supporting early career talent is critical to workforce resilience and the future of public service.

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.