In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Michelle O’Neill, Principal Consultant in Leadership and Organisational Development, is joined by Jo Grocott, Head of People Development and Experience at the City of Wolverhampton Council.

They explore how the council is developing its leadership pipeline through the Our Future Leaders programme, which supports aspiring leaders across the organisation.

The conversation highlights the importance of practical experience, supportive learning environments, and building confidence in people as they develop their skills. It provides useful reflections for organisations looking to strengthen their workforce and support future growth.

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.