Public Sector I HEART You

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.