A recent roundtable event hosted by the Public Services People Management Association and Commercial Services Group brought together senior local government leaders from several councils to discuss how they attract, develop and keep the next generation of talent through collaborative, sustainable workforce strategies.
The challenges are well known; an aging workforce, insufficient attraction of young talent, hard to fill roles with high attrition levels, pointing to future succession planning risks. All agreed that workforce planning is not just a HR responsibility but an organisational and financial imperative. Budget pressures can drive short-term decisions leading to cuts in development programmes rather than a collective and strategic approach for attracting and nurturing future leaders.
A key discussion topic was the lack of interest in local government careers, especially among the purpose driven younger generation entering the workforce for the first time. We know councils make positive contributions to society therefore local government should be an employer of choice. However, it was felt that councils are not good at storytelling how they ‘make a difference', perhaps from fear of criticism. All agreed there was a need for a better sector-wide narrative around the community impact, career opportunities and professional development councils offer.
Positive actions came from the event that corporate teams can take now. First a move away from short term fixes towards longer term workforce planning is needed. This can be linked to council-wide strategic priorities across a five-to-10-year period, helping to address current challenges, while attracting and identifying future leaders earlier. More investment will be needed in early careers such as apprenticeships and clearer career pathways. Finally a more collaborative approach across councils will help to deliver improved sector storytelling to promote local government as a rewarding and impactful place to find a purposeful career.
It's important to recognise that councils are not alone; partners such as HR Connect, part of Commercial Services Group, can support with both strategic planning and help with social impact. Driving best value for local government through their support and services, enabling more opportunities for the public sector to deliver their strategic goals.
Gill Nye is Managing Director, HR Connect – Part of Commercial Services Group
