Title

HUMAN RESOURCES

Commercial nous with public service values

The bottom line should never be the top priority, for the private or public sector, writes Yvonne Skingle

Many authorities are now seeking more commercial talent and attitudes in their organisations as they try to do more with less. We focus specifically through our recruitment, to transition private sector candidates to the public sector. What our clients really want, of course, is commercial nous with public service values.

From my six years of working at Penna I know this is possible. We are a recruiter with personality, which means we operate as a collaborative team, with strong commercial knowledge, personal conviction and commitment to the public sector.

For example, I wouldn't be in this job if I didn't win work, but I achieve this by focusing on my passion for improving public services.

Given that we work with elected members and chief executives to appoint to the top roles and then support organisational people trans-formation, we are able to see the impact our work has made on local communities, partners, businesses, operating models, and workforce cultures. This drives my and our success.

I can think of places where our work has helped to transform locality and organisation – through recruitment of new modern leaders who work together to change a place for the better. Our commercial thinking is genuinely enabling public service outcomes.

The bottom line, in our experience, should never be the top priority, for the private or public sector. In our experience, values drive success.

Yvonne Skingle is director at Penna

yvonne.skingle@penna.com

HUMAN RESOURCES

Beyond the safety net: Embedding prevention at the core of social care reform

By Tom Stannard | 20 March 2026

If we are serious about building sustainable public services and improving outcomes for our communities, early intervention cannot remain a long-term ambitio...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Company clusters: the key to success

By Vasant Chari | 20 March 2026

Backing high-growth potential businesses in the Black Country and elsewhere is vital for boosting regional economies, says Vasant Chari.

HUMAN RESOURCES

The process for fiscal devolution is clear and the deadline is real

By Mike Emmerich | 20 March 2026

Mike Emmerich says that while much remains unresolved, the Chancellor’s proposition to give local leaders a direct fiscal stake in growth was a shift from rh...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Public wi-fi's critical role

By Gavin Wheeldon | 19 March 2026

Digital inclusion is about giving people the infrastructure, skills and support they need to be able to use essential services, says Gavin Wheeldon.

Popular articles by Yvonne Skingle