The ability of councils to attract, keep and develop future talent is being hit by the absence of a defined employee value proposition (EVP), The MJ's Future Forum has heard.

Speaking at the event in Hertfordshire, director of interim management and executive search at Tile Hill, Anthony Lewis, highlighted the importance of EVP in the context of a ‘competitive job market'.

Lewis said there was ‘particular concern about the ability to hire into head of service level roles and above, where people are moving from being technical experts into professional leaders'.

He continued: ‘At the same time, we also know local authorities are not investing into leadership programmes or developing strong narratives that make clear the benefits and career opportunities that will come from joining their organisation.'

Lewis told delegates: ‘A lot more can be done to boost the employment brand of the sector, to make sure the amazing work that all of you and your teams are doing gets more celebration.

‘In the post-pandemic world we are seeing mega shifts in what people want from work and how they want to interact with work.

'As a result of that, what they're expecting from their employer is a huge demand for flexibility.

‘And that's not just about hybrid working or where you work from.

'That's increasingly about how they want to work.

'Whether it's a growing conversation around portfolio careers, fractional leadership [to fill part-time or short-term leadership positions] or interim, people want a different relationship with work and we need to reflect on that in our recruitment strategies.'