21st century problems require 21st century solutions, and nowhere proves this as effectively as the public sector. Whether its using the latest technology to guide policy decisions, or simply making the sector more environmentally friendly, digital and data offer the answers to many of the questions being asked of public sector organisations. Martin Dolce and Dan Westley, from Oracle UK, joined host Dan Benn to talk about the work that Oracle are doing to support cloud, data, and digitisation...

Devolution is offering regions the opportunity to control more of the decisions that are being made locally, with communities reaping the benefits of every combined authority that pops up around the country. Established in March 2017, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is one of the most recently established combined authorities and it follows in the footsteps of areas such as Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and the Liverpool City Region. For the 53rd episode of the Public Sector Executive...

The state of council finances is one of the most pressing issues across the public sector right now. As councils face bankruptcy, cut funding and reduced services, and the demands for those services from communities pile on the pressure, the government is set to announce its budget for the next financial year. In the 52nd episode of the Public Sector Executive Podcast Cllr Pete Marland joins host Dan Benn to discuss the challenges that councils face.  Pete is Chair of the LGA’s Economy and...

It is the role of local government leaders to make the decisions that will best deliver for the communities that they represent. That much is obvious. How can they do this, however, if they are not accurately representative of those very communities? Great strides have been made in ensuring that everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, or social class is represented in some way within local government. Chief Executive of Westminster City Council Stuart Love joins host Dan Benn...

In the 50th episode of the Public Sector Executive Podcast, Leader of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council Cllr Anne Handley talks about the upcoming devolution deal for the region and what it can bring to East Yorkshire. Councillor Handley delved into the potential that East Yorkshire holds, ongoing transport issues and, touching on just how important the deal is for the region, said: “It’s really important. We are the last part of Yorkshire to actually have any kind of deal… “…We need the...

On the latest episode of the Public Sector Executive Podcast, Councillor Amanda Hopgood joins host Dan Benn to discuss the devolution deal that has been secured for the North East of England. As the Leader of Durham County Council, Amanda is brilliantly placed to talk about all of the main facets of such an important deal, especially with £4.2 billion of investment coming into the region. Speaking on this investment, Amanda said: “[It’s] absolutely immense for a region like ours that sadly,...

As central government aims for the UK to be net zero by 2050, councils around the country make plans for how to reduce emissions. This episode’s guest, Oldham’s Councillor Abdul Jabbar outlines the importance of coming together to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint, the benefits of achieving net zero, and how Oldham Council are working to do just that. Touching on the role that the public sector can play in sustainability, Cllr Jabbar said: “I think it’s really important that the public...

The Leader of Liverpool City Council Liam Robinson spoke to PSE’s Dan Benn about the importance of transport links being decided locally, the homelessness crisis that is only worsening across the country, the financial pressure that many councils find themselves under and lots more. Speaking about the cancellation of HS2, Liam said: “I think we’ve found the process predominantly over the course of the last six to seven years very, very frustrating with the way that the North of England,...

In 2020, most of the world stopped. People were forced to stay at home and many people were furloughed. This episode's guest, however, was thrown into the forefront of the government's response to to the Covid-19 pandemic, leading the tracing system and working alongside local and central government bodies. Host Dan Benn is joined by Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, to discuss loyalty, the pressures of Covid-19, and the importance of transport to a city like Leeds.

In this episode of the Public Sector Executive Podcast, host Dan Benn is joined by Martin Cresswell (Chair of the Lampton Group) and Shantanu Rajawat (Leader of London Borough of Hounslow Council) as they discuss the importance of innovation in the public sector. Shantanu, Martin and Dan also touch on the topic of Local Authority Trading Companies, their effectiveness, and how they support innovation and development.

On episode 44 of the Public Sector Executive Podcast, host Dan Benn was joined by former Lord Mayor of Manchester, Carl Austin-Behan OBE. Carl spoke about everything ranging from his time in the RAF, being Manchester’s first openly gay Lord Mayor, and the important work he does now, with the LGBT Foundation. Speaking on his time in the Royal Air Force, Carl said “they just sat me down and said ‘ do you have homosexual tendencies?’ In that split second I had to make my decision, whether I was...

On episode 43 of the Public Sector Executive Podcast, Lucy Trueman, Managing Director of Trueman Change, joined host Dan Benn to discuss all things relating to organisational culture. Lucy touched on everything from how to identify the culture within your organisation and how to be aware of the messages you are sending to other employees, to the shifting culture of the modern workplace. Touching on how to work on changing a culture's organisation, Lucy said: "Step one is definitely to get...

Conservative borough councillor, 19-year-old Harrison Allman-Varty. They discussed the importance of politics to young people, his priorities, and taking a common-sense approach to planning.  “I think conservative councillors are in a tricky position.” Harrison said when talking about one thing that he regards as one of the most important things for councillors to do. “They’re in a tricky position because they want to protect the green belt as a fundamental thing and they want to conserve...

In this episode of the PSE Podcast, host Dan Benn talks to Shailen Popat, Director of the Msc in Public Management at the University of Birmingham, about what it takes to educate the future workforce of the public sector.

In the 40th episode of the Public Sector Executive Podcast, host Dan Benn spoke to Cllr James Jamieson about all things local government. As Chairman of the Local Government Association, James took us through some of the most pressing issues being faced by local government at the moment including the housing crisis, meeting housing targets, achieving net zero carbon emissions, and issues with a lack of funding impacting the services that councils provide. Speaking about the effort councils...

After a long absence, January saw the return of the Public Sector Executive Podcast with a new host and new opportunities for listeners to garner key insights into the sector. The first episode of the new run of monthly podcasts saw James Hartley-Binns, the Head of Programme Engagement for the Office of National Statistics’ Integrated Data System sitting down to discuss how the system can solve public sector problems and answer questions before they are even asked.

In Episode 38 of Public Sector Executive's Public Sector Voices podcast, Chris Cromar spoke to Cambridgeshire County Councillor, Councillor Alex Bulat about her campaign to allow non-British (non-EU/Commonwealth) citizens the right to vote in local elections.

In Episode 37 of Public Sector Executive's Public Sector Voices podcast, Chris Cromar spoke to Managing Director and Founder of Trueman Change, Lucy Trueman about how her organisation can help make meaningful change happen in the public sector.

In Episode 36 of Public Sector Executive's Public Sector Voices podcast, Chris Cromar spoke to the Welsh Local Government Association's (WLGA) Equalities Spokesperson, Cllr Jane Mudd about the need for greater diversity in Wales' councils.

In Episode 35 of Public Sector Executive's Public Sector Voices podcast, Chris Cromar spoke to the President of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) about their calls for councillors in Scotland to be paid the real Living Wage.

In Episode 34 of Public Sector Executive's Public Sector Voices podcast, Chris Cromar spoke to Angela Lewis (Director of People Transformation) and Michelle Wall (Director of Finance and Commercial & Executive Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) about the culture at Companies House and how it is inspiring their staff.

On episode 33 of Public Sector Voices, our host Chris Cromar spoke to Daisy Penford, Head of Sports and Physical Activity at CSSC Sports & Leisure about the organisation's Active Wellbeing campaign.

In Episode 32, Chris Cromar spoke to Louise Smyth (Chief Executive, Registrar of Companies, Interim Regulator of Community Interest Companies - Companies House) and Martin Swain (Director of Strategy, Policy and External Communications - Companies House) about how Companies House drives confidence in the UK economy.

On the fourth and final episode of the four part miniseries between PSE's Public Sector Voices podcast and the National Leadership Centre, host Matt Roberts speaks with Rajesh Nadkarni, Executive Medical Director at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust and Tosca Fairchild, Delivery Director for Equality & Health Inequalities and Intensive Support for the East of England at NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I), to look forward into the future and explore the...