Solace

⏩ We are thrilled to publish our third and final anniversary report, 'Fast Forward'. The Fast Forward report steps beyond the here and now to explore what is possible for local government in ten, twenty or even fifty years. Comprised of an introduction by Solace chair Gavin Jones and over twenty articles written by individuals who will shape and lead the sector in years to come, the report explores opportunities and challenges for local government in a wide range of areas. Themes covered include service areas like social care, housing and transport; workforce issues such as recruitment, inclusion and representation; and wider trends such as leadership, technology and democracy. #SolaceSummit #50YearsOfSolace #LocalGov Huge thanks to all the individuals who contributed to the report. 🔗 Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/4dPXmWB

📣 Calling all leaders! Our Solace Annual Leadership Forum '25 is back! 📣 Join us for a one-day leadership conference in London! Enhance your personal growth, network with fellow leaders, and share best practices to bring back to your organisation. Don't miss this opportunity for development and positive change in our sector. 🏙️ Event: Solace Annual Leadership Forum '25 📆 Date: Wednesday, 7th May 2025 🕦 Time: 11:30-16:30 📍 Location: Central London 🔗 https://bit.ly/3XgnJ2z Here's why you should attend: ✨ Discover Innovative Ideas from Visionary Speakers! Hear from inspiring keynote speakers who will share their experiences and strategies for effective leadership. Learn new perspectives on overcoming challenges and driving innovation. 🗨️ Engage in Discussions Participate in panel discussions with leaders from various sectors. Delve into current challenges and emerging trends, and explore collaborative solutions through conversations. 🤝 Expand Your Network Connect with like-minded professionals in local government and build valuable relationships as the forum offers ample opportunities for informal networking, allowing you to share ideas and explore potential collaborations. 🗣️ Enhance Your Leadership Skills Gain essential leadership skills and insights to thrive in today's dynamic environment. The forum provides a comprehensive learning experience supporting your journey as a senior leader. Don't miss out on this chance to be part of the conversation. Secure your place today for an afternoon of inspiration, growth and meaningful connections! 💸 Book Your Tickets 🎫 Organisational tickets for a group of 3 are priced at just £650 🎫 Individual Ticket (Non-Member) £295 🎫 Individual Ticket (Member Discount) £225 Book today 👉 https://bit.ly/3XgnJ2z #SolaceLeadershipForum #Leadership #Networking #ProfessionalDevelopment #Inspiration #Growth #CentralLondon #EventLondon #SolaceEvent Discover exclusive sponsorship opportunities in our brochure. Contact Roberta Henry for more info: eventsponsorship@solace.org.uk 📥 Download Sponsorship Brochure: https://bit.ly/4iguHfJ

🚧 We’re thrilled to be supporting Brighton & Hove City Council in the recruitment of a Director of City Infrastructure! 🚧 There are already some areas of notable success within this portfolio. The Council have a city centre and sea front that they can be proud of, but they need to do more to ensure the same quality and consistency of access to the whole city. The Council expect that whoever takes on this role will already have proven leadership experience in transport and highways management and the ability to foster positive collaborative partnerships. Ready to work in a seaside town? Find out more about this amazing opportunity here https://bit.ly/4hMrOUd or call 020 7976 3311for a confidential discussion. #ExecutiveRecruitment #LocalGovernmentJobs #JobPosting

A huge thank you to Pam Smith, Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council for joining us in today’s Solace Business Partner Webinar. Pam shared valuable insights on Newcastle’s development pipeline, the city’s growing role in renewable energy and space technology, and the importance of public sector reform to drive innovation and improve local services. Pam’s passion for place-based growth, community cohesion, and long-term investment was truly inspiring. Thank you again, Pam, for your time and leadership. #LocalGovernment #PublicSectorReform #Leadership #Newcastle #Innovation #Solace

Local government colleagues understand the vital role councils play in delivering essential services to their communities.   With councils facing ever-growing challenges, the landscape is increasingly complex. Despite the best efforts of dedicated teams, there are times when additional support is needed to help navigate difficult circumstances.   In these moments, through government intervention, Local Authorities can turn to experienced and trusted senior leaders to provide guidance, expertise, and practical support on their improvement journey. Solace feels this support works best when shaped by the sector itself, which is why we would like to see experienced local government professionals play a proactive role.    This presents an opportunity for those with proven experience in public service delivery, corporate governance, financial management (including the fiduciary duties of local government finance), commercial enterprises, housing, service transformation, and risk management to play a key role in strengthening local government. Whether as a Best Value Inspector, Commissioner, or Envoy, you can work with Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, alongside councils to offer insight, strategic direction, and hands-on expertise to help councils build resilience and drive sustainable improvement.   Follow the link for more information or to apply (by 14th March 2025)   https://lnkd.in/edZDQ7jm

We are really excited for our next Solace Business Partner webinar with Pam Smith, Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council, taking place today! 🎉 Pam will be sharing her invaluable insights on the future of our sector, reflections on government policies, and how local authorities are navigating the ever-changing landscape and economic challenges. 📅 Date:  Tuesday 25th February 🕒 Time: 10am – 11am. If you are a business partner and would like to attend, please email jenny.clack@solace.org.uk If you are not a business partner but are interested in learning more about the Solace business partner programme, please also reach out to Jenny. Looking forward to seeing you there! Equans UK & Ireland AdviserPlus Alliance Leisure Amey Bevan Brittan LLP Civica Crown Commercial Service Fujitsu Hill Group UK Mitie Norse Group Oracle Robertson Group Salesforce Workday Zest Zurich Municipal   #SolaceWebinar #LocalGovernment #BusinessPartners #FutureInsights  

🎧 With just 2 weeks to go until we launch series 2 of #LocalGovernmentStories, it's a good time to catch up on Series 1 ep 7. Chief Executive at Midlothian Council Dr Grace Vickers started her illustrious career in education before moving into local government. 🎤 Listen now on: 💜 #ApplePodcasts ▶️ https://apple.co/41uJL48 💚 #Spotify ▶️ https://spoti.fi/3QAIUbP 🧡 or #SoundCloud ▶️ https://bit.ly/3D1JRXx Grace's leadership journey from Head Teacher to Chief Executive at Midlothian Council is rooted in her strong academic foundation, including a postgraduate certificate in secondary education, a PhD from the University of Edinburgh Business School, SQH, and a B.Mus (Hons). Dr Vickers gained invaluable insights into impactful policy decisions during her time as a secondary Head Teacher at a diverse Catholic school, where she witnessed first-hand the difference such decisions can make on the ground. This experience propelled her into the role of Quality Improvement Manager at the City of Edinburgh Council, marking the beginning of her distinguished career in local government. Grace's leadership roles at Midlothian Council, a rapidly growing local authority specialising in life sciences, have been pivotal. She served as Education and Chief Education Officer, overseeing significant initiatives that drove positive change in education across the region. Her subsequent role as Head of Education at Midlothian Council allowed her to spearhead the implementation of a new curriculum across Edinburgh, further cementing her impact on educational development. Throughout her career, from pioneering educational initiatives to her current position as Chief Executive, Grace remains dedicated to delivering improved outcomes for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds within her community. 👍 Enjoyed listening? Thank you for sharing the podcast on our social channels this week! This helps us to reach even more listeners. ⭐ We need your help If you'd like to help keep the podcast going, we'd be grateful for Local Government Story fans to head over to Apple Podcasts, Spotify or SoundCloud to give us a review or rating. About Local Government Stories Join Nazeya Hussain as she unravels the Chief Executive’s past histories and career paths. Shining a spotlight on local government experiences, the podcast highlights learnings, best practices and inspirational stories. The series is Ideal for anyone keen to gain insights into the sector or to learn more about what a CEO role entails. For more information, discover our dedicated podcast site at 👉https://bit.ly/3D65uG0

💡 We are assisting Brighton & Hove City Council in looking for a Corporate Director of City Operations to help them set the vision, tone and culture of the organisation. 💡 As part of the Corporate Leadership Team, you will work with elected members, senior officers, and partners to bring the councils shared vision for the city to life through the priorities in their Council Plan We expect that you will already have considerable senior leadership experience within a place-based role. Discover more here 👉https://bit.ly/41n77bJ or call 020 7976 3311 to discuss the role in more detail

Local government colleagues understand the vital role councils play in delivering essential services to their communities.   With councils facing ever-growing challenges, the landscape is increasingly complex. Despite the best efforts of dedicated teams, there are times when additional support is needed to help navigate difficult circumstances.   In these moments, through government intervention, Local Authorities can turn to experienced and trusted senior leaders to provide guidance, expertise, and practical support on their improvement journey. Solace feels this support works best when shaped by the sector itself, which is why we would like to see experienced local government professionals play a proactive role.    This presents an opportunity for those with proven experience in public service delivery, corporate governance, financial management (including the fiduciary duties of local government finance), commercial enterprises, housing, service transformation, and risk management to play a key role in strengthening local government. Whether as a Best Value Inspector, Commissioner, or Envoy, you can work with Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, alongside councils to offer insight, strategic direction, and hands-on expertise to help councils build resilience and drive sustainable improvement.   Follow the link for more information or to apply (by 14th March 2025)   https://lnkd.in/edZDQ7jm

Local government colleagues understand the vital role councils play in delivering essential services to their communities.   With councils facing ever-growing challenges, the landscape is increasingly complex. Despite the best efforts of dedicated teams, there are times when additional support is needed to help navigate difficult circumstances.   In these moments, through government intervention, Local Authorities can turn to experienced and trusted senior leaders to provide guidance, expertise, and practical support on their improvement journey. Solace feels this support works best when shaped by the sector itself, which is why we would like to see experienced local government professionals play a proactive role.    This presents an opportunity for those with proven experience in public service delivery, corporate governance, financial management (including the fiduciary duties of local government finance), commercial enterprises, housing, service transformation, and risk management to play a key role in strengthening local government. Whether as a Best Value Inspector, Commissioner, or Envoy, you can work with Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, alongside councils to offer insight, strategic direction, and hands-on expertise to help councils build resilience and drive sustainable improvement.   Follow the link for more information or to apply (by 14th March 2025)   https://lnkd.in/edZDQ7jm