North East councils pilot national recruitment campaign

North East local authorities are at the forefront of a new campaign to encourage people to make a difference where they live with a career in local government.

Launching today (10 January), the campaign aims to enhance the good work councils and combined authorities are doing in the region to attract talent by encouraging individuals to find out how they can have a role working in one of the hundreds of services used by and relied upon by communities every day, ranging from adult and children’s services to planning, environmental health, libraries and leisure centres.

Initially piloted by local authorities in the North East of England and spread out over five weeks, the ambition is for the campaign to be expanded to the rest of the country, inspiring people of different ages and backgrounds to see what difference they can make to their local area.

Co-produced by the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (Solace), the pilot has been developed in collaboration with North East local authorities and the North East Regional Employers Organisation (NEREO). The recruitment campaign is part of the LGA’s Sector Support Offer and funded by the UK Government.

More than 9 in 10 councils across the country are experiencing staff recruitment and retention difficulties as demand for services continues to rise, highlighting the vital need to attract more people into the workforce.

Supported by major advertising on billboards, radio and social media, the campaign will highlight the infinite variety of roles on offer and the exciting opportunities to develop a career in local government, promote what a difference people can make, while also complementing local authorities’ own recruitment activity.

Cllr Abi Brown OBE, chairman of the LGA’s Improvement and Innovation Board, said: “We want to harness the potential of people in the North East and encourage people to find out more about what they can achieve by pursuing new opportunities while making a difference to your local village, town or city.”

Cllr Graeme Miller, chair of the association of North East Councils (ANEC), North East Representative on the LGA Executive and Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: This recruitment pilot is another example of how North East authorities continue to work together and in partnership with each other. Now, we are also working closely with the LGA and Solace highlighting vacancies for jobs and careers in councils.

“There are many varied and rewarding roles working for local government and these are roles where people can and do make positive differences for local communities, residents and businesses.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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