MJ Achievement Awards 2022: Local Authority of the Year

We were delighted to attend The MJ Achievement Awards on Friday 24th June to share in the celebration of the amazing individuals, teams and local authorities who go above and beyond to serve their local communities.

As sponsors of The MJ Local Authority of the Year Award for the tenth year running, we were honored to take a front seat in congratulating Local Authorities and showcasing their achievements, from innovative solutions that are driving sustainable change across the sector to targeted initiatives to tackle inequalities and boost inclusion and cohesion.

As Managing Partner and Head of Green Park’s Local Government Practice, it was an honour to learn more about the exceptional work of all of the Local Authorities who applied. A huge thank you to my fellow judges who had the difficult task to whittle the list down from such a strong long list.

This year’s judges were:  

• Deborah Cadman, Chief Executive, Birmingham City Council
• Tracey Lee, Chief Executive, Plymouth City Council
• Paul Martin, Interim Chief Executive, London Borough of Ealing
• Joanne Roney, Chief Executive, Manchester City Council
• Jenny Rowlands, Chief Executive, London Borough of Camden
• Rachael Shimmin, Chief Executive, Buckinghamshire Council

And in yet another stellar year with a range of outstanding entries, our congratulations goes out to our Local Authority of the Year finalists:

Caerphilly County Borough Council

The council has firmly put its challenging past behind it and is a highly credible partner. It is focused both on continuing to innovate and develop on behalf of its residents and also as an employer of choice. The submission evidences a council that continues to innovate while also rising to the challenge of providing a stable future for residents.

North Kesteven District Council

In an era when district councils are continually looking to increase their spheres of influence, North Kesteven stands out as a high performing, strong and stable council with excellent vision. It is grasping the nettle on climate change and other critical factors such as housing delivery.

North Lanarkshire Council

The sense of community partnership and engagement coupled with strong leadership and a shared vision for its residents makes North Lanarkshire Council’s submission stand out. It presents a strong narrative for its town centres and its wider community ambition as well as a strong narrative on key issues such as inequalities

Telford & Wrekin Council

A finalists for this award in 2021, Telford & Wrekin Council has a strong record across its core services as well as a clear and ambitious vision for both its staff and its residents. The council is a respected and trusted partner and it demonstrates resilience and a focus on achievements for its residents.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets’ journey in recent years has been hugely impressive. The council’s submission demonstrates a clear and transparent approach to place leadership in addition to core services that consistently perform well. It is a convening partner that continues to deliver for its residents in often tricky circumstances.

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

Wigan is building on the principles of The Deal, refreshing the narrative through to 2030. It continues to progress initiatives on a number of fronts, making a positive difference to its communities through economic development, regeneration and other key services. It is addressing important factors such as social inequality and climate change.

And the winner is…..

Telford and Wrekin Council

With a broad range of excellent core services, Telford and Wrekin Council is a place shaper with a positive approach to its partnerships. It also has a dynamic and robust focus on its residents. A sense of empowerment is felt across its staff community, with inclusive leadership at the heart of decision making. Indeed, staff cite “making a difference to communities” as their number one reason for working there. While the Council is a leader in areas such as children’s services, it’s ‘hyper local’ approach to service delivery also enables it to quickly make a positive difference in very targeted areas.

With ever-increasing public demands and continuing strain on resources, strong inclusive leadership and innovative thinking are more crucial than ever within the Local Government sector. Industry pioneers in building diverse senior leadership teams and more equitable workplace cultures, our expert team are renowned for our robust, inclusive and non-intrusive approach and our deep local government sector knowledge, including current trends and challenges.  

The Green Park Local Government Practice offers a unique blend of interim management, executive search, diversity & inclusion and leadership consultancy solutions. Founded in 2006, we have built long-standing relationships with local authorities across the country, from core cities and London Boroughs to District Councils. As trusted advisors, we partner with clients to understand their specific requirements and deliver the best talent in the market.  

To find out how we can help your Local Authority deliver outcome-focused, inclusive leadership solutions against your executive resourcing and talent pipelining objectives, contact Neil Lupin at  neil.lupin@green-park.co.uk or on 07967 826026.