Understanding devolution and local government reform: what it means for public sector recruitment

As structural reform and devolution continue to reshape local government across England, it’s vital to understand how these changes impact local authorities – and the recruitment opportunities they create. 

At Sellick Partnership, we work closely with local government clients navigating these changes. From new combined authorities to local government reorganisation (LGR), these reforms bring both challenges and opportunities across a wide range of professional services.

Whether you’re a jobseeker in the public sector or an employer seeking trusted recruitment support, here’s what you need to know.

What is devolution:

Devolution is the transfer of powers from central government to regional or local authorities, allowing them to take control of decision-making in key policy areas.

Under devolution agreements, local authorities will gain greater control over areas such as:

• Transport – local transport planning e.g. bus services and concessionary travel schemes.
• Housing and planning – influence regional housing targets, accelerate housing project approvals.
• Economic development – develop local growth plans and manage local economic development funds.
• Skills, employment and education –  adult education budgets, vocational training and supported employment programmes.
• Funding – business rates, local taxes (subject to approval) and the ability to influence how funding is spent within their area.

Devolution allows decisions to be made locally, where leaders better understand the needs of their communities. For local government professionals, it also opens up new career pathways within regional policy, programme delivery, and strategic services.

Combined authorities and strategic governance 

To manage devolved powers, groups of councils are forming combined authorities; strategic bodies that coordinate planning, investment, and services across multiple local areas.

One of the most established examples is Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), made up of 10 local councils and overseen by a directly elected mayor. Through devolution, the GMCA introduced the Bee Network – an integrated public transport system allowing local leaders to control routes, fares and service quality.

More combined authorities are being formed under the Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), with plans to introduce new mayoral regions by 2026. These include:

• Cumbria (Cumberland Council, Westmorland and Furness Council).
• Cheshire and Warrington (Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Warrington Borough Council).
• Greater Essex (Essex County Council, Thurrock Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council).
• Hampshire and Solent (Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Isle of Wight Council, Southampton City Council).
• Norfolk and Suffolk (Norfolk County Council, Suffolk County Council).
• Sussex and Brighton (East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council, Brighton and Hove City Council).

What is Local Government Reorganisation (LGR):

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is the process of restructuring councils to form unitary authorities, replacing traditional two-tier systems (such as district and county councils).

The aim is to simplify governance, reduce duplication, and streamline services under one organisation. For example, in Worcestershire, several councils could merge into one large unitary authority covering the same geography.

This type of structural change leads to significant workforce transformation – and increased demand for recruitment support across all areas of local government.

How does this impact recruitment in local government?

At Sellick Partnership, we see significant recruitment opportunities emerging from devolution and local government reform. These include:

• Expanded candidate pools: Council mergers and restructures often result in changes to staffing. Redundancies, voluntary exits, or role changes lead to new talent entering the job market.
• Senior leadership appointments: New combined authorities and unitary councils require a refreshed leadership team – including Chief Executives, Heads of Service (Legal, Finance, Technology, HR), and senior programme leads.
• High demand for transformation roles: There’s a growing need for professionals in:
  1. Legal and governance
  2. Technology, digital and data
  3. Procurement and commissioning
  4. Change & Transformation

How we support clients through reform

We pride ourselves on being a trusted recruitment partner to the public sector. Here’s how we’re helping local authorities navigate this transition:

• Spotting recruitment opportunities: We engage in informed conversations to understand if clients are undergoing devolution, service integration, or reorganisation – helping identify where new roles, merged teams, or project gaps might exist.
• Interim and project-based staffing: We provide interim leaders, locum professionals, and contractors to support transformation delivery, keep services running, and manage change programmes.
• Market insight and benchmarking: We offer up-to-date salary data, candidate availability and demand trends – particularly in high-pressure or hard-to-fill areas like legal, digital and finance.
• Cross-sector expertise: Reform touches every department – from technology and HR to procurement and finance, we collaborate across our specialist teams to offer holistic recruitment solutions.
• Wider geographical networks: New authorities cover broader regions. We use this as an opportunity to expand our client networks and support more councils through change.
• Building leadership pipelines: We help identify and appoint the right leaders for the new era of local government – offering continuity, capability, and long-term value.

Looking ahead

Devolution and LGR represent some of the most significant changes the public sector has seen in recent years. While the scale of transformation is substantial, it also creates new opportunities for professionals and employers alike.

Whether you’re looking to hire, restructure a team, or find your next public sector role, Sellick Partnership can guide you through.

Get in touch with our specialist public sector recruitment team today to find out how we can support you.