Public Sector Executive Podcast

Founder of Northern Power Women, Simone Roche MBE, joins us for our eighth PSE podcast to discuss the acceleration of women in business, talking us through her journey to Northern Power Women and how she was made in the Royal Navy.

With hosts Emily Rodgers and Ailsa Cowen, the conversation kept flowing in the PSE podcast room in Manchester as Simone talks us through the shift in business culture and why we need to celebrate role models in the North. 

Not one to do thing by half measures, Simone outlines how she keeps the Northern Powerhouse Minister in check for gender equality and including people of all ages, races and backgrounds into the conversation.

Bringing an engaged community of 50,000 along on this journey with her and the exiting new projects they have to look forward to in 2020. 

 
 As inspiring as she is enthusiastic, she is a champion or the North, and understands why the public sector needs diversity of thought to thrive in the new decade and how connectivity is absolutely essential. 

This podcast is for you if you are passionate about the north, although she did say she was ‘over’ the North/South divide and is working to improve ‘the art of our possible’ for everyone, everywhere!

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Head of Public Sector at Virgin Media Business, Martin McFadyen, joins us in the studio to weigh in on the role of connectivity in the public sector and why joining up health and social care services is critical to enhancing public services.

We are living in an ever-evolving digital world, meaning people have greater expectations of what it can deliver every day, the challenge is incorporating this into public services as the demand is greater than ever, and the budget…. not so much. 

Integrated health and care partnerships are a central theme to the discussion and why Manchester in particular is leading the way in this respect. Big data and the fear that comes with the journey to the cloud are covered as Martin talks about demystifying the internet. 

Martin argues that cloud-first agendas are not scary concepts, and tech and data need demystifying, so that local authorities can make the most of what’s available to provide for their areas.

Other topics include social value, digital skills, job creation and shared learning and working. There is one area he thinks that the public sector could still stand to evolve further, can you guess what it is? 

Martin looks back at the past ten years and how the digital evolution has shaped public service, from having video conferences on the bus into work, to health data storage – he begs the question, what is there that exists today, that could be done slightly better tomorrow?

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Chief executive of Northern Housing Consortium, Tracy Harrison, joins us in the PSE Podcast room to discuss the housing sector from a Northern perspective. Tracy is a keen believer in fairer housing policies for the North and explains what services NHC can provide for their members. 

With hosts Matt Roberts and Ailsa Cowen, the discussion was flowing in the PSE podcast room in Manchester as we hear about how the North’s slice of the housing and planning pie has got smaller. 

Do you think decarbonisation plays a part in housing? Tracy divulges why the challenge of non-decent housing plays a part in carbon emissions. 

Tracey expresses her passion about turning discussions between local authority members and housing association towards housing to advance housing plans. 

She’s very keen for local authorities and housing associations to get in touch, and work together with the NHC in aid of evolving housing not just in the North, but in whole of the UK. 

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Chief executive of Social Value Portal, Guy Battle joins us in the studio for the fifth PSE podcast, giving us insight into the specific benefits that come from embedding social value into council commissioning and procurement of services. 

With hosts Emily Rodgers and Matt Roberts, the conversation covers everything from the social, economic and environmental wellbeing for communities and the key councils working to improve their region. 

Main topics include the function of the Social Value Portal, how it can result in financial gain for the area and demystifying the process of ‘accounting for’ social value.

Guy talks at length about the specific weightings of social value and how councils can generate significant financial benefits by unlocking the potential of their region.

 
Whether you are part of the public or private sector, this podcast is unmissable for developing the potential of your services and giving back to the communities. 

Guy will be joining us at the EvoNorth event in Manchester on the 4th and 5th March, which will see the collaborating and networking of leaders from across the country join forces to transform the North and the services it offers. 

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Executive Director for the Manchester China Forum joins us in the studio for the fourth PSE podcast, sharing his wealth of knowledge on the subject of International investment into the region and how it benefits us.

With hosts Ailsa Cowen and Matt Roberts, the conversation covers everything from the huge projects that have already materialised through this partnership and the huge potential it could bring the region, and the north as a whole, in the future. 

Main topics include the impact on the economy, the transformation of the business district and why this isn’t just a random ‘drum up’ of investment. 

Rhys talks at length about the significance a relationship like this can have, especially in a Post-Brexit Britain, and how it has already attracted industry giants to the area.

 
If you want to know the impact this has on local authorities, or what the future of investment in the north will look like, this podcast is for you.

Rhys’ expertise is in ‘growing and strengthening international collaboration’ and after hearing this podcast, yours will be too. 

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Professor Joe Howe, chair of the North West Hydrogen Alliance (NWHA) and executive director of the Thornton Energy Institute joins us in the studio for our third PSE podcast, bringing with him unbridled enthusiasm and solutions for saving the world from Climate Change.

With hosts Emily Rodgers and Ailsa Cowen, the conversation kept flowing in the PSE podcast room in Manchester as we explore with Joe the alternative ways of energy production and consumption. 

Main topics include industrial decarbonisation, carbon capture and storage through the repurposing of existing infrastructure and how hydrogen could be key to reaching net zero carbon. 

Joe’s infectious positivity breathes fresh air into a conversation with a typically grim outlook, sharing his ideas of an ‘Air BnB’ of cars, hydrogen energy and the importance of letting children know that science is ‘super cool’.

 
If you want to find out which sector will be the hardest to decarbonise, how we can do it and why “the North is a fabulous place to begin”, this podcast is for you.

Professor Howe will be joining the line-up of EvoNorth speakers and the conference in March to collaborate with the key people who can help us reach our net zero targets. 

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Tim Newns, CEO of MIDAS, joins us in the studio for our second PSE podcast, giving a deep dive into Greater Manchester’s thriving economy, and how it has benefitted from international investment.

Covering Northern Powerhouse, health innovation and the exciting things we can expect from Manchester in 2020.
 
 

With hosts Emily Rodgers and Ailsa Cowen, the conversation kept flowing here in the PSE podcast room in Manchester as we challenge Tim to the common question of ‘Is international investment hurting local people?’

Jobs and skills are a central theme to the podcast, with insight into the staggering number of career opportunities MIDAS are contributing to the region by bringing successful companies to our city. Amazon, BA systems, Boohoo, Social Chain and the BBC are among the business giants choosing to operate from Manchester and Tim’s the man to tell us why.

We also ask Tim what Manchester is hoping to attract in 2020, which, whether you are public or private sector, is not an answer you can afford to ignore.

 
 Tim is a fountain of business knowledge, with facts, figures and reasoning that make you extremely hopeful for the future, and to quote him “I absolutely believe in the international nature of this city.”

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Stephanie Riches, Co-ordinator of the People’s Powerhouse, joins us in the studio for our very first PSE podcast, giving a deep dive into her new role, diversity and inclusion in the public sector and the People’s Powerhouse Charter, rounded off with a Manchester quiz!

With hosts Emily Rodgers and Matt Roberts, the conversation in kept flowing at the Cognitive Publishing offices here in Manchester as we discuss all things Northern Powerhouse. Stephanie’s proud Manchester roots, shine through as we talk about what the future of the North could look like with a bit of Powerhouse magic.

Covering young people’s voices and youth unemployment, to grassroots policy making, this conversation is an insight into the amazing work being done every day to push the Northern Powerhouse forward. Stephanie knows it takes ‘baby steps’ to make these changes but outlines how they’re on their way breaking out of the norm and creating a more successful North of England.

Details about the upcoming People’s Powerhouse event and how you can attend are included in the half-hour chat, including Stephanie’s favourite songs, and a Manchester quiz we invite you all to join in with.

She also outlines the importance of failing as a young person, why we should have to wait until we are in our 30s to fail and why it’s a necessary part of growth. Giving a real account of what her role, as the only person directly employed by People’s Powerhouse, truly is. 

An extra point if you can guess who Stephanie would invite to her EvoNorth event? I’ll give you a clue – he’s Mancunian.

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Bonus PSE Podcast episode, taken from the live People's Powerhouse panel debate at EvoNorth 2019. Panelists include People's Powerhouse chair Edna Robinson, Chris Marsh, Public Service Reform, Tracy Fishwick, Transform Lives and Olivia Lee, Contact MCR.

The panel discusses giving a voice to those often overlooked or disenfranchised in the North of England.

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