Title

PODCASTS

Inside the Local Authority of the Year

Back in June, Knowsley Council was named 'Local Authority of the Year' award at The MJ Awards. In this episode of podcast Our World is Local hosts Nick Kilby and Heather James speak to Knowsley chief Mike Harden.

Back in June, Knowsley Council was named  'Local Authority of the Year' award at The MJ Awards. In this episode of podcast Our World is Local hosts Nick Kilby and Heather James speak to Knowsley chief Mike Harden. 

Mike's career in local government spans almost 40 years - 28 of them at Knowsley. He talks about the culture and achievements that made the council award-winning. Mike will be retiring from his position at the end of 2024, and will be doing so on an incredibly high note!

Hosted by Cratus Group CEO Nick Kilby and the Editor of The MJ, Heather Jameson, the ‘Our World is Local' podcast is a space to learn about the key figures in local government, highlighting the tremendous work they do for the communities they serve. 

You can listen to the previous episodes ⁠⁠on Spotify  and wherever else you listen to your podcasts.

PODCASTS

Getting ready for the big LGR reset

By Ann McGauran | 26 February 2026

Anna Earnshaw talks to Ann McGauran about reorganisation’s biggest risk, and what central Government could do to ease the path towards unitarisation.

PODCASTS

Designing the new council together

By Charlotte Platten | 26 February 2026

Members and the community must play their roles in shaping the future as councils go through local government reorganisation, say Nick Kilby and Charlotte Pl...

PODCASTS

Connections with clout

By Paul Marinko | 26 February 2026

Ahead of The MJ’s LATCo Conference in Birmingham, Paul Marinko explores why local authority trading companies (LATCos) are fast becoming indispensable to cou...

PODCASTS

The Warm Homes Plan: Why local leadership and early planning matter

By Paul Bourgeois | 26 February 2026

Councils that plan early and lead locally on retrofitting will be best placed to shape programmes that deliver lasting benefits, writes Paul Bourgeois