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

Future Forum Midlands: 'Conceptual chance' of meeting housing targets

By Ann McGauran | 12 September 2025

The Government’s new housing targets ‘are a better balance across the country’ with ‘a conceptual possibility’ they can be met, Birmingham City Council’s hou...

PODCASTS

Future Forum Midlands: Norse chief outlines merger challenges

By Ann McGauran | 11 September 2025

The chief executive of the Norse Group has set out his insights on the challenges of merging services as local government reorganisation gains pace.

PODCASTS

How to be a successful council chief

By Frazer Thouard | 10 September 2025

In advance of The MJ’s Future Forum Midlands, recruitment specialist GatenbySanderson crunch the data in a bid to find the answer to achieving successful loc...

PODCASTS

The flawed rationale behind reorganisation

By John Mortimer | 08 September 2025

John Mortimer argues that the logic and mindset behind a report that has helped to shape the current drive for reorganisation misses out the true value creat...