WM Employers

What WM Employers does

WM Employers (WME) is a not-for-profit Regional Employers Organisation owned by 31 West Midlands councils, headquartered in Birmingham and operating under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. It delivers HR consultancy, leadership and organisational development, coaching and mentoring, resourcing, and elected member development services to public sector organisations across the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, and Shropshire councils, alongside non-shareholder corporate subscribers such as West Midlands Fire Service, NHS trusts, and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

WME's technology stack centres on three proprietary service brands: WMTalent Acquisition (a Tribepad-powered applicant tracking system), WMJobs (an award-winning regional job board), and WMTemps (a temporary workforce management solution delivered with Opus People Solutions). Adjacent offerings include DBS eBulk and IDVT identity verification tooling, the Public Sector Coaching and Mentoring Pool (40+ organisations), and emerging AI literacy programmes such as the Festival of AI in Practice and the Maximising Microsoft Copilot for Local Authorities national cohort. The organisation is recognised across PPMA, REC, ONREC, and Talent Labs industry awards (2023-2025) and as a Times Top 100 Best Place to Work.

The business model is subscription-recurring, anchored on two tiers: shareholder council membership (enhanced benefits, 20% consultancy discounts, funded platform subscriptions, CEO coaching, 24/5 Employment Helpdesk access) and corporate subscriptions (flexible support packages with annual Employment Helpdesk enquiries, network access, and masterclasses). Revenue is supplemented by fee-for-service HR consultancy (independent investigations, job evaluation, pay and grading), resourcing solutions, and event-driven programmes (Annual Summit, Coaching Conference, Employment Law Updates, WMJobs Career Expo). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; full financial details are reported via annual reports.

Name

WM Employers

Legal name

West Midlands Employers

Website

https://wmemployers.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WM Employers is a not-for-profit Regional Employers' Organisation owned by 31 West Midlands councils, delivering HR consultancy, leadership development, coaching, resourcing technology, and emerging AI literacy programmes to public sector organisations across the West Midlands region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector HR and Workforce Services

NAICS

Employment Services (5613), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Core HR & HRIS (BPACAPAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

HRIS/HCM Implementation & EOR Platform Services (BPACAHAJ), HR Service Delivery, Case Management & Employee Self-Service (BPACAPAL), HR Compliance, Policy, EEO & Labor Law (BPACAPAM)

Keywords

• Public sector HR consultancy
• Regional employers organisation
• Workforce solutions
• Leadership development services
• Public sector recruitment

Headquarters

HQ city

Willenhall

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Shareholder Membership: WME is owned by 31 councils in the West Midlands. Shareholder councils pay membership fees and receive comprehensive support including unlimited expert support, preferential consultancy rates, funded subscriptions to key platforms, CEO coaching, 24/5 Employment Helpdesk access, and free access to professional networks and events.
2. Corporate Subscriptions: Flexible subscription packages for public sector organisations offering cost-effective HR support, professional development, executive services, knowledge sharing, and collaborative opportunities with preferential rates.
3. HR Consultancy Services: Fee-for-service consultancy including independent investigations, organisational restructuring, job evaluation, pay and grading support, and bespoke training delivered by expert HR consultants.
4. Resourcing Solutions: Recruitment and resourcing services including access to WMTalent Acquisition platform, WMJobs advertising, efficiency and compliance solutions (DBS eBulk, IDVT), strategy and talent solutions, and regional workforce solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

West Midlands Employers (WME) is a not-for-profit Regional Employers' Organisation that provides HR consultancy, leadership and organisational development, coaching and mentoring, recruitment and resourcing, and elected member development services to the 31 West Midlands councils that own it and to other public sector organisations. Its delivery combines expert consultancy, member networks, events, and digital platforms including the Tribepad-powered WMTalent Acquisition ATS, the WMJobs regional job board, and the WMTemps temporary workforce solution.

Product overview

WM Employers operates as a not-for-profit Regional Employers' Organisation offering a portfolio of interconnected services for the West Midlands public sector. The core offerings include HR Consultancy Service (covering employee relations, job evaluation, pay and grading, investigations, and training), Leadership & Organisational Development (with strategy, training, and personal development), Coaching Services (including the Public Sector Coaching & Mentoring Pool), and Resourcing Solutions. The resourcing portfolio includes WMTalent Acquisition (a Tribepad-powered ATS solution), WMJobs (award-winning regional job board), WMTemps (temporary workforce management with Opus People Solutions), and Efficiency & Compliance Solutions (DBS eBulk, IDVT). The organisation also provides elected member development through the Equipped to Lead programme and Charter framework. Membership options include Shareholder Councils (enhanced benefits for 31 owning councils) and Corporate Subscriptions (flexible access for other public sector organisations).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WMTalent Acquisition: Applicant tracking system solution for public sector recruitment
• WMJobs
• WMTemps
• Equipped to Lead
• West Midlands Charter for Elected Member Development

Products and services

• WMTalent Acquisition Tribepad-powered Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that evolves candidate and organisational experience of resourcing, transforming how the West Midlands public sector attracts, recruits, and retains its workforce. Targeted at councils and other public sector organisations.
• WMJobs Award-winning regional job board serving West Midlands public sector organisations, recognised for Best Regional Job Board and niche job board excellence. Used by councils and public sector employers to advertise roles and reach candidates across the region.
• WMTemps Regional temporary workforce solution delivered in partnership with Opus People Solutions, helping West Midlands councils reduce agency spend and strengthen workforce stability.
• HR Consultancy Service Comprehensive HR consultancy covering employee relations, terms and conditions, pay and grading, including independent investigations, organisational restructuring, job evaluation, and bespoke training for public sector organisations.
• Leadership & Organisational Development Services helping public sector leaders navigate complexity and future-proof workforces through strategy consultancy, training and development, and personal development programmes.
• Coaching Services Comprehensive coaching and mentoring offerings including executive leadership coaching, staff coaching, and advanced coaching skills programmes, with over 40 organisations subscribing to the Public Sector Coaching & Mentoring Pool.
• Shareholder Councils Membership Enhanced membership package for the 31 councils owning WME, including unlimited expert support, 20% consultancy discounts, CEO coaching, 24/5 Employment Helpdesk access, and Local Government Reorganisation support.
• Corporate Subscriptions Flexible subscription package offering 12 annual Employment Helpdesk enquiries, consultancy discounts, access to professional networks, Annual Summit places, executive coaching, and sector updates for non-shareholder public sector organisations.
• Efficiency and Compliance Solutions Technology solutions including DBS eBulk and IDVT (Identity Document Verification Technology) that support compliance and improve efficiency in public sector recruitment processes.
• Equipped to Lead Practical, flexible development programme for elected members covering governance, people leadership, innovation, AI and the future of public service.
• Public Sector Coaching & Mentoring Pool Collaborative pool with over 40 organisations providing cost-effective internal and external coaching and mentoring across the public sector.
• Job Evaluation Service Job evaluation service using a range of schemes, available as ad hoc occasional requests or through a managed service approach.
• Pay & Grading Service Support on reviewing pay and grading structures to develop reward approaches meeting modern organisational needs.
• Charter for Elected Member Development Recognised framework supporting councils to invest in the growth and effectiveness of elected members, demonstrating commitment to professional development, good governance and inclusive leadership.

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Opus People SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpus People Solutions is a local authority-owned recruitment agency. WME and Opus are working in partnership to take a regional approach to workforce challenges, including the WMTemps initiative for temporary workforce management. As a local authority-owned company, Opus reinvests profits back into the public sector to support local communities.
• SolacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolace is the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers, the UK's leading network for local government professionals. WME partners with Solace to deliver the regional Chief Executive Network, providing a dedicated space for senior leaders to collaborate, share best practices, and address key public sector challenges.
• Local Government Association (LGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWME works in close partnership with the Local Government Association to support councils in developing a skilled, resilient, and future-ready workforce. Through this collaboration, WME helps drive national workforce initiatives, provides expert consultancy, and delivers leadership development programmes tailored to local government needs.
• CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWME partners with CIPD to promote excellence in people management and workforce development across the public sector. Through this collaboration, WME supports HR professionals with expert guidance, training, and best practices to drive innovation and effectiveness in local government.
• TribePadcoreTechnology or IntegrationTribePad is a leading recruitment platform providing advanced applicant tracking and video interviewing capabilities. WME partners with TribePad to enhance hiring processes for public sector organisations, enabling efficient account management, attracting top talent, and streamlining the hiring process.
• WMADASScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMADASS is a regional group bringing together senior professionals and leaders working within adult social care across the West Midlands. WME collaborates with WMADASS to improve adult social care, share best practices, and influence policy at local and regional levels through the Adults MoC Network.
• National Association of Regional Employers (NARE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWME is a proud member of the National Association of Regional Employers, working collaboratively with regional counterparts across England to shape national workforce policy and drive innovation in public sector employment.
• English Regions CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWME participates in the English Regions Collaborative with other regional employers' organisations to explore what it means to lead organisations across regions, discussing collaboration, influence, agility, responsiveness, and capacity for shared benefit.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• East of England Local Government Association: Regional body providing employment relations, HR support and workforce development to East of England councils. Closely mirrors WME's remit, governance structure and member-owned funding model.
• London Councils: Cross-borough body serving London local authorities with HR, employment relations and workforce policy support. A larger-scale analogue of WME operating in a different but comparable metropolitan public sector context.
• Opus People Solutions: Local authority-owned recruitment agency that partners with WME on WMTemps. Like WME, it is a council-owned entity reinvesting profits into public services and operating in the same regional workforce solutions space.
• North West Employers: Regional Employers Organisation providing HR, leadership and resourcing services to North West councils. Operates a near-identical member-owned model to WME, making it a direct peer for benchmarking and platform-sharing potential.
• Yorkshire & Humber Employers: Regional Employers Organisation serving Yorkshire and Humber councils with HR consultancy, employment law, resourcing and leadership development services — the same core suite WME delivers in the West Midlands.
• NHS Professionals: NHS-owned not-for-profit workforce solutions provider for the NHS. Operates a similar member-owned model delivering temporary staffing, bank management and resourcing technology to public sector clients, making it directly comparable to WME's WMTemps and WMTalent Acquisition services.
• South East Employers: Regional Employers Organisation serving councils across the South East of England. Provides the same regional HR consultancy, resourcing and leadership development model as WME, making it the closest geographic and functional analogue.

Broad incumbents

• Local Government Association (LGA): National body for English councils. WME is a regional partner within the LGA ecosystem, and the LGA provides overlapping but broader workforce policy, leadership and HR advisory services at a national rather than regional level.
• CIPD: UK professional body for HR and people development. Partners with WME on member services and credentials, while operating a much broader membership, training and publishing footprint across all sectors.

Others

• TribePad: Recruitment platform vendor whose technology underpins WMTalent Acquisition. Relevant as the underlying technology partner whose roadmap, pricing and reliability directly affect WME's flagship ATS offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-rjx8wJGVOMpGV8g6XmqjQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-midlands-employers
• Instagraminstagram.com/wmemployers
• Xx.com/WMEmployers
• Facebookfacebook.com/wmemployers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WM Employers