North West Employers

What North West Employers does

North West Employers is a member-owned and member-led Regional Employer Organisation founded in 1919 and headquartered in Salford Quays, Greater Manchester. It serves 34-36 Local Authorities across Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region, plus three combined authorities, delivering HR, leadership and transformational change expertise to the regional public sector. Its service portfolio spans ILM/CMI-accredited qualifications from Level 3 to Level 7 (leadership, management, coaching, mentoring, supervision, EDI), senior recruitment and assessment support, councillor induction and development, employment-law and HR advisory, wellbeing programmes, mediation training, and a growing AI capability built around four apprenticeship programmes (GenAI Champion L3, AI Engineer L6, Data Analyst L4, AI & Data Technician L3) delivered in partnership with Decoded. It also operates the annual Local Government Workforce Capacity Metrics Survey via the InfiniStats benchmarking portal, a 25+ episode podcast series, and a bi-monthly newsletter.

The business model is primarily a recurring membership subscription — annual fees paid by local authorities and combined authorities that grant all council employees and elected members access to advice, events, webinars, training and practical support such as Chief Executive appraisals. Revenue is supplemented by unit-priced paid training (members receive discounted rates versus non-members), apprenticeship levy-funded AI/data programmes priced at £12,000-£22,000 per learner, and bespoke in-house council delivery. Partnerships extend reach without adding fixed cost: Castlefield Recruitment for executive search, Manchester Metropolitan University for neuroinclusive leadership research, Manchester Stress Institute for the Beat the Burnout programme, and the Local Government Association and National Association of Regional Employers for national coordination.

Core technology is not publicly disclosed and is not the differentiator; the organisation is a professional services provider with a website-based event booking system, member portal, podcast distribution, and benchmarking data integration via InfiniStats. Headcount is approximately 35 employees, governance is provided by member authority representatives, and financial information is not publicly disclosed.

Name

North West Employers

Legal name

North West Employers

Website

https://nwemployers.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

North West Employers is a member-owned Regional Employer Organisation serving 34-36 Local Authorities and three combined authorities across the North West of England, delivering HR, leadership, and transformational change expertise through subscriptions, ILM-accredited training, and AI apprenticeships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government HR & Leadership Consulting

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Services (5613)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Employer-Led Workforce Partnerships & Sector Strategies (EDAAAOAB)

Keywords

• Public sector HR services
• Leadership development programmes
• Local government training
• Regional employer organisation
• Workforce transformation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Salford Quays

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees paid by Local Authorities and combined authorities, providing all council employees and elected members access to the organisation's full offer including advice, expertise, webinars, events, and practical support.
2. Training and Development Programmes: Revenue from ILM-accredited courses, leadership programmes, workshops, and events offered to members and non-members at different price points. Programmes include coaching qualifications, management training, councillor development, and specialist workshops.
3. Apprenticeship Levy Utilisation: Apprenticeship programmes funded through the apprenticeship levy for AI, data and leadership qualifications, delivered in partnership with Decoded.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

North West Employers provides HR, employment law, leadership, organisational development and transformational change expertise to North West Local Authorities under an annual membership subscription. Members also access a portfolio of paid training programmes, ILM/CMI/BPS-accredited qualifications, AI and data apprenticeships delivered with Decoded, councillor development programmes, Chief Executive appraisal and senior recruitment support, and regional workforce benchmarking through the InfiniStats survey.

Product overview

North West Employers is a member-owned professional body providing HR, leadership, and transformational change expertise to North West Local Authorities. The organisation offers a comprehensive portfolio of training programmes and professional qualifications, primarily ILM-accredited leadership and management qualifications ranging from Level 3 to Level 7, including coaching and mentoring programmes. AI-focused offerings include apprenticeship programmes delivered in partnership with Decoded (GenAI Champion Level 3, AI Engineer Level 6, AI and Data Technician Level 3, Data Analyst Level 4) and workshops on AI for councillors. Additional services include councillor development programmes, HR skills training (recruitment, attendance, performance management), wellbeing programmes (Mindfulness, Beat the Burnout), mediation skills training, EDI qualifications, and psychometric testing certification. The organisation also provides benchmarking tools (Workforce Capacity Metrics Survey), podcasts, newsletters, and regional networking platforms for local government professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GenAI Champion Level 3 Apprenticeship

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 76% of line-managers in North West Councils have experience managing neurodivergent colleagues, with research highlighting need for more training and support

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Castlefield RecruitmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026New partnership to deliver a seamless, end-to-end recruitment and assessment service for member organisations. Combines North West Employers' expertise in supporting elected members and senior leaders with Castlefield's specialist executive search and selection capability. Services include appointment committee briefings, longlisting/shortlisting support, psychometric testing options, and assessment centre design.
• Manchester Metropolitan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Joint thought leadership project on neuroinclusive leadership, which found that 76% of line-managers in North West Councils have experience managing neurodivergent colleagues. Research conducted by the partnership to understand neurodiversity support needs.
• HWBInspirationsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2021Developed the Healthy Leadership Behaviour Framework for NHS North West Leadership Academy, exploring leadership behaviours which promote and detract from employee wellbeing at work.
• DecodedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver AI and data apprenticeship programmes including Data Analyst Level 4, AI Engineer Level 6, GenAI Champion Level 3, and AI and Data Technician Level 3 apprenticeships. Focus on building practical and strategic AI and data capability across North West local government workforces.
• Academy of Leadership & ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver ILM qualifications including Levels 3, 5, 6 and 7 in Leadership, Management, Coaching, Mentoring and Supervision. Also delivers CMI Level 5 Award in Managing EDI.
• GatenbySandersonsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRound table discussions and talent development initiatives including the 'Talent Rebels' programme. Collaboration on HR/OD professional networking and leadership development content.
• InfiniStatssupportingOthersOnline portal provider for the Local Government Workforce Capacity Metrics Survey, an annual survey helping councils measure workforce capacity. Portal access provided free to North West Employers members.
• Manchester Stress InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver the Beat the Burnout Programme - a 4-week 1:1 private coaching programme combining nutrition consultations and resilience coaching to improve performance and recovery.
• Local Government Association (LGA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on national recruitment campaign 'Make a Difference, Work for your Local Council'. NWE provides secretariat support to North West Regional Leaders Board which feeds into LGA activities. LGA provides resources and national coordination for sector support.
• Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCfGS resources inform NWE's work supporting councils in No Overall Control environments and managing leadership change.
• National Association of Regional Employers (NARE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNWE participates in NARE which includes representation across English regions, Northern Ireland and Wales, providing a platform for collaborative working and a strong sectoral voice on employer issues.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• East Midlands Employers: Regional employer organisation serving Local Authorities across the East Midlands with the same member-owned model delivering HR advisory, leadership development, training, and workforce support — directly comparable in remit, customer base, and revenue model to North West Employers.
• London Councils: Cross-borough membership body for London Local Authorities providing workforce, employment, and shared-service support — operates at greater scale but with a parallel member-owned employer-organisation model.
• South East Employers: Membership-based regional employer organisation serving South East Local Authorities with HR, leadership, learning and development, and policy support — directly comparable regional peer.
• Yorkshire & Humber Employers: Regional employer organisation providing workforce, HR, and leadership support to Local Authorities across Yorkshire and the Humber — a parallel regional body with the same member-council model.
• West Midlands Employers: Regional membership body for Local Authorities in the West Midlands providing HR, leadership, organisational development, and councillor support — structurally and operationally aligned with NWE.

Broad incumbents

• Local Government Association (LGA): National statutory body representing all English Local Authorities — provides overlapping workforce, leadership, and councillor development support at greater scale and with national reach, but not as a member-led regional employer organisation.
• SOLACE (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives): National membership body for senior local government leaders — overlaps with NWE's Chief Executive appraisal and senior leadership development offer but operates at the executive/leadership tier rather than the full workforce.
• PPMA (Public Sector People Managers' Association): UK-wide network of senior HR professionals across public services — provides networking, learning, and HR thought leadership that overlaps with NWE's HR/OD network and advisory functions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-west-employers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 North West Employers