July

Annual Seminar 2019

Wednesday 11 – Thursday 12 September

APSE is delighted to announce details of the APSE Annual Seminar 2019. The Seminar (including the APSE AGM and APSE Annual Service Awards Charity Dinner) will take place in the historical and cultural city of Newcastle. This year’s programme takes a special focus on how local councils can deliver for local people and local economies, celebrating a New Municipalism that places local councils at the heart of positive change. For more information, and to book your place, visit the Annual Seminar hub on the APSE website.

APSE at the LGA

APSE hosted two strategic forum events at the LGA. Tuesday evening welcomed delegates to a climate emergency discussion chaired by Cllr John Clarke, Leader of Gedling Council where the role of local authorities in using frontline services, as well as policy responses, to take forward practical actions on climate declarations provoked a lively debate. Wednesday lunchtime, at an event Chaired by Cllr Robin Brown of Northamptonshire Council, heard from Cllr Giles McNeill, Leader of West Lindsey Council alongside Cllr Kelham Cooke, Deputy Leader of South Kestevan explore the issues of commercial activity and income generation with a fine balance between using ‘profit for a purpose’ and public and political perceptions.

Housing the Lords

APSE will launch its latest Housing Research ‘Housing for a Fairer Society: The role of councils in ensuring stronger communities’ at the House of Lords on Tuesday 16 July with a panel of speakers chaired by Lord Richard Best OBE. The research has been produced with the TCPA. If you are interested in attending the launch which commences at 2.30 PM and will end at 4.00 PM please email  [email protected]

Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors ‘Kickstart’ weekend

APSE hosted two workshops at the Liberal Democrat’s ‘Kickstart’ weekend sharing information on APSE’s Neighbourhoods Campaign in Staffordshire on the  29 June. Details about APSE’s neighbourhoods campaign and a model motion for councils to support can be downloaded using this link. Why not take the model motion forward in your council?

Calling local authority Refuse, Recycling, Street Scene, Grounds and Parks apprentices and innovators!

Apprentice of the Year applications are now being taken for the Refuse, Recycling, Street Scene, Grounds and Parks seminar. The apprentice awards scheme is open to candidates from all stages of training and have been running successfully for 16 years throughout the UK. The aim of the awards is not only to give recognition to our future tradespersons, but also to the councils themselves who continue to invest in the workforce of the future.

We will be running two award categories at this ceremony:

1. Horticulturalist (E.g: Gardener, Horticulturalist etc)
2. Street scene /Waste collection (E.g. street cleansing , fly-tipping and graffiti removal, waste and recycling collection etc)

If you would like to register your interest online for the awards, and receive a portfolio template, please click here and complete the form.

The Refuse, Recycling, Street Scene, Grounds and Parks Innovation Awards will also return. These will again be held with waste and recycling, street scene and parks and greenspace services all being highlighted and their work recognised. The deadline to register for the Innovation Awards is 6 September. Click here to download an application form.

Calling local authority housing and building apprentices!

APSE is now taking submissions for the Housing and Building Apprentice of the Year Awards 2019! The awards are open to every authority and their partner organisations in the UK. We will be running three award categories in:

1. Mechanical and Electrical (E.g: Plumbers, Electricians, Gas Fitters)
2. Building Skills (E.g: Bricklayers, Joiners, Plasterers
3. Professional services category (E.g: Architects, Designers)

Entry to these awards is free of charge. Finalists will be presented with their awards at the APSE building maintenance and repairs seminar 2019 on 3 October in Stoke-on-Trent.  Give your apprentices the chance to prove themselves as winners and see what they can do. Register your interest online for the awards, and receive a portfolio template.

Latest from APSE Solutions

Keep up to date with APSE Solutions’ latest events, projects and articles – including our most recent Underground Refuse Market Engagement Event in Tower Hamlets. Click here to visit the hub.

LGANI awards - Call to entries!

These awards showcase brilliance in service provision, new initiatives and untiring commitment from council officers, councillors and their partners. The Awards offer public recognition whilst giving inspiration & learning to peers who deliver front line and other key local government services.  To download the submission pack and guidance brochure, please click here. All completed application forms must be returned by email to Caitlyn King at [email protected] by 4.00pm on Monday 16 September 2019

MJ Awards

APSE was once again proud to sponsor the “Best Council Services Team” category at the MJ Awards 2019. The ceremony - held at London’s Hilton Hotel, Park Lane on 26 June - was hosted by BBC presenter and journalist Stephanie McGovern. APSE Chief Executive Paul O’Brien presented the winning council - East Riding of Yorkshire Council - with their award. Congratulations to East Riding, and to all of this year’s finalists!

The BEIS Local Energy Hubs are now live

The BEIS Local Energy Team has launched a £4.8 million programme to finance five Local Energy Hubs across England. Each Hub will be hosted by a lead local authority and will work with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and other local authorities across a given area. For more information about the Hubs and how you can take advantage please visit the hub on the APSE Energy section of our website.