Our story
Where did it all start?
Essex County Council created a shared HR service to give local authorities a smarter, more cost‑effective way to access expert recruitment and HR support.
As a council‑run service ourselves, we were built on the principles of collaboration, compliance and public value – enabling councils to work with us quickly and efficiently under Public Contract Regulations, without lengthy tenders or complex procurement routes.
Empowering public sector recruitment
Our service was designed to give local authorities a smarter, more collaborative way to manage recruitment. Built on public sector values, we offered cost‑effective, compliant support under the Public Contract Regulations 2015. Starting in Essex and partnering with all 13 districts and boroughs, we continue to expand as demand grows.
Today, our shared‑service roots continue to guide us as we empower councils to attract talent and strengthen their workforces with expert HR and recruitment support.
Our journey
2019
After a decade of outsourced recruitment, Essex County Council transitioned to an in‑house hybrid/neutral vendor model. This approach helped us combine the scale and reach of a large supply chain with the agility and control of directly managed recruitment.
2021
In 2021, we introduced a dynamic, continually refreshed supply chain, enabling new agencies to join every two weeks and giving hiring managers a faster, more direct route to the right suppliers.
2023
Essex Shared Services was established, broadening our capability to support a wider range of public sector organisations. In January, we launched our permanent recruitment and talent attraction services. By February, Basildon Borough Council appointed us as their managed service provider for temporary workers, followed by North Hertfordshire District Council in July.
2024
2024 was a year defined by innovation and continuous improvement, marked by the introduction of several new services:
• A public sector secondment portal launched in March
• Executive search services introduced in April
• HR consultancy added in October
We also expanded our managed service portfolio, welcoming 10 new local authorities – including Terre Verde Services and Epping Forest District Council.
2026
Following our previous success, we continue to grow, innovate and support the sector – embracing change as Local Government Reorganisation evolves.
This year also marks the launch of our new website, giving customers a clearer and more intuitive way to explore our services and stay connected with our journey.