Cumbria is on the cusp of a historic transformation. A proposed devolution deal could soon introduce a Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA), reshaping how the region is governed and unlocking new powers for local leaders. But what does this mean for residents, businesses, and the two newly formed unitary councils—Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council?

Background: Why Devolution, Why Now?

In April 2023, Cumbria’s former county and district councils were replaced by two unitary authorities. Fast forward to December 2024, and the UK government’s English Devolution White Paper set out plans to bring decision-making closer to home through a new MCA.

This initiative, part of the broader Devolution Priority Programme, could bring Cumbria in line with other devolved regions, like Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, offering local leaders’ control over key policy areas.

What’s Changing?

Under the proposed model:

• A directly elected mayor could be introduced in May 2026
• Powers would be devolved from Westminster to a regional level
• Existing councils would continue delivering local services like waste, social care, and planning
• The new MCA would focus on strategic functions like transport, housing, economic development, and health

The Impact So Far

Residents are understandably cautious. Concerns have been raised about:

• Bureaucracy and the potential for yet another layer of government
• Loss of local autonomy and diluted influence for communities
• Funding challenges and potential resource strain on the still-young unitary councils

MP Tim Farron has voiced worries about public appetite for further reorganisation, while local leaders acknowledge the need for clear roles and collaborative governance to make this work.

The Potential Payoff

Still, there’s cause for optimism. The deal promises:

• Strategic investment and long-term funding
• A stronger regional voice in national debates
• Potential growth in sectors like tourism, nuclear energy, and clean tech
• Improved planning for housing and transport—critical for tackling Cumbria’s geographic and demographic challenges

In Part 2, we’ll dig into the finer details of the devolution proposal—governance structures, devolved powers, funding, and the hurdles Cumbria must overcome to make this vision a reality.

As Cumbria navigates this next chapter, Panoramic Associates is here to support public sector organisations through change. Whether you’re expanding teams, restructuring leadership, or seeking specialist talent to deliver strategic priorities, we can help you find the right people to lead and deliver at every level.

Get in touch to learn how we’re partnering with local authorities and combined authorities across the UK to strengthen leadership and build capacity where it matters most.

Key Citations:

• English Devolution White Paper
• Cumbria Devolution Consultation
• Councils’ welcome Government Devolution programme inclusion
• Councils agree to join Government’s Devolution journey
• Cumbrian devolution will give power back to local people
• Cumbrians could vote for a mayor in 2026 under devolution plans
• Cumbria: ‘We’re going through a profound change, whether we like it or not’

With reforms to SEND and Alternative Provision being trialled across the country as part of the Government’s Green Paper consultation SEND Review for right support, right place, right time, we examine what this means for SEND & Education.

At this Panoramic Associates Briefing, we are joined by Fran Cox and Matthew Bindon to explore some of these changes to SEND from both a local authority and school perspective.

The Details

Title: Approaches to Inclusive Education
Date: Wednesday 14th May
Time: 16:00 – 17:00
Location: Microsoft Teams (linked share after registering)
Registration: Sign up today to secure your spot

The Talks

Inclusive Education – Thinking differently and differences (Fran Cox)

With an increasingly complex and challenging education and SEND system, is now the time to think differently about how we can ensure that the majority of children can belong and thrive in our classrooms?

Join the discussion on the emerging direction of travel in terms of Inclusion policy and consider how some of these ideas can succeed. What are the challenges? What are the barriers? And how can we work together across the system to tackle these.

How to successfully set up an internal alternative provision (Matthew Bindon)

This presentation will focus on some the key considerations to take into account when planning to set up an internal AP in your school. 

Our Speakers

Fran Cox has worked in the education sector for the past 20 years in a number of roles. She is passionate about ensuring access to high quality education for all children and is particularly interested in how we can make sure this is the case for our most vulnerable children, young people and their families. She believes in local inclusive provision and that kindness and high expectations in the classroom can and should go hand in hand. Now leading education services she loves and believes in transforming systems to make sure we are keeping pace with the ever changing education landscape.

Matthew Bindon initially trained as a Physical Education teacher in Bedfordshire. Over the next 15 years, he held various middle and senior leadership roles, with a particular focus on inclusion and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). In 2019, he assumed his first headship at a multi-site Alternative Provision (AP) covering Exeter, Plymouth, and Cornwall. After serving as Head for just over three years, he transitioned to support a special measures special school in Plymouth. In April 2024, he advanced to his current role as Trust Lead for AP and Specialism. In this capacity, he concentrates on supporting schools with specialist practices for complex learners and assisting them in establishing and managing their own internal alternative provisions.

Registration

Complete our online registration to confirm your spot.

Our Speakers

Fran Cox has worked in the education sector for the past 20 years in a number of roles. She is passionate about ensuring access to high quality education for all children and is particularly interested in how we can make sure this is the case for our most vulnerable children, young people and their families. She believes in local inclusive provision and that kindness and high expectations in the classroom can and should go hand in hand. Now leading education services she loves and believes in transforming systems to make sure we are keeping pace with the ever changing education landscape.

Matthew Bindon initially trained as a Physical Education teacher in Bedfordshire. Over the next 15 years, he held various middle and senior leadership roles, with a particular focus on inclusion and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). In 2019, he assumed his first headship at a multi-site Alternative Provision (AP) covering Exeter, Plymouth, and Cornwall. After serving as Head for just over three years, he transitioned to support a special measures special school in Plymouth. In April 2024, he advanced to his current role as Trust Lead for AP and Specialism. In this capacity, he concentrates on supporting schools with specialist practices for complex learners and assisting them in establishing and managing their own internal alternative provisions.

Registration

Complete our online registration to confirm your spot.

Local Government faces the most significant structural changes it has had to accommodate in over 50 years. Not only does it continue to provide services to residents in the most difficult of circumstances, it now also faces significant challenges, and opportunities through the onset of Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution.

To kick off our new series of Panoramic Associates Briefings on Devolution and Reorganisation, supported by LOGIN, we are delighted to be joined by Martyn Cockram and Tim Carr who will draw on their experience establishing the new Unitary services of North and West Northamptonshire to share their key lessons for Local Government Reorganisation.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday 7 May
Time: 8:00 – 9:00
Location: Microsoft Teams (linked share after registering)
Registration: Sign up today to secure your spot

The Talk

As Interim Head of Adults and Public Heath LGR at Northamptonshire CC, Martyn Cockram delivered two new Unitary services which included the disaggregation of a £253m service across 1,600 people, and then reaggregating them into two new services at North and West Northamptonshire.

In this Briefing, Martyn, joined by Project Consultant, Tim Carr, will cover the key themes to support you through your journey in Local Government Reorganisation, sharing the key lessons and actions from his time at Northamptonshire, including:

• Design and its role
• iT/GDPR/DPIA
• Safe and Legal
• People Support through change
• Opportunities and collaboration which arise through LGR

Our Speakers

Martyn Cockram is an experienced transformation and change professional with a strong organisational and change background. He has consistently delivered programmes across the public sector, working predominantly across Local Government, Health, and Social Housing.

As an Interim Leader and Consultant, he has led significant strategic, operational, and cultural development within Corporate Centres, Adult Social Care, Children’s Social Care, Commissioning, Housing and in the development of commercial organisations through the scoping, design, and implementation of complex transformation programmes, across people, process, place, and technology.

Martyn has consistently delivered sustainable outcomes, resulting in service improvement for residents and in doing so achieved significant savings in excess of £100m to those organisations with whom he has worked.

Tim Carr is an experienced project and change consultant having delivered change across multiple areas of local government and private sector in transformation and improvement. This experience spans various sectors, including Adult Social Care, Housing/Needs, Net Zero Carbon Emission, Regeneration, Organisational Restructure, Strategy Design, and regional government roles across Procurement in Children and Social Services and the Third Sector.

Registration

Complete our online registration to confirm your spot.

Panoramic Associates are delighted to announce that we have once again secured a place in the esteemed Recruiter HOT 100 list for 2025, ranking at number 72!

This achievement underscores our continued excellence in operational and financial performance, even amidst the ever-evolving recruitment landscape.

The Recruiter HOT 100 is a highly competitive ranking that recognises the top-performing recruitment businesses in the UK. Our placement reflects the dedication and expertise of our talented consultants, who consistently provide outstanding service across our specialist markets, offering tailored permanent and contract staffing solutions.

At Panoramic Associates, our commitment to delivering exceptional talent solutions, prioritising client and candidate experiences, and creating an inclusive and supportive culture remains at the heart of everything we do. Our recognition in the HOT 100 list is a testament to the hard work and passion of our teams, who continue to drive success and innovation in the recruitment industry.

“We are incredibly proud to once again be recognised in the Recruiter HOT 100. This achievement is a reflection of the dedication and expertise of our teams, who strive to provide best-in-class recruitment solutions. It’s an honour to be ranked among the UK’s top recruitment businesses, and we look forward to building on this success in the years to come” comments Panoramic Associates’ Founding Director Tom Hibberd.

As we celebrate this milestone, we extend our gratitude to our clients, candidates, and the entire Panoramic Associates’ community for their trust and support. We remain committed to excellence and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the recruitment sector.

For more information about Panoramic Associates and our specialist recruitment services, visit: About Us.

As an interim, you often step into a leadership role in a transitional period, needing to quickly establish some continuity and stability. Being able to hit the ground running, build strong relationships, and manage transitions effectively is invaluable.

In this Panoramic Associates Briefing: Public Realm, Shaun Morley draws on his 9 years experience as an interim in local government, working across 12 different local authorities, to provide actionable insight on effectively hitting the ground running.

Our Speaker

‘Strategies for a successful start: An inside look at an Interim’s experience in Local Government’

Shaun Morley started in local government in 1996 working in a small district council in East Sussex. Over the next 19 years, he worked for two district councils and one London Borough: Rother DC, Mid Sussex DC and LB Wandsworth. In 2015, after moving to the Shetland Islands, Shaun began working as an interim manager/consultant. Between then and the present he has worked for 12 different local authorities in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

With a professional background in Waste Management most interim positions have had an environmental element – however in recent years it is becoming more likely that responsibilities are expanded to include any or all of the following depending on the level being required to operate at: Parks & Open Spaces, Cemeteries, Transport, Fleet, Housing, Environmental Health, Legal Services, Facilities, Health and Safety and Harbour & Marinas.

Are you looking to enhance the quality, safety, and efficiency of social care services? Join us for an insightful Briefing with Dr Mike Evans, a highly accomplished healthcare executive and interim consultant with extensive UK and international experience in health and social care.

With a proven track record in transformation and digital innovation, Mike will share his expertise on the implementation and impact of Digital Social Care Records (DSCRs).

The Details

Date: Friday 28th March
Time: 12:30 – 13:20
Location: Microsoft Teams (link shared after registering)
Who: Social Care professionals
Registration: Sign up to secure your free spot

The Talk

Digital social care records (DSCRs) offer many benefits, including:

• Enhanced quality and safety: DSCRs help ensure individuals receive the right care at the right time while reducing safety risks such as medication errors, dehydration, or missed visits.
• Comprehensive care plans: They identify gaps in information and provide real-time alerts for managers to address issues promptly.
• Increased efficiency: Staff can save considerable time per shift on administrative tasks.
• Streamlined audits: Audits can be conducted more frequently and with greater ease.
• Improved accuracy and clarity: Digital records are more consistent, accurate, and legible compared to paper-based systems.
• Support for neurodiverse staff: Features like voice-to-text functionality assist care staff who may find writing challenging and enable information to be recorded on the go.

These advantages highlight the transformative potential of DSCRs in modern social care, but whilst these benefits and more are very welcome deployment is a journey of organisational transformation.

Our Speaker

Dr Mike Evans – Interim Executive Director

Mike is a highly accomplished and widely respected healthcare executive and interim consultant with extensive experience in the UK and international health and social care sectors.

He has successfully led initiatives in both the private and not-for-profit sectors, focusing on transformation and business turnaround across a wide range of services, including acute and elective hospital care, NHS children and adult mental health services, NHS community services (including ambulance services), and adult intellectual disability services.

Mike specialises in helping organisations achieve transformative results by addressing challenges, driving change, and significantly enhancing performance. His expertise spans interim leadership, strategic direction, and performance management, working in close collaboration with key stakeholders—frontline clinicians, carers, people supported by services, and patients.

In his most recent roles, Mike served as Interim Quality Director for one of the UK’s leading social care organisations supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and complex needs. He also led the deployment of an NHS-assured digital social care record, overseeing its development from pilot phase to full-scale implementation.

Register

Sign up today to secure your free spot.

In this Panoramic Associates Briefing designed for SEND professionals, educators, and local authority leaders, we focus on two critical areas: ensuring effective placements for children with EHCPs and managing the High Needs Block while maintaining positive outcomes.

Our expert speakers provide practical, child-centred strategies and policy insights to help you navigate the complexities of SEND provision.

The Talks

Making placements work: the children’s perspective and government views (Annie Gammon)

Annie explores the process of placing children with Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) from the perspective of the children themselves. Through the experiences of three children with diverse needs and backgrounds, Annie examines what contributes to successful placements and how different approaches impact outcomes.

Emphasising what we want to achieve for the children who we work for, Annie’s talk will reflect on what this means for professional practice across education, social care, health, and SEND.

The session will also highlight the government’s position on potential reforms and the implications these changes may have for EHCP placements in the future.

The 5 ‘no’s of Deficit Recovery: Balancing management of the High Needs Block with good outcomes for children (Emma Ferrey)

Emma provides five actionable strategies that you can immediately implement in your settings to drive positive change and effectively manage spending within the High Needs Block.

Our Speakers

Annie Gammon – Leader of Education

I have worked in the education field for over 30 years – always holding to the principle of making sure every child gets a high quality education. My latest role has been Interim Director of Education, Participation and Skills for Plymouth City Council. This included overseeing SEND provision and leading the area through a SEND inspection.

Prior to that I spent four years as Director of Education for the London Borough of Hackney, overseeing the full range of educational services for children, families and schools. During that period I directed work around SEND provision, reducing exclusions, early years and multiagency collaboration to support vulnerable children.

For the previous ten years, I was headteacher of a large successful inclusive 11-19 comprehensive school. I also have experience being a trustee and chair of academy trusts, a governor of a special school, being a governor of a sixth form college and inspecting schools.

Emma Ferrey – High Needs Block and SEND Consultant

Having worked in many roles in both schools and local authorities over the past 20+ years, I am passionate about good outcomes for children that prepare them for a meaningful adult life.

My work focusses on opportunities for savings and cost avoidance. Over the past 4 years, I have worked to save authorities around £8m as well as identified significant cost avoidance in the 10s of millions.

Adult Social Care needs a workforce strategy to ensure we have enough of the right people with the right skills to provide the best possible care and support for the people who draw on it. For the first time ever, the Adult Social Care sector has come together, led by Skills for Care, to develop the Workforce Strategy it needs.

At this Panoramic Associates Briefing, we are joined by Jane Brightman, Director of Workforce Strategy at Skills for Care, to provide an introduction to this strategy, examining engagement, influence, implementation and impact.

The Talk

Jane’s talk will explore:

– The strategic direction for the adult social care workforce over the next 15 years.
– How the strategy aligns with broader government and NHS goals.
– Practical steps and examples of how the strategy is being implemented.
– Opportunities for engagement and contribution to the strategy’s success.

Our Speaker

Jane Brightman has over 30 years of experience across the adult social care sector including frontline care, leadership, education, digital transformation and national policy.

For 10 years she was Director of a private training organisation specialising in adult social care delivery before going on to national roles supporting training and development in social care.

Jane spent two years at NHSX (now NHS Transformation Directorate) in the blended Digitising Social Care programme as Assistant Director, leading and delivering on the White Paper commitments.

In 2022 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Arden University for services to social care.

Timely support is crucial. By identifying and addressing the needs of a child or family early, we can enhance protective factors that positively impact a child’s wellbeing and reduce the risk factors that may negatively affect their life.

In this Breakfast Briefing led by Kate Dexter, we focus on approaches and strategies to prevent children from escalating into Care, including Alternatives to Care approaches and the introduction of Family Help, including the design, implementation and evaluation of a large pilot.

The Talk

Kate Dexter, Assistant Director Children’s Services, explores:

• The No Wrong Door approach to support adolescents to remain with their families, including utilising residential services for Adolescent Short Breaks.
• The efficacy of early help services when integrated with social work, and the benefits of employing alternatively qualified workers to support families.
• Building a stable and engaged workforce despite the very challenging time we are facing working within Children’s Social Care.

Watch Now

Our Speaker

Kate Dexter, Assistant Director Children’s Services at Harrow Council

Kate Dexter has been working in Children’s Social Care for more than 20 years, working as a senior manager for nearly a decade. Kate is passionate and excited to improve outcomes for children within our community, whilst also providing a positive, stable and supportive environment for staff.

Kate has worked as an Assistant Director in Norfolk County Council since Jan 2020, more recently working as a Assistant Director in the London Borough of Harrow.  Kate has spent the past few years transforming services and improving outcomes for children through a number of innovative and cost-effective approaches which have delivered cost effective services for children both within the community and in Care.

Building on the success of our Public Health Spotlight Podcast in collaboration with the ADPH, Panoramic Associates are delighted to be hosting an in-person event in Manchester.

This event provides a fantastic opportunity for those working in or considering working in Public Health in the North West to hear first-hand from the NW DsPH network through our informal panel event, asking more specific questions to our panel of Public Health experts. There will also be the opportunity to connect with fellow professionals over light refreshments.

The event is free to attend and open to all public health professionals wishing to discover more about developing their Public Health career.

Event Details

Date: Thursday 13th February
Time: 16:00 – 18:00
Location: Manchester Hall, 36 Bridge St, Greater, Manchester M3 3BT
Who: Those already working in local authority or NHS public health teams aspiring to a Consultant or Director role will get the most out of this event.
Registration: Sign up here to secure your free spot

What to Expect

• Inspiring Stories – Hear first-hand from senior leaders in Public Health from across the North West. They’ll share their journeys, challenges, and achievements, giving you key insight into the world of public health leadership.
• Expert Insights – Gain a deeper understanding of the public health landscape and the pivotal role these directors play in shaping healthier communities with the opportunity to ask your own questions.
• Networking Opportunity – Connect with fellow public health professionals in the North West, widening your network, and benefitting from shared learnings.

The event is free to attend and open to all public health professionals wishing to discover more about the role of the director of Public Health.

Our Panel

Professor Andrew Furber (Regional Director of Public Health, North West)

Andrew has served as the Regional Director of Public Health for the North West at the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), part of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and NHS England since May 2020. He is also an Honorary Professor of Public Health Practice at the University of Manchester.

Originally trained as a General Practitioner, Andrew transitioned into public health and has since gained extensive international and domestic experience. He spent seven years working across all levels of Nepal’s health system and undertook short-term assignments in multiple other countries. In the UK, Andrew was a Director of Public Health from 2007 to 2018 and previously served as President of the Association of Directors of Public Health UK (ADPH).

Currently, he is the lead Regional Director for Workforce Development and co-chairs the Public Health Workforce Collaborative for England. His contributions to public health were recognised with an OBE in the 2022 Jubilee Birthday Honours List.

Dr Cordelle Ofori (Director of Public Health for Manchester City Council)

Cordelle is the Director of Public Health for Manchester City Council. She qualified as a doctor from the University of Nottingham in 2001, and went on to train and practice as a GP before specialising in public health medicine. Her first-hand experience of the realities of health inequalities as a GP, and her work with charities in the past inspired her passion for improving health equity. She has a special interest in race health equity and improving health for marginalised communities.

She leads work to protect and improve the health of residents in the city of Manchester using data and evidence, and working with the organisations, agencies and sectors that have an impact on people’s health. This includes the development and delivery of ‘Making Manchester Fairer’, the city’s ambition to tackle the unfair and preventable differences in health between different groups of people. The plan focuses on the foundations of good health such as giving children and young people the best start, community power, and reducing the impact of poverty, racism and discrimination on people’s health.

Professor Matthew Ashton (Director of Public Health, Liverpool City Council)

Professor Matt Ashton was appointed Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council in April 2020, a role he holds jointly with the University of Liverpool, where he is an Honorary Professor in the Department of Public Health and Policy.

He leads a dedicated team of over 30 professionals within the local authority, overseeing a broad portfolio of public health activities. These include commissioning public health services, health protection, health improvement, healthcare public health, embedding health-in-all-policies approaches, advancing public health research and development, and addressing both the wider and commercial determinants of health.

Matt is deeply committed to fostering collaboration among the region’s best talent and partnerships to enhance health and wellbeing while tackling health inequalities in the communities he serves.

Clare Jackson (Assistant Director/Consultant in Public Health at Bolton Council)

Clare Jackson serves as Assistant Director and Consultant in Public Health at Bolton Council, where she leads portfolios encompassing Strategic Intelligence, Healthcare Public Health, Health Protection, and several wider determinants programmes. With 13 years of experience in public health, Clare began her career as a Registered Nurse and Health Visitor in a highly deprived area of the North West, qualifying as a Consultant in Public Health in 2023. Her passion for strategic approaches led her to transition to a public health role in local government, where she initially focused on Accident Prevention and initiatives for Children, Young People, and Families.

Clare joined the Public Health Specialty Training Scheme in 2008, gaining extensive leadership experience. She was instrumental in establishing the Lancashire Violence Reduction Unit, supported Adult Social Care settings during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and completed a specialist Health Protection placement with the UK Health Security Agency. Her professional interests include improving outcomes for children and families, leveraging public health influence in complex systems to reduce inequalities, and advancing health protection within local government.

Come and join us on Thursday 13th February and discover more about the role of a Consultant and Director of Public Health while connecting with fellow professionals in the North West.

Sign up now to secure your spot.

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