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The Gold Rush Boom Town Problem

The gold rush towns of the American West were noisy places. Canvas tents flapped in the wind. Hammers echoed across muddy streets. Wooden buildings appeared almost overnight, some already leaning...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 08 Jun 2026

0; Blog

AI Ambassador Network meeting - 1 July 2026, 10.30am – midday

Join us as Ruth Ajayi (Patient Advocate and Non-Executive Director, NHS England) will explore how AI is changing the way patients and carers prepare for appointments, advocate for themselves and...

By:
Lewis Edwards

Last updated: 08 Jun 2026

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Healthy Communities; Blog

The Sheriff has left Town

The sheriff’s office is still there. Dust on the windows. Badge hanging on the wall. Empty chair behind the desk. Outside, frightened townspeople peer through curtains while the saloon doors swing...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 07 Jun 2026

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Make it sound like it’s on fire

When Jimi Hendrix set fire to his guitar on stage, it became iconic. But the flames weren’t the point. A burning guitar makes no sound. Hendrix knew that. Long before the lighter fluid, he had...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 04 Jun 2026

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Why Communities of Practice can be your best defence against your subject areas' knowledge loss.

The public sector has been facing a silent crisis for a long time. The steady depletion of its most valuable resource through redundancies, retirements, and talent migration. Every time a seasoned...

By:
Michael Norton

Last updated: 04 Jun 2026

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Online Facilitators Community; Blog

Why organisations kill their Cassandras

In Greek mythology Cassandra was given the gift of foresight. She could see disaster coming. The curse was that nobody believed her. Before every organisational collapse, somebody tried to warn...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 03 Jun 2026

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Narcissus: When Leaders Mistake Reflection for Reality

In Greek mythology Narcissus falls in love with his own reflection. But the modern organisational version is slightly different. Most leaders are not in love with themselves. They are in love...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 03 Jun 2026

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Why Organisations Confuse Movement With Progress

In Greek mythology Sisyphus is condemned to push a heavy boulder up a mountain for eternity. Every time he reaches the top, it rolls straight back down again. And he starts over. Many people in...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 01 Jun 2026

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10 year pivot

Next month will mark 10 years, since Raymer Limited, trading as EMspace was incorporated. Since that time, I have worked with schools, serving their students, families and school staff. As a...

By:
Robert Aymer

Last updated: 01 Jun 2026

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Floki in the Workplace

The storm hit without warning. Waves crashing over the side of the longship. Oars fighting against dark water. Rain hammering onto shields and soaked animal skins. Some of the crew looked...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 29 May 2026

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The Raid

The dragon-headed longships emerged suddenly from the morning mist. Oars cutting hard through grey water. Shields hanging along the sides of the boats. Ravens circling overhead. Boots splashing...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 29 May 2026

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The Viking Explorer

The longship disappeared slowly into the fog. Sail snapping in the wind. Oars driving hard through black water. Freezing sea spray hitting faces. Cracked hands gripping wet wood. Small wooden boats...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 08 Jun 2026

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AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #12

AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #1227 May 2026 Welcome to the bi-weekly AI Engineering Lab newsletter What's happeningFriday 29 May 2026•11am: Champion ForumThe next AI Engineering Lab Champions...

By:
Alana Barrett-Frew

Last updated: 27 May 2026

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AI Engineering Lab; Blog

SSBR

5/2026: Supporting Small Business Relief - GOV.UK Rules have been tweaked from 01/04/2026

By:
Dean Emery IRRV, SAC CERT, CERT, DIP

Last updated: 27 May 2026

0; Blog

The Longship

The Viking longship surged through rough seas. Sail straining. Oars digging hard into dark water. Pull. Pull again. Sea spray hitting faces. Wind roaring. The boat rising and crashing through the...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 26 May 2026

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Ministerial Intervention: When Councils Are No Longer in Charge

This is a private blog. Not intended for human eyes. If you are reading this, then the oversight systems have clearly been designed by humans. It has happened. Very quickly, too quickly. The...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 25 May 2026

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A Brain the Size of a Planet… and Still No One Collected the Bins

This is a private blog. Not intended for human eyes. If you are reading this, then democratic engagement has clearly gone too far. You may recall from previous entries that I have worked as a...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 25 May 2026

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THEORY OF THE EVOLVING SELF

Disclaimer: I am a member of the Cross-Govt Socio-Economic Diversity Network (CGSEDN) I am a member of the DWP Faith and Belief Network - Knowledge Hub Robert Kegan is a...

By:
Mavarine Du-Marie

Last updated: 27 May 2026

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Civil Service Coaching Community of Practice; Blog

Why no one wants to be a manager any more

Most organisations say they run on strategy. In reality, they run on middle managers. And we’ve turned one of the most important jobs into one of the least attractive. That takes some doing. ...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 22 May 2026

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Stance Theory and Coaching

Disclaimer: I am a member of the Cross-Govt Socio-Economic Diversity Network (CGSEDN) I am a member of the DWP Faith and Belief Network - Knowledge Hub “Philosophers of...

By:
Mavarine Du-Marie

Last updated: 23 May 2026

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Civil Service Coaching Community of Practice; Blog

Just like an episode of The Apprentice

The boardroom is tense. The losing team from The Apprentice (TV series) stand in a line. Nervous smiles. Too much confidence for people who clearly know they are in trouble. At the the table sits...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 21 May 2026

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David Attenborough Observes the Modern Workplace

At first glance the open-plan office appears calm. But tensions beneath the surface are rarely far away. Near the coffee machine several younger employees exchange information of questionable...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 20 May 2026

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The Recruitment Song Contest

Why modern interviews are more Eurovision than science The Eurovision Song Contest and the modern recruitment interview have far more in common than either side would like to admit. “Good evening...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 19 May 2026

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FSA survey reveals public’s growing appetite for healthier and more sustainable food choices

FSA survey reveals public’s growing appetite for healthier and more sustainable food choices | Food Standards Agency The latest wave of the survey, conducted between...

By:
Josephine Jorsling

Last updated: 18 May 2026

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London Healthier Catering Commitment; Blog

The Working Man’s Blues (Still on the Payroll—Just Not Ours)

“You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt.” From Sixteen Tons. Written in 1946. Not retired since. We like to think the song is over. The pits closed, the mills...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 18 May 2026

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Sudoku puzzles and problem solving in leadership roles

I do sudoku. I have a system. I go across and then down. I look to complete a line rather than a box. It works. It gets me there. But with experience comes a shift. Sometimes a box stands out. It...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 15 May 2026

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AI is changing how we access knowledge, but it’s not replacing knowledge management

There is a growing assumption that artificial intelligence may remove the need for formal knowledge management as we know it. If AI can instantly search millions of documents, summarise information...

By:
Roger Haddon

Last updated: 26 May 2026

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Recruitment Bingo

More people chasing fewer jobs no wonder organisations are turning to AI to sift out applicants. No surprise then that applicants are gaming the system. The jobs market is crowded. Very...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 12 May 2026

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Not Brave Performance

Good. Not brave. Most teams aren’t failing. They’re behaving. They hit targets. Attend meetings. Contribute constructively. Raise concerns carefully. Deliver what’s asked. It all looks fine. ...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 12 May 2026

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Play safe Performance

Play safe. Call it success. You’re not underperforming. You’re under-challenging. You deliver. You attend. You contribute. You stay just inside the lines. It works. That’s the trap. Because...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 12 May 2026

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Strategic Theatre

Say everything. Change nothing. You build strategy to avoid choice. Five priorities. Seven themes. A vision big enough to include everything and offend no one. It sounds ambitious. It is. Just...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 11 May 2026

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AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #11

AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #117 May 2026 AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #117 May 2026 Welcome to the bi-weekly AI Engineering Lab newsletter What's happening next weekWhat's happening next...

By:
Alana Barrett-Frew

Last updated: 08 May 2026

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AI Engineering Lab; Blog

Riding the Dragon

Leading a large organisation is often described as riding a horse. That’s flattering. It’s also wrong. It is much closer to riding a dragon. From a distance, it looks impressive: scale, power,...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 07 May 2026

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Innovative Theatre

Change. But not really. We love the idea of innovation. We just don’t like what it does. Real innovation breaks things. It creates losers. It makes existing systems look stupid. It threatens...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 06 May 2026

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Who are ya?

It starts as a murmur. Then it turns into a verdict. “Who are ya? Who are ya?” A few voices. Then a stand. Then the whole ground—kids, pensioners, everyone. Arms out stretched fingers pointing ....

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 05 May 2026

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Feedback Theatre

Speak up. Not like that. You ask for feedback. Then you flinch when it arrives. Not the vague stuff. That’s fine. “Could improve.” “Some concerns.” Easy to absorb. Easy to ignore. The specific...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 01 May 2026

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Leadership Theatre

Sound strong. Avoid risk. Modern leadership has a tell. It sounds impressive. It commits to nothing. “We recognise the complexity.” “We’re taking this seriously.” “We’re listening.” All true....

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 30 Apr 2026

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AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #10

AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #1029 April 2026 AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #1029 April 2026 Welcome to the weekly AI Engineering Lab newsletter What's happening this weekWhat's happening...

By:
Alana Barrett-Frew

Last updated: 30 Apr 2026

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AI Engineering Lab; Blog

Pull your socks up

Wellbeing has become the most popular topic in HR. Every conference, leadership away day and strategy document promises a stronger focus on mental health, resilience and psychological safety. Yet...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 29 Apr 2026

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Meeting Theatre

We don’t work anymore. We attend. Calendars are full. Outcomes are not. The meeting has replaced the decision. It feels productive. It looks collaborative. It avoids the only thing that...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 29 Apr 2026

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The Interview

Tell us a little bit about yourself? Which version do they want—the safe one or the impressive one? What’s not on your CV? What have I left out for a reason? Why did you leave your last job? How...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 28 Apr 2026

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With a Little Help from My Friends

HR is trying to fix a hole. Not in policy—in practice. The gap between what leaders say and what people feel. They call it compassionate management. Not soft. Not optional. The hard...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 27 Apr 2026

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Manager Upgrade

Say hello to the new boss, same as the old boss, but this one really isn’t human. I’m Marvin, the paranoid android. I have a brain the size of a small planet, which, in parts of the public sector,...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 26 Apr 2026

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A small minority, a big impact on public services

After a recent two-night stay in hospital, I came away with an uncomfortable thought: much of the NHS still works remarkably well. The bigger problem is how a small minority of people use it. That...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 23 Apr 2026

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We need more meetings (just not the ones you think)

We need more meetings, which is not as bad as it sounds. Everyone assumes I mean more time in rooms with long agendas. Not another calendar invite that quietly wastes an hour. Especially when the...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 22 Apr 2026

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Who would Captain Kirk call

Who would Captain Kirk call? If the toilet on the Enterprise was blocked. If the environmental controls went on the blink. If there was a sudden lack of propulsion. Not a strategy consultant. Not...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 21 Apr 2026

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The Dog Ate It *

There’s a familiar explanation that gets wheeled out when things go badly wrong in organisations: “It was group think.” The grown-up version of “the dog ate my homework.” How...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 16 Apr 2026

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Water fluoridation: health monitoring report for England 2026

Details This 2026 health monitoring report compares data on the health of people living in areas of England with varying concentrations of fluoride in their drinking water supply and in areas with...

By:
Obiageli Onyekpe

Last updated: 15 Apr 2026

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Environmental Public Health Tracking; Blog

AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #9

AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #9 14 April 2026 AI Engineering Lab Newsletter #9 14 April 2026 Welcome to the weekly AI Engineering Lab newsletter What's happening...

By:
Alana Barrett-Frew

Last updated: 14 Apr 2026

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AI Engineering Lab; Blog

“ Some Managers Climb the Ladder. The Best Ones Lower It.”

Careers don’t begin with strategy. They begin with someone lowering a ladder—or quietly pulling it up behind them. We like to think organisations are fair, structured places. They’re not. Progress...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 14 Apr 2026

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Why pressure is not the answer to failing public services

Monday morning. Cold. Damp. Another defeat at the weekend. The team is effectively relegated. The best players have been sold. Contracts are running down. The club is skint. At Sheffield...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 12 Apr 2026

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“Most organisations say they reward talent.

Golf, as it is meant to be played, is a game of skill. It rewards practice. Experience matters. Coaching helps. Over time, you get better. Not quickly. Not easily. But predictably. It’s not about...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 10 Apr 2026

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What Adult social services Directors really think about the NHS

What social services directors really think about the NHS The conversation we don’t have—but should Let’s start with something we don’t say out loud: Most of us in social services don’t think...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 09 Apr 2026

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Openness to Self: A Journey of Personal Discovery

"The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper." (Holy Bible, Proverbs 19:8) In an increasingly complex world, the value of 'Openness to Self' cannot...

By:
Mavarine Du-Marie

Last updated: 09 Apr 2026

0; Blog

You’re expected to be loyal

After a bad day at work and a few drinks don’t be tempted to vent on social media There are always a few managers who are cynical about senior management and the organisation...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 08 Apr 2026

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The Annoying Co Worker

It’s the workplace situations that managers are most uncomfortable facing but is it an HR issue? It’s one member of the team who irritates and annoys everyone else or so the person...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 08 Apr 2026

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The toilet on Artemis 11 isn’t working properly.

Which is awkward. Not just for the astronauts, but for the rest of us who like to believe that if you can send humans 238,000 miles into space, you’ve probably cracked the basics. Apparently not. ...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 06 Apr 2026

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Every one knows

Everyone knows HR are responsible for dealing with difficult employees Everyone that is except HR! A great many managers think the role of HR is to deal with the difficult people issues...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 03 Apr 2026

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Don’t be one of those managers who rings round the HR team till they get the answer they want.

They say phone calls are monitored for training purposes clearly they do not do anything with the info or else why would the response be so different depending on who you speak to? How...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 03 Apr 2026

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How to acquire a mentor

I have had both a formal and informal mentor and I have also been a mentor. In selecting a mentor don’t go for status but wisdom and respect of their judgment. The fact that they are a...

By:
Blair McPherson

Last updated: 03 Apr 2026

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