News and events…
Key LGR and devolution milestones this month
September is a busy month in our journey towards local government reorganisation (LGR). Here are the key milestones, including new briefing sessions for you to join:
- Monday 8 September - dedicated briefing session for line managers, 2pm to 2.45pm. Book your place.
- Wednesday 10 September – Essex County Council (ECC) led LGR business case recommending three unitary authorities due to be published. On this date you’ll find a copy in the meeting agenda or on our new LGR website. You will also find business cases from other councils there
- Wednesday 17 September – devolution and LGR briefing session for all employees, 4pm to 4.45pm. Book your place
- Thursday 18 September - LGR business case recommending three unitary authorities expected to be approved by ECC
- Thursday 25 September - devolution and LGR briefing session for all employees, 1pm to 1.45pm. Book your place
- By Friday 26 September – ECC business case, along with those from other councils, submitted to government.
Find out more on our dedicated Q&A intranet page.
Discover your benefits - PERK Day 2025
Want to make the most of your ECC employee benefits? PERK Day 2025 gives a chance to explore what’s available – from discounts and financial support to pension options and wellbeing resources. Join us on Thursday 18 September, 11am to 2pm, County Hall, B1 meeting room.
Chat with benefit providers, connect with ECC teams, take part in prize draws and get practical advice to help you make the most of what’s on offer. Book your place to help give us an idea of numbers, or just drop in on the day.
Breaking the cycle starts with you
Our new Domestic Abuse Awareness Toolkit is now live on the intranet, along with training sessions to help employees recognise and respond to domestic abuse. It’s designed to support anyone affected and help us all feel more confident in supporting colleagues. A huge thanks to our White Ribbon Steering Group and partners at Alpha Vesta for bringing this important resource together. Explore the training and toolkit.
Buying annual leave
A reminder about this employee benefit, which gives you the chance to buy up to five additional days of leave through salary sacrifice. The second window of opportunity to do this for the 2025/6 financial year will be open until Wednesday 24 September.
My wellbeing...
Helping you navigate life’s ups and downs
Life throws all sorts at us – new beginnings, big changes, and the daily juggle. That’s why ECC is teaming up with Vita Health Group to offer free wellbeing webinars this September, open to all employees. Whether you're navigating change or supporting others, these sessions are here to help:
- Managing Change – Monday 1 September, 1pm to 2pm. As we go through a period of change, this session offers a supportive space to explore how change affects us and how we can feel more equipped and reassured during times of transition
- Stress and Resilience – Friday 26 September, 1pm to 2pm. Understand stress and learn practical ways to build resilience
- Men’s Mental Health – Friday 3 Oct, 1pm to 2pm. Explore how stigma and societal pressures affect men’s mental health, and how to offer meaningful support.
Book your spot using this link. Got questions? Get in touch with the Wellbeing team.
Plan for the future – Pensions Awareness Week (15 to 19 September)
Whether you’re dreaming of early retirement, a cosy home life, or a few more passport stamps, your pension could help make it happen.
Join ‘My Money Matters’ for Pensions Awareness Week (15 to 19 Sept) and their flagship webinar: “Knowledge Gives You Choice”. A practical, jargon-free look at how the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and Shared Cost AVCs can help shape your future. Book via the links below:
| Monday 15 Sept | Tues 16 Sept | Weds 17 Sept | Thurs 18 Sept | Fri 19 Sept |
| Morning | Morning | Morning | Morning | Morning |
| Afternoon | Afternoon | Afternoon | Afternoon | Afternoon |
Coming up this month - book now...
- Show and share. Discover how University of Essex students are using AI and Machine Learning to improve public services across Essex. From flood prediction to facial recognition and smarter road inspections, their placement projects tackle real-world challenges. Join the online show and share session on Thursday 4 September from 12pm to 1pm to learn more. Save the session to your calendar.
- Power BI – Dashboard Design. Join the Data and Analytics team on Wednesday 10 September, 10am to 11am for Session 4 in the Power BI series. Learn practical tips for building dashboards that look great and deliver clear, user-focused insights. Save the session to your calendar.
- Save the date for AI Talks. AI Talks is a full day of virtual events on Tuesday 30 September hosted by the Essex Centre for Data Analytics (ECDA), in collaboration with key local and national partners. The day will bring together expert speakers to explore the latest thinking, real-world applications and governance of artificial intelligence in the public sector. Read more about the day. Booking and full agenda coming soon.