Local Authority round-up 14 August 2025
14th August, 2025
Our Local Authority round up provides brief summaries of topical information on a weekly basis, to keep you aware of the changes and updates relevant to you.
Regulatory
Government to roll out Live Facial Recognition (LFR) Vans to the police
The Government has announced that 10 new Live Facial Recognition (LFR) Vans will be introduced to seven police forces in England and Wales. These vehicles are equipped with advanced facial recognition systems and will be deployed based on specific intelligence, strictly targeting individuals involved in serious crimes such as sexual offences, violent assaults, homicides, and organised crime. The technology compares live footage against bespoke watchlists of wanted individuals, with police operating under clear guidance established by the College of Policing to ensure proper use. This rollout is part of a broader initiative to bolster neighbourhood policing and enhance public safety and community engagement.
The Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police are currently operating the LFR Vans and have reported that in the last year, 580 arrests were made for offenses including rape, domestic abuse, knife crime, grievous bodily harm, robbery, and breaches by registered sex offenders.
For more information please click here.
Health & Social Care
Graduate Guarantee initiative launched to support nurses and midwives
The Government has launched a Graduate Guarantee initiative to ensure that newly qualified nurses and midwives in England are able to secure employment as soon as they graduate. NHS providers are now able to recruit in advance by assessing projected workforce needs rather than relying on traditional headcount limits. This aims to smooth the transition from training to employment and address long-standing disparities between graduate numbers and available positions. The measure is a key part of the broader Plan for Change, developed in collaboration with the Royal College of Nursing and Royal College of Midwives, and is intended to strengthen patient care and NHS capacity by ensuring well-supported staffing from day one.
Alongside early recruitment, the initiative includes an online hub to assist graduates with applications and guidance for starting their careers. To specifically support newly qualified midwives, the Government is also allocating £8 million to temporarily convert vacant maternity support worker positions into Band 5 midwifery roles, creating additional entry-level roles instantly.
For more information please click here.
Education
Technical Excellence Colleges to address skills shortage in the construction sector
The Government is reportedly investing £100 million to establish a network of specialist Technical Excellence Colleges (TECs), aimed at training over 40,000 future construction workers, such as bricklayers, electricians, carpenters and plumbers, by 2029.
These TECs are designed to address a pressing shortage in the construction sector, with around 35,000 job vacancies currently unfilled. The goal is to build a robust talent pipeline to deliver on national infrastructure needs, including new homes, schools, and hospital and reduce reliance on overseas labour
The TECs will operate via a hub-and-spoke model, in which ten selected colleges will collaborate with local employers and training partners to offer industry-aligned, regional training.
For more information please click here.
Upcoming Events
Seminar: Beyond Graduation: Navigating the Global Talent Visa
Please join us for our seminar, Beyond Graduation: Navigating the Global Talent Visa, on Thursday 28th August, in partnership with The PathFinder Organisation and No5 Barristers’ Chambers.
The event is at No5 Barristers’ Chambers, Birmingham and begins at 4:00pm.
During this event, we will provide you with in-depth insight into the Global Talent Visa so that you are equipped with the knowledge needed to identify and obtain the relevant achievements and supporting evidence to make a successful application.
This event is aimed at international students and graduates to assist them to start planning their Global Talent Visa application early.
To register your place, please click here.
Webinar: Employment Rights Bill: The Future of Trade Union Rights
On 1st October at 10:00am, Edward Nuttman and Hollie Ball will provide a comprehensive overview of how the Employment Rights Bill is reshaping trade union relations in the UK workplace. It will provide practical insights into the evolving legal framework and its implications for HR professionals and business leaders.
Edward and Hollie will explore key changes in areas such as:
- The real purpose of the new Trade Union laws;
- The new duty to inform employees about their right to Trade Union membership;
- The new right for Trade Unions to access premises;
- The new right for Trade Union officials to facilities; and
- Trade Union recognition: simplification.
To register your place, please click here.
For further information please contact Tim Care in our Public Sector Team.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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