Insights & Conversations

Mental Health Awareness Week: Supporting the People Supporting Everyone Else

As Mental Health Awareness Week highlights the ongoing pressures facing education and public sector staff, professionals are looking past mere "resilience" and demanding sustainable workloads, authentic leadership, and embedded wellbeing support. For employers, actively prioritising workplace culture is no longer just a policy exercise - it has become a critical differentiator for attracting and retaining top talent.

Luke O’Neill Appointed Chief Commercial Officer to Spearhead Next Phase of Growth

Talentia Group’s award-winning education and public sector recruitment specialist strengthens its senior leadership team.

Cooking Up a Storm at Leeds City College

Senior consultants from Dovetail & Slate, the UK’s leading education and public sector recruitment specialists, are set to swap recruitment for recipes as they take part in a special Ready Steady Cook–style challenge at Leeds City College in support of the Yorkshire children’s cancer charity Candlelighters.

HR Leaders Conference Delivers a Day of Insight, Innovation and Inspiration

HR leaders and professionals from across the country attended Dovetail & Slate's HR Leaders Conference, an event bringing together some of the sector's most forward-thinking voices, hosted at University College of Birmingham.

National Voices in Culture, AI and Wellbeing to Headline HR Leaders Conference 2026

Preparing for Tomorrow, Today

The workforce landscape is shifting beneath our feet, from AI integration to multigenerational teams, and organisations that wait to adapt risk being left behind.

Building a College Culture That Works | Lisa Capper MBE on Leading with Care

What does it take to build a college culture where people belong, grow and lead with care? Lisa Capper MBE, Principal & CEO of the Sandwell Colleges Group, shares her journey from adult education and government policy to leading one of the UK's most diverse and ambitious colleges. She discusses creating the 'One Team' culture, embedding CARE values, and why wellbeing and empowerment are central to success.

From Army Officer to FE Commissioner: Shelagh Legrave on Building Outstanding College Culture

Shelagh shares her remarkable journey from army officer to investment banking, then into education finance, before becoming one of the sector's most respected leaders.

Protect Yourself From Recruitment Scams

We're currently aware of scammers impersonating Dovetail & Slate on Indeed and other job sites. If you've been contacted about a job opportunity, please read this urgent guide to verify it's genuine.

What the British Summer Can Teach Recruiters

The unpredictable British weather is surprisingly similar to education recruitment. Learn 11 vital lessons the summer can teach HR departments about hiring success.

Culture, EVP & Leadership Podcast | Janet Smith, CEO & Principal of Nottingham College

Janet Smith, CEO & Principal of Nottingham College, explores the challenges and opportunities in education leadership and building inclusive college cultures.

Culture, EVP & Leadership Podcast | Neil Coker, CEO & Principal of Barnet & Southgate College

Neil Coker, CEO & Principal of Barnet & Southgate College, discusses the importance of culture and employee value proposition in attracting and retaining education talent.

Shaping the Future of FE: Smart Recruitment for Digital Transformation

Digital transformation in FE is changing how colleges deliver learning and manage operations. Learn how to build a recruitment strategy that attracts the right digital talent.

Culture, EVP & Leadership Podcast | James Scott, CEO of Trafford & Stockport College Group

James Scott, CEO of Trafford & Stockport College Group, shares valuable insights on building strong educational cultures and effective leadership strategies.

Culture, EVP & Leadership Podcast | Ep. 5 Chris Claydon, Chief Executive of JLT

Episode 5 features Chris Claydon, Chief Executive of JLT, discussing leadership challenges and opportunities in the education sector.

Burned Out and Underpaid: The SEN teacher shortage explained

Recruiting SEN teachers in the UK is at crisis point. Learn about the factors driving the shortage and practical strategies for finding and retaining special educational needs staff.

Culture, EVP & Leadership Podcast | Lee Pryor & Nikki Davis

Lee Pryor from Leeds City College and Nikki Davis from College of Building share their insights on culture and leadership in further education.

Rachel Nicholls, CEO of Inspire Education Group

Join us for an insightful conversation with Rachel Nicholls, CEO of Inspire Education Group, discussing culture, employee value proposition, and leadership in education.

Where are all the construction teachers?

Why are colleges struggling to find construction teachers? The perfect storm of pay gaps, confusing routes to teaching, and rising demand is making recruitment harder than ever.

How to Improve Your Employee Retention Strategy

Hiring great recruits is one thing, but keeping them happy and on the team is another. Learn how educational institutions can improve retention in a challenging employment landscape.