Why work for us?
It’s an exciting time to join us here Oldham, as we build a fairer, more inclusive borough that works for everyone.
We’ve got an ambitious strategy which will create new jobs, new homes, and top-quality new public spaces for all our communities to enjoy. At the centre of those proposals is our new-look town centre. We’ve recently purchased the Spindles shopping centre, where we’re working with local businesses to create opportunities for economic growth and innovation, alongside plans for a new public park, a theatre, office space, shopping and leisure opportunities, housing, the UK’s largest urban farm and country park – and much more.
But while we’ve got big plans, we’re dedicated to delivering the very best public services Oldhamers need and deserve. That means getting the basics right – cleaning the streets, collecting waste and looking after our environment – while also ensuring that people get all the help and support they need, particularly the most vulnerable.
By working in partnership with our communities, listening to what they have to say, and taking action, we will keep improving our services to be the very best they can be. We’re committed to reducing inequalities, tackling poverty, and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential – whichever of our wards they’re born in.
We also know we won’t succeed in isolation. We work closely with the other nine local authorities in Greater Manchester as part of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), driving forward joint ambitions for health, wellbeing, work and jobs, housing, transport, skills, training and economic growth for almost three million residents across our region.
Our priorities
The Corporate plan shows how we’ll build a future where Oldham is recognized for its ambition, inclusiveness, and strength by focusing on three key goals:
- Healthier, Happier Lives
- A Great Place to Live
- Green and Growing
By fostering innovation, investing in people, and supporting our communities, we’ll ensure Oldham remains a place where everyone can thrive. With strong leadership, commitment to our values, and ongoing improvement, we’re ready to adapt to the changes in local government.
We have four main focus areas, or “pillars,” that will guide this plan and help us achieve our goals:
- Efficiency and value for money – We’re committed to making the best use of our resources throughout the organization.
- Capacity building – We will build strong infrastructure to meet our needs now and in the future.
- Digital – We will use digital tools to improve services and make our organization more efficient.
- Prevention and early help – We will actively work to reduce the need for our services by focusing on prevention and early support.
These pillars will be essential in making our plan a reality, helping Oldham lead the way in local government despite financial challenges.
Values and behaviours
In an ever-changing environment, where strategies must remain flexible and responsive, our cooperative ambition drives us forward, guided by a core set of values and behaviours. These principles form the foundation of Oldham Council’s approach, ensuring that we stay true to our core purpose and direction.
Our values – Proud, Ambitious, Together – define who we are and how we operate. They shape our culture, inform our decisions, and inspire us to deliver on our commitments to the people of Oldham. They are the standards we hold ourselves to, day in and day out. Alongside these values, a set of key behaviours guides how we work, ensuring consistency and focus across all areas of the council.
Working together to achieve the best for our people and place, we’ll live by five key behaviours:
- Working with a resident focus
- Supporting local leaders
- Committed to the borough – we’re very proud to work for Oldham and we want you to be too
- Taking ownership and driving change – we need to anticipate the needs of residents, look for improvements in the way we support them and think about how we could do so more effectively.
- Delivering high performance – we set clear targets and look to be efficient in everything we do. We want team members to challenge, look to improve existing ways of working and take responsibility for their personal development.
Our staff
Our staff play a vital role in making sure we’re delivering the best quality and value for money services. Together, we champion Oldham and make sure we deliver on our collective ambitions.
We strive to be an organisation where employees feel valued, inspired and empowered to provide the best possible services.
Our Workforce Strategy 2020-23 is particularly crucial as we seek to recover and rebuild from the pandemic. This strategy outlines how we’re working to increasingly foster a culture of collaborative leadership and whole system team-working which will support us over the next three years.
As a Living Wage Employer since 2015, we are committed to adopting this across the borough.
Further information
