About us
Whatever you do at the Council, it’s always about supporting Leicester to be a better place to live, work, and visit.
Andrew Shilliam, Head of City Mayor’s Officer
About us
Andrew Shilliam, Head of City Mayor’s Officer
Whatever you do at the Council, it’s always about supporting Leicester to be a better place to live, work, and visit.
We are Leicester City Council
At Leicester City Council, we’re more than 12,500 people, all working together to serve the people, communities and businesses of the biggest city in the East Midlands. We have a directly elected mayor and 54 councillors, representing 21 wards.
As a unitary authority, we take decisions that affect thousands of lives every day. From social services and schools, to housing and roads, to setting council tax and providing leisure facilities. Join us and you’ll play a role in improving the lives of the 348,000 people who call Leicester home.
Our council in numbers
residents
languages spoken in the city
central council employees
school employees
councillors
directly elected mayor
apprenticeships established
Rugby Premiership trophies
European Rugby cups
Premier League title
Our vision and values
Our vision is that we will work with creativity and drive for the benefit of the people who live and work in our city.
Our values are based on our commitment to build a strong future for our city. We aim to make Leicester an attractive, welcoming and enjoyable city to live, work and do business in. That’s why we’ve established a set of values that will enable everyone who works here to play their part in making it happen.
Accountability
Whatever job you do at the council, you’re responsible for your own performance. This is how we all improve the quality of our own work and the work of the council as a whole.
Clarity
We make all our communications and messages easy to understand. This makes it easier to work as a team and makes sure that our customers - the people of Leicester - understand what we do and why we do it.
Confidence
We lead by example and focus on results. This helps us raise the standard of our work, because confidence breeds success.
Fairness
Being fair is vital in everything we do. We’ll only achieve our aims if we listen to others’ opinions and allow everyone to have their say.
Respect
This is something we take very seriously. It’s important that everyone who works for the council understands how their behaviour affects others.
The benefits of working in line with these values
An improved customer experience
Higher colleague satisfaction with their jobs and workplace
Colleagues identify more strongly with the council
Colleagues feel more personally successful
Colleagues feel more supported in their success by the council
We’re able to retain great people
Increased long term organisational success and impact
Increased public trust in the council and our people
What we offer
As well as the satisfaction of helping to improve thousands of lives across Leicester, you can look forward to a work environment that encourages a healthy balance between your work life and your private life.
You’ll enjoy generous annual leave, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and the option of flexible working. We’ll also give you the chance to develop your skills and expertise with a variety of training and development opportunities. In addition, you can choose from a number of flexible benefits, including childcare vouchers, discounts on city buses and trains and help with relocation to Leicester, where appropriate.
A brief history of the city
Leicester’s importance was first recognised by the Romans and later by the Danes, who used it as a strategic stronghold to control the Midlands. Since then it has developed into a major commercial and manufacturing centre, known better for the diversity of its trade than for its dependence on a single industry. Take a little trip down memory lane with us.
Leicester’s political and administrative development begins
Leicester Town Council grows, using the Medieval Guildhall as the Town Hall for the next 400 years
Leicester’s first grammar school opens
Leicester born architect Frances J. Hames wins a competition held to design a new Town Hall
The new Town Hall opens. Home to Council Offices, Council Chamber and The Law Courts
The Borough Police move into the basement of the Town Hall, complete with 13 cells
Victoria Park and Abbey Park open
Leicester's first council houses are built
Leicester regains its city status
University of Leicester is established
Leicester Polytechnic becomes Simon De Montfort University
Leicester becomes a unitary authority
Leicester becomes one of only 12 UK cities to have a directly elected Mayor
The bones of King Richard III are found in a Leicester car park
Leicester City win the Premier League with odds of 5,000/1